A Great Creative Mind: Reflecting on Joe Boone Jr.

Kim Wahlgren Headshot
Joe Boone Jr. and siblings Daniel and Tina at the 2002 NWFA convention in Orlando.
Joe Boone Jr. and siblings Daniel and Tina at the 2002 NWFA convention in Orlando.

Joe Boone Jr. and siblings Daniel and Tina at the 2002 NWFA convention in Orlando.Joe Boone Jr. and siblings Daniel and Tina at the 2002 NWFA convention in Orlando.It feels like a week of loss in the wood flooring industry. Less than a day after losing one of the icons of the wood flooring industry, Jack Coates (you can click here to read about Jack’s life and his legacy in the wood flooring industry), we lost another man who had done much for the wood flooring industry, Joe Boone Jr.

Joe passed away on Saturday at the age of 58. (You can read his online obituary here.) After growing up in the Boone family business, Joe made a name for himself in the industry with his passion, creativity and talent. He was a tireless advocate for NWFA over the years, serving on several committees (including our own Magazine Committee), teaching at schools and doing demonstrations at the conventions. Always willing to share his wood flooring knowledge, he became known as the go-to man for painting and faux-finishing on wood floors (you can see the articles he wrote for us on his techniques here and here).

Countless times over the years Joe called me on the phone with a new topic for a potential article or an interesting source—always trying to help me, the magazine and the industry. More than anything I will remember him for his larger-than-life enthusiasm, his creative ideas and his friendly good nature. Somehow the industry just won’t seem the same without him. Rest in peace, Joe, you will be missed.

Joe Boone Jr. teaches faux-finishing at the NWFA Expert Sand & Finish School at the NWFA headquarters in 2008.Joe Boone Jr. teaches faux-finishing at the NWFA Expert Sand & Finish School at the NWFA headquarters in 2008.

Joe Boone Jr. along with friend Jim Garth at the 2003 NWFA convention in St. Louis.Joe Boone Jr. along with friend Jim Garth at the 2003 NWFA convention in St. Louis. Joe Boone Jr. along with NWFA staff, his brother and industry friends at the 2007 NWFA convention in Denver.Joe Boone Jr. along with NWFA staff, his brother and industry friends at the 2007 NWFA convention in Denver.

Page 1 of 799
Next Page
Resource Book
Looking for a specific product or a company? Wood Floor Business has the only comprehensive database of the industry.
Learn More
Resource Book
Podcasts
All Things Wood Floor, created by Wood Floor Business magazine, talks to interesting wood flooring pros to share knowledge, stories and tips on everything to do with wood flooring, from installation, sanding and finishing to business management.
Learn More
Podcasts