A linebacker, a dream, and a lot of chairs.
Jar’n Jack Powell Jr. has spent more than 45 years designing furniture with personality. This is how Carolines Chair Collection came to be — and why it’s coming home to Veterans.
High Point roots.
Jack grew up in High Point, North Carolina — the “Furniture Capital of the World.” He was a three-season starting linebacker for the Andrews High “Red Raiders,” called the defensive signals as a junior and senior, and led the 1972 4-A State Champions in interceptions and tackles. His senior-year defense allowed just three touchdowns through the first ten games, a state record.
With 15 career interceptions and more than 400 tackles, he was named the “Hardest Hitter in the South” by the South Carolina Gamecocks and signed with them. A knee injury after his first practice ended his playing days — but the drive never left.
Jack’s father, a fine athlete who served in the Army during the Korean War, was his biggest inspiration. Jack and his wife Karen, from Columbia, S.C., share a family connection to Fort Jackson, where both their fathers were stationed.
Four decades of firsts.
The first M.I.A. Recliner
Inspired by a weekly military program, Jack had a recliner made in camouflage with a brass “M.I.A.” emblem and offered half the profit to support families and the search for soldiers missing in Vietnam.
The “Cock-A-Lounger”
Jack’s first collegiate Sports Chair, a Gamecocks recliner, was set to be promoted on the head coach’s Sunday TV show.
First retail sale
The original Sports Chair, EZ Girl Recliner and Ebony Designs were created, made and sold to a retail store in Thomasville, N.C.
The Sports Chair goes national
Jack created the first professional Sports Chair and presented it alongside the EZ Girl Recliner to one of the world’s largest upholstery manufacturers, which sold it nationwide.
“My Chair” Rocker is born
Designed with daughter Caroline as its first model and salesperson. National retailers, the largest children’s chair maker of its day and a top-10 home chain placed orders for more than 1,100 rockers.
Made in the USA by Veterans
Every design is coming home — to be built and sold wholesale factory direct by Veterans, no matter their physical circumstances.
Common sense — and a cat named Sonny.
Most furniture designers learn their craft in school. Jack’s secret weapon is everyday life. A child’s rocker someone left by a dumpster sat in his living room for weeks — until Caroline’s cat Sonny kicked up his back legs and ran down the hall braying “hee-haw.”
That’s how Vonkey the Veteran Donkey was born: a bouncy, sit-and-ride friend that lets kids help support Veterans just by rocking on. Timeout Tina, Timeout Tommy and the upcoming Timeout Athlete followed.
“Now Jar’n Jack will make his exclusive chair designs and sell them wholesale factory direct — built by Veterans.”— Carolines Chair Collection