Billy R Gardner has been honored with the prestigious Harold C Chapin Award by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) for his exceptional contributions to the Piedmont Section and the AATCC Foundation. Gardner, a member since 1973, has held key positions, including Chair and Treasurer of the Piedmont Section. He also played a pivotal role in moderating and organizing several Yarn Dyeing symposia. Currently, he serves as Chair of the Charles H Stone and Piedmont Section Scholarship Committee.
Gardner’s dedication to the textile industry is evident through his longstanding advocacy for student education. As Chair of the scholarship committees, he has been instrumental in conducting scholarship interviews, both in-person and online. He strives to make textile education accessible, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent passionate students from pursuing careers in the industry.
Gardner’s professional journey includes earning a BS in Chemistry and Textile Chemistry from North Carolina State University in 1973. He worked in various roles, including as a lab manager and in sales, before founding BRGardner Enterprise Inc. in 2021.
Gardner received the Chapin Scroll during the AATCC Textile Discovery Summit Awards Luncheon on October 8, 2024, in Savannah, GA.
