Summary

Vaughan closed its plant in Galax. Many workers believed that the Vaughans could have held on longer. They knew that John would have to literally be on his last dime before he would close up shop at Vaughan-Bassett. Some of the unemployed did menial work like cutting grass while others trained at Goodwill and the United Way for job placement. Tourism in the mountain town rose over the years and required services – which meant jobs – to support it. Forty percent of Galax residents qualified for food stamps. A quarter of the residents live in poverty. People never got rich in Galax but that had always been able to make a decent living. Many feel that John’s boldness will be remembered for years.

Stanley Furniture still imported adult furniture form Indonesia and Vietnam; the company adapted a blended strategy in 2011. It invested millions...