Falling Forward: Memoirs of My Life with Polio

Wallace W. Epperson, Jr, known as "Jerry" to his friends, grew up in the small town of Victoria, Virginia and had polio at the age of three in 1950. His parents encouraged him to get an education because of his physical limitations. As the first person in his family to go to college, he received degrees from both the University of Virginia and William & Mary before earning his charter as a C.F.A. After years as an analyst in Investment Banking, he helped found Mann, Armistead and Epperson Ltd specializing in the Home Furnishings Industry. A monthly newsletter, The Furnishings Digest, still continues today. Jerry is also a regular columnist for Furniture Today and published a book, 50 Years of Furnishings Design: Fond Memories. Jerry has received numerous awards in his career including the Distinguished Service Award from the American Home Furnishings Alliance, the Pillar of the Industry Award from the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association, and was elected to the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame. He was recently awarded the American Heritage Award by the Anti-Defamation League. He has been an active speaker, a board member to numerous non-profit associations, a long term advisor to many furniture companies, and traveled the world studying the furniture industry. Jerry has been married to his wife, Kathy, for over 51 years. They have two children, Wil and Kelley, two granddaughters and a large extended family he loves spending time with in their home in Richmond, Virginia.