Andy Warlick, President and CEO of Parkdale, Inc., was named the 2002 Leader of the Year for the College of Textiles on Tuesday, April 16th.  Andy is a 1979 graduate of The Citadel as well as a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Program for Management Development and the National Cotton Council’s Leadership Program.  Before joining Parkdale in 1984 he spent five years with Milliken and Company.  He currently serves on the boards of J.G. Boswell Cotton Company, Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, the Citadel Development Foundation, Parkdale, Inc, Magnolia, Inc., and Kent Manufacturing.

                Kappa Tau Beta and Phi Psi Fraternites choose the Leader of the Year each year for the College of Textiles through a voting process.  This award  recognizes a textile industry executive who has shown outstanding leadership.

                Two former recipients of the award were also present for the dinner and ceremony, Mr. Duke Kimbrell (1984) and Mr. Robert Barnhardt (1988 and 1999).

                Mr. Warlick gave a passionate  speech to the students, faculty, and staff that were gathered for dinner and the ceremony.  He spoke about the fact that College of Textiles students should be excited about this industry.  “Technology today is more important that 23 years ago and today all manufacturing must recognize that you have to change to new technology.”  “The textile industry has to change in order to thrive.  Notice I didn’t say survive, I said thrive.” “You are not at a disadvantage,” he stated,  “Our industry needs young folks with incentive and drive.”  He spoke about how important leadership is to the industry.  He stated, “Be a leader that allows other people to lead,” and “It takes a leader to be a leader.”  He stressed the importance that of course leaders want to win but they must want the team to win as well.  Furthermore, “strong leaders attract other leaders.”  He was confident when he said “We are going to reshape the industry.”

                This type of attitude and  knowledge is a good example of why Kappa Tau Beta and Phi Psi honored Mr. Andy Warlick for the Textile Leader of the Year.

Pictured with Andy Warlick are KTB Vice Pres. Ben Mead and Phi Psi Vice Pres. Mary Gruenhagen.