Randy Schrimsher Concludes Successful Term as Board President

Randy Schrimsher and his wife, Kelly, are familiar sights at Decorative Arts Trust events. As President of the Board of Governors, Randy has served as the face of the Trust for the past six years while working as the primary mover and shaker behind the scenes. On December 31st, Randy’s term will come to an end. The Trust owes him a great debt of gratitude for his years of enthusiastic participation, support, and service, which will thankfully continue under the new title of President Emeritus.

Randy’s involvement in the Trust stretches back to 1981, when he attended a symposium in Camden, SC, after seeing an ad in The Magazine Antiques. Barely out of college, he was merely looking to furnish a recently purchased house with furniture that would not immediately depreciate. The program featured what Randy describes as a “who’s who of lecturers,” including Wendell Garrett, Jonathan Fairbanks, Joe Kindig, Harold Sack, and Frank Horton. Of particular interest was Dean Failey’s lecture “Dollars and Sense: Collecting American Furniture.”

Randy kept coming back, particularly when the 1982 symposium in Houston happened to be within convenient driving distance of a Miss Kelly Cooper in Austin. While the Trust cannot take full credit for the resulting nuptials, we do advocate for museums and cultural events as wonderful date ideas! Over the years, Randy and Kelly have amassed their own collection of American furniture and decorative arts, focusing on the Classical style of the 1810s to 1830s, and have continued to view trust events as learning experiences. Trust Governor Bruce Perkins, whose involvement with the Trust extends nearly as far back, cites Randy’s “dedication to making the Trust’s programs a constant fixture on his calendar and determination to ensuring that everyone in attendance was made to feel welcome,” as tremendous assets to the organization.

Randy’s involvement was invaluable to the Trust, not only during times of change like the transition of directorship from Penny Hunt to Matthew Thurlow, but also during a period of unprecedented growth and expansion of the Trust’s outreach and influence. Randy’s summation of his time with the Trust is appropriately modest: “I can never give back to the Trust what I’ve gotten out of it, from the curators to the collectors to the people that just have interest, it’s all been a fabulous experience.” While he may not wish to boast, we think he has done a phenomenal job. Chuck Akre, who will succeed Randy as President of the Board, acknowledges “the tremendous strides the organization has made during Randy’s tenure and the vastly improved financial foundation that leaves the Trust in a stronger financial position thanks to his leadership and generosity.”

Randy, the Trust’s membership join us in sharing an appreciation for your insights, advice, and sense of humor through all the various adventures—both on the road and in the boardroom—that came with the job. Thank you for your many years of wonderful service and stewardship, and here’s to many more programs in your pleasant company!

Randy Schrimsher and his wife, Kelly, are familiar sights at Decorative Arts Trust events. As President of the Board of Governors, Randy has served as the face of the Trust for the past six years while working as the primary mover and shaker behind the scenes. On December 31st, Randy’s term will come to an end. The Trust owes him a great debt of gratitude for his years of enthusiastic participation, support, and service, which will thankfully continue under the new title of President Emeritus.

Randy’s involvement in the Trust stretches back to 1981, when he attended a symposium in Camden, SC, after seeing an ad in The Magazine Antiques. Barely out of college, he was merely looking to furnish a recently purchased house with furniture that would not immediately depreciate. The program featured what Randy describes as a “who’s who of lecturers,” including Wendell Garrett, Jonathan Fairbanks, Joe Kindig, Harold Sack, and Frank Horton. Of particular interest was Dean Failey’s lecture “Dollars and Sense: Collecting American Furniture.”

Randy kept coming back, particularly when the 1982 symposium in Houston happened to be within convenient driving distance of a Miss Kelly Cooper in Austin. While the Trust cannot take full credit for the resulting nuptials, we do advocate for museums and cultural events as wonderful date ideas! Over the years, Randy and Kelly have amassed their own collection of American furniture and decorative arts, focusing on the Classical style of the 1810s to 1830s, and have continued to view trust events as learning experiences. Trust Governor Bruce Perkins, whose involvement with the Trust extends nearly as far back, cites Randy’s “dedication to making the Trust’s programs a constant fixture on his calendar and determination to ensuring that everyone in attendance was made to feel welcome,” as tremendous assets to the organization.

Randy’s involvement was invaluable to the Trust, not only during times of change like the transition of directorship from Penny Hunt to Matthew Thurlow, but also during a period of unprecedented growth and expansion of the Trust’s outreach and influence. Randy’s summation of his time with the Trust is appropriately modest: “I can never give back to the Trust what I’ve gotten out of it, from the curators to the collectors to the people that just have interest, it’s all been a fabulous experience.” While he may not wish to boast, we think he has done a phenomenal job. Chuck Akre, who will succeed Randy as President of the Board, acknowledges “the tremendous strides the organization has made during Randy’s tenure and the vastly improved financial foundation that leaves the Trust in a stronger financial position thanks to his leadership and generosity.”

Randy, the Trust’s membership join us in sharing an appreciation for your insights, advice, and sense of humor through all the various adventures—both on the road and in the boardroom—that came with the job. Thank you for your many years of wonderful service and stewardship, and here’s to many more programs in your pleasant company!