Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/75653
Veteran fence man Dave Thompson played pivotal role in major industry trade association David J. (Dave) Thompson, 79, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away June 25, 2012. He was the owner and operator of Acme Fence Co., Inc. of Grandview (Kansas City), Missouri for many years, and during that time he served in several critical positions within the International Fence Industry Associa- tion (IFIA), now the American Fence Association. Mr. Thompson was born in Brook- lyn Center, Min- nesota on March 7, 1933 to John and Mildred (Christian- son) Thompson. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Yvonne; daughters, Patricia Thompson (Matthew Eyre) and Paula Thompson; son, Mark Thompson (Betsy); and grandchildren, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Clarke and John and David Thompson. Dave Thompson He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1955 and served on active duty in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, California from 1955-1957, and then in the Navy Active Reserve. His entire career was spent in the chain link fencing industry. He worked in highway product sales for Wheeling Steel Corp. from 1957 to 1959, and then served in residential sales for the Anchor Fence division of Anchor Post Products, Inc. in Minneapolis, Min- nesota. He was promoted to assistant branch manager in 1961. He later served as manager of Anchor's Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania and Buffalo, New York branches. From 1970 to 1972, he was in commercial sales for the agri- cultural cooperative Agway, Inc. in Syracuse, New York. He joined Broski Fence Co. of Kansas City, Missouri in 1972, where he managed the commercial fence di- vision. Later he partnered with another individual in Acme Fence Co., Inc., and in 1978 bought out his partner and worked to expand the firm from a res- idential fence company into the indus- trial and commercial market. Mr. Thompson served as president of the company, eventually bringing his son, Mark, on board as estimator. In 1999, Mark purchased the company and he and his father traded positions, with Mark becoming president and Mr. Thompson serving as vice-presi- dent and senior estimator. In addition to running his fence company, Mr. Thompson played a major role in the International Fence Industry Association. He served as the organization's president in 1987-88, and also as trade show chairman. He served as well on the board of directors and the board of governors, and on a number of com- mittees. He was a member of the AFA Education Foundation in 2002-2004. Mr. Thompson was inducted into the association's Hall of Fame, its highest honor, in 1992. Under his term of office the Certi- fied Fence Professional (CFP) pro- gram was launched. Working with other dedicated in- dividuals, Mr. Thompson was instru- mental in expanding and improving the association's Field Training School, where he served as master in- structor, as well as its annual trade show, now known as FENCETECH. West Coast Regional Fence Show is on the horizon for this fall The West Coast Regional Fence Show – described as "The Biggest Lit- tle Show in the West" – is slated for Oct. 4-6, 2012 at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks (Reno), Nevada. The show is sponsored by the Cal- ifornia Chapter, California Fence Con- tractors Association and the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the American Fence Association. The event will include the trade show, as well as educational sessions, chapter meetings, a gate operator seminar, special awards and the op- portunity to take the Certified Fence Professional (CFP) exam. A golf outing will be held on Thursday, Oct. 4 at Wild Creek Golf Course in Sparks. The four-person team scramble will launch at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start. The cost is $85 per player. Hole sponsors and sponsors for various prizes are also being sought. For more information on attending or exhibiting, contact the following in- dividuals: • Dick Boyle, Pacific Northwest chapter president and show chairman, 888-207-2225, e-mail r.boyle@fron- tier.com. • Kent Bailey, California Fence Contractors Association chair, 800- 382-9700, kbailey731@aol.com. • Mike Wenisch, California Chap- ter past president, 916-635-4005, fence@gsfco.com. continued on page 26 ® MAGNALatch Another First! Introducing the MagnaLatch Key Tag. Because liability does not end with the warranty on your gate. MagnaLatch Top Pulls and Vertical Pulls now come with a "How-to Adjust" sticker on the vertical tube, as well as a key tag providing an adjustment statement for gate owners to understand that over time their gate latch and hinges may need adjustment to continue to operate effectively. ® D&D. First in Gate Safety. #1 in the World. Consistent Quality & Performance Millions of families choose to protect their children and property with D&D's hinges and latches. 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