MONROE, Mich. – Residential furniture industry veteran and American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame honoree Steven M. Kincaid passed away on June 20. He was 71.

Kincaid was involved in the furniture industry for almost 50 years. He started with Kincaid Furniture Co. as a sales rep in 1970 and moved through the ranks of the company. In 1983 was named president and took the company public. Kincaid Furniture grew significantly under Steve's management, and in 1989, the company was acquired by La-Z-Boy. Steve ran La-Z-Boy’s casegoods business for more than 25 years and moved to an advisory role in 2015 after serving as senior vice president of La-Z-Boy Inc. and president, La-Z-Boy Casegoods.

News of his death was announced June 22 by La-Z-Boy Inc.

Kurt L. Darrow, chairman, president and CEO of La-Z-Boy Inc. said, “Steve was known throughout the industry for his high level of integrity, leadership and creativity.  He was a true gentlemen’s gentleman, was highly respected, a friend to many and truly cared about every employee at every level at Kincaid.  During his time with La-Z-Boy, he made numerous contributions, the most significant of which was navigating the Casegoods group through a comprehensive transition from a domestic manufacturer to an import model as the wood furniture industry moved offshore.”

Among his many career accomplishments, Kincaid served as president and a board member of the American Home Furnishings Alliance and the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation, led the creation of the High Point Market Authority and served as its first chairman.  He also served on the boards of the American Furniture Foundation, the International Woodworking Fair, and the International Home Furnishings Center Advisory Board.  Kincaid was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame in 2009, and was named a Wood Industry Market Leader in 2010.

Kincaid was also involved in many charitable organizations in his home state of North Carolina, and served on the boards of the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, Caldwell Memorial Hospital, the Caldwell Memorial Hospital Foundation, Smart Start/Communities in Schools and Wachovia Bank in Lenoir.  He also served in the N.C. National Guard.  He was a recipient of the prestigious City of Hope Spirit of Life Award in 2001, as well as the Central Carolina Bank “Golden Apple Award.”

“Steve’s generous spirit, charisma and guiding way will be sorely missed by so many within the furniture industry," Darrow added.  "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Kim, and their family.”