MFF Hall Of Fame

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First Inductee - Mr. Tom Butler, AAF - Inducted 2009 - Teleflora

Tom Butler is a native Michigander, born and raised in Detroit and is a graduate from Sacred Heart Seminary. He has been one of the Michigan Floral Associations biggest supporters over the years and was on the top of the list when it came time to choose who would be the first inducted into the Michigan Floral Foundation Hall of Fame.

Mr. Butler is the Chairman of Teleflora, the world's leading floral service provider to florists. He guides Teleflora in its mission to serve as a trusted business partner, friend and innovator to independent retail florists.

With over 40 years experience in the floral industry, the last 24 with Teleflora and American Floral Services (AFS, which Teleflora acquired in 2000), Tom is widely considered the preeminent industry authority. He is known by florists in all corners of the country, and is considered by many to be the 'Chief Champion of Florists' — always there when they need him, always understanding their issues and concerns and always representing their cause.

Prior to joining Teleflora, Tom was president and chief executive officer of AFS, a position he held for 15 years. Tom was instrumental in making the Teleflora/AFS merger the success that it has been, and has since added his industry knowledge and support to the Teleflora family.

Tom's distinguished career includes many industry roles. Among them: Member of American Academy of Floriculture (AAF); TI International World President; Incoming Chairman of American Floral Endowment Board of Trustees; Society of American Florists (Past Board Member); Member of AIFD, World Flower Council, Wholesale Florists and Florists Suppliers of America, Roses Inc., Columbia Flower Council, and state and regional floral associations.

Among the accolades he has received: Recipient of the SAF Paul Ecke Jr. Award; Michigan Floral Association Award of National Industry Service; Florida State Florists' Association Hall of Fame Award and Arkansas State Florists' Association Distinguished Service Award. Tom is also a member of the Professional Floral Commentators International (PFCI).

He is active in Grow For Life, Breast Cancer Research & Education Foundation (Board Member); Catholic Charities; OKC Chamber of Commerce (Business & Economic Trends Committee) and Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation (Past Board Member).

Second Inductee - Ms. Lucile Belen, AAF - Inducted 2010 - Belen's Flowers

On June 2, 2010, community and floral leader Lucille Belen, AAF, passed away at age 97. Belen was inducted into the Michigan Floral Foundation's Hall of Fame on April 29, 2010, for a lifetime of floral achievements.

In 1936, Belen began working in the shop her parent's founded, Belen's Flowers in Lansing, MI. While working in the shop, Belen took courses at a floral school. In 1950 she founded the Belen School of Floral Design in Lansing, offering a one-week course held annually that became known nationwide. The state of Michigan approved and accredited the school and official certificates were given to students upon completion of the course. The school ran successfully for 40 years.

Belen's legacy spanned all over Lansing. She served on the City Council for 37 years, four of those years as chairwoman on the county board of supervisors. People often urged Belen to run for Lansing Mayor, but she said she "wanted to stay with flowers."

In addition to the Michigan Floral Foundation's Hall of Fame, the Michigan Floral Association also honored Lucille in 1973 with Retailer of the Year; in 1994 with the Lifetime Achievement Award; and in 2005 with the Special Recognition Award. In 1973, she won the Paul Krone Retailers Award. In 1975 the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce awarded her for her tireless community service. She has four awards from three Michigan Governors. Belen's Flowers has received awards from Teleflora and FTD. In 2001, she was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. She received the Greater Lansing Fine Arts Council Award, where she worked as an advisor, for her campaign to save the trees on the Lansing Capital grounds.

She was a strong supporter and donor to fine arts, serving on the board of the Lansing Symphony, and enjoyed frequent trips there and to Lansing's Boarshead Theater and Michigan State University's Wharton Center for the Arts in East Lansing. Belen also served on the foundation board at Lansing Community College and the board at Ingham Medical Hospital, and started the Lucille Belen Scholarship for aspiring nurses. During the 20 years she spent as the chairwoman of the health committee on the Ingham Medical Board, she raised money to fund the Ingham Regional Medical Hospital on Greenlawn in Lansing. The Lucille Belen Legacy Society benefits the Hospice House of Mid-Michigan in Lansing. She assisted with zoning for Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and fundraising for construction of the Michigan Historical Society Museum, both in Lansing. She also was instrumental in preventing the Lansing Board of Water and Light from leaving the city. She was a board member of the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA). She was a member of the Lansing Zonta Club, the Lansing Women's Club, the Lansing Women's Literary Club, the Capital Regional Communications Foundation and the Ingham County Jury Commission.

Third Inductee - Frank Devos - Inducted 2010 - Eastern Floral

Born: 1925 Grand Rapids, MI

Married: 1947 Esther Ibershof

Children: David and Paula DeVos
Nancy and Scott Stehouwer
Jackie-Deceased at 4 1/2
Julie and Dan Vander Woude

Eight grand children
2 great grand children

Education: GR Christian High
Calvin College
US Army 1943-46
European Theatre

Eastern Floral: 1950-1998

Retired: 1998-Present

Ages 18-21 were spent in World War II, mostly in Germany. Married Esther Ibershof in 1947. Attended Calvin College from 1946-1950, graduating with a teaching degree in Biology and History. It was unlikely to receive a teaching job. I needed to work with our first child, now a one year old.

Then saw an ad in GR Press "Business opportunity-floral shop for sale." This was kept for two and a half weeks and then thrown away. The Flower business just wasn't for me. At 10:30 that night the ad was taken out of the wastebasket and I called the realtor. Then we negotiated the purchase of the one-year old Eastern Floral. The original store was located at Eastern and Franklin.

Moved the business to 28th street and Broadmoor in 1968. This move leads to a rapid and steady growth. In 1998 Eastern Floral was sold when it was at its peak with 100 full time and 100 part time staff members, the company was served by its fleet of 27 vehicles.

Eastern Floral: 1950 - 1998 DeVos Family
1998 - 2001 Gerald Stevens Co.
2001- Present Goei Family

Fourth Inductee - James Nordlie - Inducted 2011 - Nordlie, Inc

On September 20th, the Michigan Floral Foundation (MFF) inducted Mr. James O. Nordlie of Nordlie, Inc. into its Hall of Fame. The event was held at The Inn at St. John's in Plymouth, MI.

The evening featured a reception, industry update by Robert "Bob" Williams AAF, PFCI, VP North American operations Smithers - Oasis and current President SAF, followed by dinner and the induction ceremony. The evening was emceed by Mr. Jerome Raska AAF, AIFD, CF, PFCI, of Blumz by JRDesigns. MFF Chairwomen Jeanette Ballien of Gaudreau the Florist, LTD reviewed the life and company history of Mr. Nordlie before presenting him with a beautiful Waterford crystal vase.

One of the many highlights of the evening was a slideshow presentation featuring many photos from throughout the life of Mr. Norldie. Some of the more special photos showed Mr. Nordlie in his P-51 Mustang aircraft that he flew over northern China during WWII. In an article about Mr. Nordlie's war experience he was quoted as saying, "Our work was all low level, mostly dive bombing and strafing — bridges, rail yards, airdromes, warehouses, and military installations. Besides "ground fire," our biggest problems were bad weather, mountains, dust storms, lack of navigational aids, and shortages of fuel." After the war ended Mr. Nordlie returned to finishing his schooling at the University of Michigan.

Mr. Nordlie said, "I am flattered, appreciative, and humbled...thank you all! My father, Fred Nordlie, would be most pleased and I thank him for spending 20 years, including the depression years of the '30's, building a reputation and a business that became Nordlie, Inc. A great part of the credit goes to our loyal, hard working, and dedicated employees. It's similar to the air corps in WWII.... THE PILOTS WERE THE 'FANCY PANTS', BUT IT WAS THE LINEMEN AND CREW CHIEFS.... WHO SAVED OUR LIVES EVERYDAY.

The Michigan Floral Foundation would like to give a special thanks to the following corporate sponsors (listed alphabetically) for their gracious support of the Foundation and the Hall of Fame dinner:

• Allstate Floral
• Berwick/Offray
• Fresca Farms
• Golden Farms
• Rosa Flora LTD.
• *Smithers - Oasis
• *Teleflora
• *William F. Puckett

*Indicates Full Table Sponsorship for the event

Anyone wishing to honor Mr. Nordlie through a donation to the Michigan Floral Foundation (MFF) is welcome to do so. Donations are 100-percent tax deductible. Donations can be mailed to the MFF, P.O. Box 67, Haslett, MI. 48840, made online or by calling (517) 575-0110 for more information.

If you would like to make a donation to the Michigan Floral Foundation simply click the link below.