– after apprenticing in the tile and stone trade under his uncle in Memphis, Tenn., during the post war years of the 1940s. He began installing trendy tile in people’s homes and began installing tile, stone, and plaster in commercial buildings from Arkansas to throughout the Mid- South. One of the first things Mr. Holmes did was become a member of the NTCA, known then as the Southern Tile Contractors Association (STCA). He trained many men to become skilled installers during these years. He formed friendships and relationships with his contemporaries in the industry through- out the South. Many of the friendships and relationships between these compa- nies last to this day. In 1968, Mr. Holmes was selected as the NTCA Tile Man of the Year for his contributions to the industry. During the next two decades, as the company continued to thrive, his friend, Joe Tarver, Executive Director Emeritus of the NTCA, said that there would hardly be an NTCA expo or workshop that Mr. Holmes would not be there to support. Mr. Holmes retired from his company in 1988. Fast forward to 2006 – as I take over the family business. Having grown up with a steady stream of TileLetter magazines always on the table at my grandparents’ home and an old NTCA Reference Manual in my office, one of my first orders of business was to rejoin and become active in the NTCA. The decision was an immedi- ate positive. The friendships and rela- tionships that I have now been able to make with my industry peers from all across the country have been truly great and have been very valuable to me. The continuing education that I have been able to receive in our indus- try through the NTCA could never be stated enough. The sharing and exchanging of information and ideas with other professionals, from installa- tion procedures to business practices, is priceless. Being a member of the NTCA is the greatest business decision I could have made. This year, as Holmes Tile & Marble Co. celebrates its 65th year in busi- ness, I am honored to celebrate with all the members of the NTCA on its 70 years. I look forward to seeing the continued growth of the association as we continue to move our industry forward through skilled labor and pro- fessionalism. Thank you to the staff, the board, the leadership, and all the NTCA members for building and contributing to such an amazing and important organization. James Woelfel Artcraft Granite Marble and Tile Co. When my grandfather, John Woelfel, joined the STCA in the 1950s he told my dad (Butch Woelfel) that Artcraft has to stay on top of the new methods of setting tile in order to better serve our customers and also to make more money. My dad remembers the first meetings he went to: he told me that if he hung around all of these smart tile contractors that some of their knowl- edge was bound to rub off on him. People like Bob Young, Bob Roberson, Virgil Smith, Kats Katsaboulos and Doyle Dickerson were some of the people my dad “networked” with. When I became active in the NTCA James O. Holmes Celebrating 70 years 98 TileLetter | September 2017