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Joseph Young "Joe" Bennett, 72, of Rutherfordton passed away Saturday, March 4, 2017.
Born October 30, 1944 in Yancey County, NC he was the son of the late Colonel Barlow "C.B." Bennett and Mary Young Bennett. Joe attended Washington College Academy in Tennessee. He served 5 years as Tool & Die /Moldmaker with Western Electric in Indianapolis, Indiana and attended Purdue University Regional Campus while there. Joe then moved back to NC and became Tooling Engineer for Decorative Components, Inc. in Forest City. In 1970 he became the co-founder of United Southern Industries whose first plant was the Duke Street operation. Just five years later in 1975, R.P. Industries bought United Southern Industries and Joe was retained as Operations Manager. He was soon promoted to President and General Manager where he shared in the development of numerous markets including telecommunications and data processing equipment. By 1979, R.P. Industries bought Isoplast, Inc. in Ellenboro where in 1982 Joe was made President and General Manager of the Ellenboro operation.
In December 1983 Joe successfully formulated the acquisition of all stock in both United Southern Industries, Inc., and Isoplast, Inc. from R.P. Industries and became the sole owner of both companies. Later he changed the name of the Ellenboro operation and made it a part of United Southern Industries. He also co-founded Everban, Inc., which primarily served the telecommunications industry. In July of 1993, he acquired the Vance Street Facility from Berry Plastics in Forest City, bringing the total molding capacity to over 50 machines ranging in size from 25 to 1500 tons. A few short years later all three Injection Molding Plants and Everban were certified to ISO 9002, which is a worldwide quality standard. Joe continued to expand his operation when he purchased a reputable tool and die shop named Tarheel Mold which was located in Hendersonville, NC. This move helped to further compliment his other operations. In 1997 Andrea Bennett moved back to Forest City and worked in Sales, Project management and Human Resources. In 1998 Russ Bennett joined the USI team as the Tooling Manager in the Duke St facility where he served two years before taking over plant manager responsibilities in a satellite tool shop, Tarheel Mold, LLC. Later Russ was promoted to Corporate Tooling Manger. By 1999, all of United Southern Industries was certified QS 9000, which is the automotive quality standard recognized worldwide. In 2004 Todd Bennett was promoted to President and General Manager.
As a mountain boy from WNC, Joe had a strong work ethic and would strive for excellence in both his personal and professional life. He was a strong supporter of education. He constructed and equipped a state-of-the-art computer learning lab for his employees to receive onsite training in computer operation, plastic technology training through interactive courses, and access to company sponsored courses offered on the internet through several universities and colleges. Joe believed in sharing his knowledge with others and his employees to bring greater technology to the plastic industry. He served on many committees in his lifetime including Education Chairman for the Society of Plastic Engineers, the Richard Goolsby Scholarship Committee, and he helped to establish a 2 year curriculum for plastics locally at ICC. He also helped establish the National Plastics Certification program for machine operators. Joe has received countless awards in his field and has contributed generously over his lifetime to various causes. He was a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers, SPE, for over 50 years serving as President and Chairman of the Southeast region. He was a member of the Society of Plastics Industry Trade Association, SPI, for 30 years, serving on the National Board of Directors for many years. He worked tirelessly to provide good jobs and opportunity to the people of Rutherford County and the surrounding area. In 2010 he sold United Southern Industries to Wilbert Plastics. From its humble beginnings in 1970, United Southern Industries grew to its peak reaching 33 million dollars in sales and employing over 350 people. In 2014 Joe was inducted in the Plastics Pioneers Association which is the highest of honor of distinguished elite men with in the plastics industry, nation wide. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Forest City for 47 years, where he has served as a Deacon and Elder of the church as well as Trustee. He was also a partner in Bennett Classic Car Museum along with his brother, Buddy Bennett. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Sue Bennett McKinney.
Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Sharon Hawley Bennett; two sons, Todd Young Bennett and wife, Wendy, Joseph Russell Bennett and wife, Amanda, all of Forest City; a daughter, Andrea Sue Bennett of Spindale; two brothers, John W. "Buddy" Bennett and James S. "Jim" Bennett, both of Forest City; six granddaughters and one great-grandson.
Funeral services were held at the First United Methodist Church of Forest City with the Reverend Dr. Phillip W. Dunford officiating. Interment followed in the Cool Springs Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Forest City, P.O. Box 181, Forest City, NC 28043 or Hospice of Rutherford County, P.O. Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043.
The Padgett & King Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.
