High Point University Receives ‘Major’ Donation

Sep. 23–HIGH POINT — A High Point furniture legend has given an unspecified, generous donation to High Point University.

Plato Wilson, cited by many as the city’s premier furniture salesman, has given a gift described by HPU President Nido Qubein as “very, very major.”

To honor Wilson’s request, the university is not revealing the amount.

“This is a turning point for High Point University,” Qubein said. “Mr. Wilson’s gift will enable us to fulfill many dreams and heighten our standards to new levels of excellence.”

Wilson’s gift, unrestricted and payable in two years, will help realize Qubein’s ambitious two-year, $60 million vision for HPU, he said.

Qubein declined Thursday to state how the gift would be spent, saying that’s up to the HPU Board of Trustees, which is expected to meet in mid-October.

Wilson, 80, was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame in October.

His book, “A Dream To Sell,” is a compilation of autobiographical and historical stories about the people and events in the furniture industry.

Joanna C. Maitland, also a hall member and managing director of the hall, said Wilson is the only sales representative among 65 current hall members.

“He’s the archetype of the successful furniture salesman,” she said. “His talent and hard work had to be far above the rest of the industry in his field.”

Born in Morganton, Wilson spent nearly 50 years as a furniture salesman. Before retiring in 1990 to focus on charitable work with the Salvation Army, he worked 40 years as a manufacturer’s agent for Henredon and Henkel-Harris.

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