James (Jim) C. Leonard III, 1939 - 2018

James (Jim) C. Leonard III passed away on December 25 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jim was born May 24, 1939 in Winston-Salem to James C. Leonard, Jr. and Ruby Hodges Leonard. He graduated from James A. Gray High School in 1957 and from NC State University in 1961. Upon graduation from NCSU, he was commissioned an officer in the Army Signal Corps. Jim and another lieutenant were selected to lead the advanced party to Thailand to work with and train the Thai army on the use of long-range communication equipment. After a year in Thailand, Jim rotated back to Fort Gordon and was released from the Army. He worked a year in the Washington, DC area before going back to graduate school at NCSU.

He graduated from NCSU with a master's degree in mathematics and accepted a position with Burlington Industries in Greensboro, NC. Jim worked for Burlington for 34 years in various positions and rose to be the manager of economic analysis and manager of Burlington's lobbying office in Washington, DC. For about 20 of those years, Jim was an advisor to the US Government, dealing with textile/apparel trade agreements with many foreign countries.

In 2001, Jim was asked to come to Washington as a government employee to run the committee he had been an advisor to for 20 years. He was then nominated by President George W. Bush to be deputy assistant secretary of commerce, having responsibility for textiles/apparel and all consumer goods. His last year in Washington, Jim was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal in a very favorable article with his level of responsibility at the US Department of Commerce. Jim felt his time in Washington made a difference.

After he returned home, he consulted for the College of Textiles at NCSU and the NC Department of Commerce. Jim was known as a "credible" person with only a hand shake needed to close a deal. He returned to NC at the birth of his first grandson. Family was so important to him that he did not want to miss a moment in the life of grandchildren.

He was active in his church. He especially enjoyed being a Stephen minister and was closely involved with several care receivers in recent years.

His great joy in later life was being able to visit and care for his two grandsons. Until the grandsons reached school age, he helped to provide daycare one day every week. His great sorrow was not being able to see them grow-up. His great hope was that he and CeCe have instilled in their two sons, as their parents instilled in their children, Christian values that will lead them through life.

Jim is survived by his wonderful wife of 50 years, Cecelia Fulmer Leonard; sons James IV (Courtney) of Raleigh and John (Caitlyn) of Raleigh; and grandsons James V and Benjamin; brothers Ralph (Lib) Leonard of Mocksville, Donald (Joanna) Leonard of Winston-Salem; sister Carol (Calvin) Cobb of Houston, Texas.

A memorial service will be at Jamestown United Methodist Church, 403 East Main Street, Jamestown, NC 27282 on January 13 at 11 a.m. The family will receive family and friends in the Fellowship Hall after the service. Memorials can be made to Jamestown United Methodist Church for the music program or Building a Firm Foundation; Hospice Home at Highpoint, 1803 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC 27262; or Jamestown Historical Society, 603 W. Main Street, Jamestown, NC 27282. (Affordable Cremations of Winston-Salem).

Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the U.S.A.

Monday, January 15th, U.S. government offices, and much of private business other than retail, will close in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

When President Ronald Reagan, on November 2, 1983, signed into law the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday he reminded his listeners that—

Martin Luther King was born in 1929 in an America where, because of the color of their skin, nearly one in ten lived lives that were separate and unequal…taught in segregated schools…could find only poor jobs, toiling for low wages…refused entry into hotels and restaurants, made to use separate facilities. In a nation that proclaimed liberty and justice for all, too many black Americans were living with neither.

If we consider the time from the arrival of the first slaves in the Virginia Colony in 1619 to the achievement of full civil rights for all African-Americans in every one of the 50 states in the 1960s, it was a very long struggle to achieve full civil equality. The modern African-American Civil Rights Movement that Dr. King was so important a leader in, on the other hand, was, for a major societal and legal change, relatively swift. It is generally considered to occupy the period from 1955 (Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott) to 1968 (King assassination and the Poor People's March). To those in the struggle it was long. But looking back, from 1955 to 1983, not quite 30 years, is, roughly, a generation. In one generation we advanced from a nation that tolerated legal discrimination against part of our citizenry based on the color of their skin, to a nation in which such as thing is not only forbidden, but absolutely unthinkable. It was Dr. King, more than any other single leader in the civil rights movement, who, with his insistence on non-violence, and his prophet-like call to the conscience of White American, who brought about such a marvelous and much needed change. That is why he is up there with Columbus and Washington as one of just three men who so influenced our nation that we honor them with a federal holiday.

President Reagan went on to remark that "Dr. King had awakened something strong and true, a sense that true justice must be colorblind." And Mr. Reagan pointed to both the progress made—and yet to be made—in the struggle for an America that lives up to her noble sentiment that all men are created equal, citing the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. Reagan, as he so often did, then called on Americans to embrace and enlarge upon their better nature, and exhorted his listeners—

But most important, there was not just a change of law; there was a change of heart. The conscience of America had been touched. Across the land, people had begun to treat each other not as blacks and whites, but as fellow Americans.

Traces of bigotry still mar America. So, each year on Martin Luther King Day, let us not only recall Dr. King, but rededicate ourselves to the Commandments he believed in and sought to live every day: Thou shall love thy God with all thy heart, and thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. And I just have to believe that all of us —- if all of us, young and old, Republicans and Democrats, do all we can to live up to those Commandments, then we will see the day when Dr. King's dream comes true.

USTR Robert Lighthizer Statement on the Canadian WTO Challenge to Trade Remedies

On January 10, 2018, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer issued the following statement in regard to the case filed by Canada with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against U.S. disciplinary practices and procedures:

“Canada’s new request for consultations at the WTO is a broad and ill-advised attack on the U.S. trade remedies system. U.S. trade remedies ensure that trade is fair by counteracting dumping or subsidies that are injuring U.S. workers, farmers, and manufacturers. Canada’s claims are unfounded and could only lower U.S. confidence that Canada is committed to mutually beneficial trade.

“Canada is acting against its own workers’ and businesses’ interests. Even if Canada succeeded on these groundless claims, other countries would primarily benefit, not Canada. For example, if the U.S. removed the orders listed in Canada’s complaint, the flood of imports from China and other countries would negatively impact billions of dollars in Canadian exports to the United States, including nearly $9 billion in exports of steel and aluminum products and more than $2.5 billion in exports of wood and paper products. Canada’s claims threaten the ability of all countries to defend their workers against unfair trade. Canada’s complaint is bad for Canada.”

Nominations for the Trade Advisory Committee on Africa

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is establishing a new four-year charter term and accepting applications from qualified individuals interested in serving as a member of the Trade Advisory Committee on Africa (TACA). The TACA is a trade advisory committee that provides general policy advice and guidance to the United States Trade Representative on trade policy and development matters that have a significant impact on the countries of sub-Saharan Africa.

DATES: USTR will accept nominations on a rolling basis for membership on the TACA for the four-year charter term beginning in March 2018. To ensure consideration before the new charter term, you should submit you application by February 2, 2018.

The TACA is a discretionary trade advisory committee established to provide general policy advice to the United States Trade Representative on trade policy and development matters that have a significant impact on the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. More specifically, the TACA provides general policy advice on issues that may affect the countries of sub-Saharan Africa including: (1) Negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before entering into trade agreements; (2) the impact of the implementation of trade agreements; (3) matters concerning the operation of any trade agreement once entered into; and (4) other matters arising in connection with the development, implementation, and administration of the trade policy of the United States. The TACA also facilitates the goals and objectives of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and assists in maintaining ongoing discussions with sub-Saharan African trade and agriculture ministries and private sector organizations on issues of mutual concern, including regional and international trade concerns and World Trade Organization issues.

The TACA meets as needed, at the call of the United States Trade Representative or his/her designee, or two-thirds of the TACA members, depending on various factors such as the level of activity of trade negotiations and the needs of the United States Trade Representative.

The TACA is composed of not more than 30 members who have expertise in general trade, investment and development issues and specific knowledge of United States-Africa trade and investment trends including trade under the AGOA; constraints to trade and investment (including infrastructure, energy and financing); trade facilitation measures; sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures and technicalbarriers to trade; trade capacity building; investment treaty negotiations; United States-Africa investment and private sector partnerships; and implementation of World Trade Organization agreements. Members may represent industry, organized labor, investment, agriculture, services, non-profit development organizations, academia, and small business.

The United States Trade Representative appoints all TACA members for a term of four-years or until the TACA charter expires, and they serve at his/her discretion. Individuals can be reappointed for any number of terms. The United States Trade Representative makes appointments without regard to political affiliation and with an interest in ensuring balance in terms of sectors, demographics, and other factors relevant to the USTR's needs. Insofar as practicable, TACA membership will reflect regional diversity and be broadly representative of key sectors and groups of the economy with an interest in trade and sub-Saharan Africa issues, including U.S. citizens who are diaspora African and U.S. citizens of African descent with requisite knowledge and experience.

TACA members serve without either compensation or reimbursement of expenses. Members are responsible for all expenses they incur to attend meetings or otherwise participate in TACA activities.

USTR is soliciting nominations for membership on the TACA. To apply for membership, an applicant must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen.

2. The applicant cannot be a full-time employee of a U.S. governmental entity.

3. If serving in an individual capacity as an SGE, the applicant cannot be a federally registered lobbyist.

4. The applicant cannot be registered with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

5. The applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

6. For representative members, who will comprise the overwhelming majority of the TACA, the applicant must represent a U.S. organization whose members (or funders) have a demonstrated interest in issues relevant to U.S. African trade and investment or have personal experience or expertise in United States-sub-Saharan African trade.

For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. organization'' is an organization established under the laws of the United States, that is controlled by U.S. citizens, by another U.S. organization (or organizations), or by a U.S. entity (or entities), determined based on its board of directors (or comparable governing body), membership, and funding sources, as applicable. To qualify as a U.S. organization, more than 50 percent of the board of directors (or comparable governing body) and more than 50 percent of the membership of the organization to be represented must be U.S. citizens, U.S. organizations, or U.S. entities. Additionally, at least 50 percent of the organization's annual revenue must be attributable to nongovernmental U.S. sources.

7. For members who will serve in an individual capacity, the applicant must possess subject matter expertise regarding sub-Saharan Africa trade issues.

New AATCC Executive Vice President

On November 16, 2017, the AATCC Board of Directors met and approved the hiring of Brian C. Francois as the new AATCC executive vice president to succeed Jack Daniels upon the latter’s retirement in March 2018.

Francois is currently the CEO of the Pulcra Chemicals Group (formerly Cognis Corporation and Henkel Textile Technology). He has had a successful career in leadership positions for his current company, which he joined in 1992, as Senior Sales Representative.

As Technical Manager, Francois teamed with chemists to set targets for developing new chemicals and received six patents for innovation in textile chemistry in a two-year period. From 2001 to 2005, Francois expertly managed global sales, marketing, and product development teams in four countries as Global Business Manager—Active Textiles. In this role, he grew sales by $5M in three years. Francois was named Business Director, Textile Technology in 2005 and fostered relationships with affiliates and customers in Europe and Asia. He also led employees in US, Mexico, and distributors in Canada.

In 2009, Francois became President—US Business and oversaw the relocation of US business into new facilities with growth of 100% over five years. He became Vice President—Americas in 2011, and Global CEO in 2014. He was responsible for leading the reorganization of Brazilian operations and more recently a management team with new company core value and corporate vision. He established global integration and core management systems that improved employee satisfaction and increased productivity.

His knowledge of the consumer apparel end-use market, global textile industry, and experience in expanding businesses into new geographical areas will be a great benefit to AATCC. Francois has been an active member of AATCC for more than 25 years, and served for several years as chair of the Committee on Conferences, and as chair of the Olney Awards Committee. He was a voting member of the Wet Processing Machinery Committee and currently is a non-voting member of the Preparation Test Methods Committee. He also served on the Awards Oversight Committee.

Francois and his wife, Julie, plan to attend the 2018 International Conference in Greenville, SC, USA on March 6-8, 2018, to meet the AATCC members in attendance. Francois will start as the new AATCC Executive Vice President on April 2, 2018.

About AATCC: AATCC is the world’s leading not-for-profit association serving textile professionals since 1921. AATCC, headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, provides test method development, quality control materials, and professional networking for members in about 50 countries throughout the world.

AATCC Foundation Announces Scholarships and Fellowships for 2018

If you are a student taking courses or pursuing a degree in textiles, funding is available. For more information, see the AATCC Foundation website.

Army Boot Contract Awarded

McRae Industries Inc., Mt. Gilead, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $9,716,250 modification (P00012) exercising the third one-year option period of one-year base contract (SPE1C1-15-D-1023) with four one-year option periods for hot-weather, flame-resistant combat boots. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is North Carolina, with a Jan. 8, 2019, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2018 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.