Return to NTA Home | Return to AFA HistoryDick Bourdon Flock FundThe FundIn 1996 the American Flock Association established the Dick Bourdon Flock Fund as a memorial to Richard P. Bourdon (1928-1996) in recognition of his contributions to the industry. The fund was initially deposited with the Northeast Textile Foundation. Under the terms of an April 5, 2000 Agreement it is now maintained at the UMass Dartmouth Foundation, with income and principal to be used for flock education and scholarships at UMass Dartmouth. UMass Dartmouth maintains probably the best flock research and development laboratory in the United States and conducts research on new and innovative uses of flock technology with government and industry support. The fund has a balance of about $78,000.
Promoting Flock EducationIn 2003 the Fund provided partial funding for the Fundamentals of Flock school put on by the AFA at UMass Dartmouth. ContributorsOn November 9, 2005, the American Flock Association donated, in the name of former AFA Executive Committee Member Harry Jenkins (1943-2005), $500. On January 16, 2003, the American Flock Association donated in the name of former AFA Executive Committee Member Bob Baker, $500, and, in memory of former AFA Executive Committee Member Frank Leach (1940-2001), $500. On January 8, 1997 the American Flock Association announced that twenty-five founding companies and individuals have established the Dick Bourdon Flock Fund with initial funding of $50,911. The establishment of this fund reflects the maturing of the industry, its individual firms, and the American Flock Association, into an industry that understands the importance of its history and plans for its future. At the 1996 American Flock Association Annual Meeting the Association honored Tom Witham, as the outgoing Chairman of AFA, with a $500 donation in his name to the Dick Bourdon Flock Fund. Listed below are the Champions of the memory of Dick Bourdon and of the flock industry who have given at the highest suggested level, Sponsors whose generous support will be appreciated by friends and family of Mr. Bourdon and by the students who will directly benefit from the fund, and Patrons who have contributed to the fund in the first year of its existence. Individual ChampionsMr. Josh Rabinowitz Mr. Tom Witham Corporations
The principle of the Dick Bourdon Flock Fund has been invested by the Northeast Textile Foundation, a non-profit corporation chartered solely to raise money for the textile sciences department at UMass Dartmouth. Peter M. Hadley has been named to the board of the Foundation to represent the flock industry and direct the use of the earnings of the fund. Establishing the FundOn August 23, 1996 the American Flock Association announced that the flock industry in America has lost a leader and friend. It is highly appropriate that we honor Dick Bourdon for his contributions to the industry. The Dick Bourdon Flock Fund will assure that his memory and an important part of our history will be preserved at the same time that we prepared for the future of the industry. The establishment of this fund reflects the maturing of the industry, its individual firms and employees and the American Flock Association generally, into an industry that understands the importance of its history and plans for its future. Five firms, Claremont Flock Corporation, Flock Fibers, Inc., Intermark Fabric Corporation, Spectro Coating Corporation, and Synthon Industries, Inc. have already made commitments totaling over $35,000. Considering Dick Bourdon’s impact on the industry and in the lives of so many people in the industry we are confident that an substantial amount will be raised to support the Dick Bourdon Flock Fund. Our goal in the first year is at least $100,000. We anticipate making yearly appeals in the future to continue to raise funds to support the memory of Dick Bourdon and the future of the flocking industry. Donations may be made payable to the UMass Dartmouth Foundation, with notation that the gift is for the “Dick Bourdon Flock Fund.” Please mail your donation to the American Flock Association. The Association will then gather the contributions and bundle them for presenting to the University at one time. The principle of the fund will be invested by the Northeast Textile Foundation, a non-profit corporation chartered solely to raise money for the textile sciences department at UMass Dartmouth. A representative of the American Flock Association will be named to the board of the Foundation and will direct the use of the earnings of the fund. The principle will not be spent; only the interest will be used to promote flock education at UMass Dartmouth. AFA will advise donors yearly on how the funds are being used. The following list of funding levels are suggestions; please feel comfortable giving as much or little as you can to this important project. Contributions to the Dick Bourdon Memorial Flock Fund may be tax-deductible for individuals or corporation, please consult your accountant regarding deductibility.
Donors will receive an audio cassette of Dick Bourdon’s telephone answering machine greetings. Many people in the flocking industry have fond memories of Dick’s telephone greetings. The names of Patrons, Sponsors, and Champions will be published in the AFA Newsletter. Richard. P. BourdonDick Bourdon, founder of Flock Fibers, Inc. of North Walpole, NH died Thursday night, June 13, 1996, following a lengthy illness. He was 67 years old. Mr. Bourdon will be well remembered by many people in the flock industry for his innovations, generosity, and affability.In 1963, Dick Bourdon, along with Bill Clarke and Wes Gaddes started Flock Fibers, Inc. Following the deaths of his partners Mr. Clarke (in 1964) and Mr. Gaddes (in 1966), Dick Bourdon took on the sole management of Flock Fibers, Inc. At Flock Fibers, Mr. Bourdon contributed to the development of the American flocking industry, both with his own innovations and through his selfless support of industry colleagues. “Dick Bourdon was a father and mentor in the industry, “ said Peter Hadley, a member of the executive committee of the American Flock Association, “He was a quiet hero in the trade. He didn’t want the glory, but he did the work. He was always there for the flock family.” |