NPTA Presents 2014 Stanley O. Styles Award to Clampitt Paper’s Don and Max Clampitt

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"Over the years, there are only a very few whose names are synonymous with the merchant and paper business. Clampitt is one of those rare names," said Tom Gallager, president of West Linn Paper Co. "Max Clampitt was a leader in every regard. Clampitt Paper continues to be a valued organization that exudes class, quality, and superior business dealings in every respect."

Max Clampitt was born in 1912 in Ruston, La. Max founded Clampitt Paper with his wife, Mary-Nell, in 1941. He started out in an 8,000-sq. ft. building with three employees and one truck. Through the years, Clampitt Paper grew from those three employees to more than 250 employees and one of the few remaining independent local paper merchants in the southwest region.

"Max Clampitt was a force in the merchant community," said James C. Tyrone, EVP of Commercial Operations and Business Development, NewPage Corp. "He built a highly reputable and successful merchant business from the ground up. Don continued with the same focus on customers that Max did."

Don Clampitt (photo) began his 34-year career in the paper industry working in the warehouse of Clampitt Paper during high school. He returned to the firm after graduating from the University of New Mexico (UNM), and since that time has worked in almost every position in the company. When Max passed away in 2001, Don stepped into the president and CEO role.

"In a time when paper is too often reduced to a commodity, Don still loves to talk about what makes paper, particularly premium paper, unique," said Tom O’Connor, chairman and CEO of Mohawk. "He pioneered the establishment of a Creative Center where designers and printers can come look at samples and talk about their work. Don is the only CEO of a major paper distributor I know of who still loves to go out and teach paper classes for customers and design students."

In addition to launching the Clampitt Creative Center in 2004, Don has grown the Clampitt brand to include 15 retail stores and six warehouse locations and expanded to Tulsa, Albuquerque, and Kansas City.

"Don followed in his father’s footsteps and continued the strict standards Max Clampitt set for personal integrity, professionalism, work ethic, and fair play," said T.F. Shannon, president of Bradner Smith & Co. "He is highly regarded in the industry, and has an impeccable reputation, and a willingness to listen and learn."

Don is current chairman of the NPTA Board of Directors, a DREAM Fund Board Member (and past president), Baylor Healthcare Foundation Board Member, Dallas Arboretum Advisory Council Member, and Frost Bank Advisory Board Member. He was inducted into the UNM Anderson School of Business’ Hall of Fame in 2012, and received the first-ever Advertising Innovation and Marketing Excellence Award (AIME) in 2013 from the Dallas/Fort Worth American Marketing Association, American Advertising Federation, and DREAM Fund.

During his career, Don has also served as a board member of the Printing & Imaging Association, Dallas Ad League, Dallas Society of Visual Communications, Art Institute of Dallas, UNM Alumni Board and UNM Anderson School of Management Advisory Board; president of the Association of Independent Printing Paper Merchants (AIPPM); and chairman of the IABC Dallas Quill Awards.

"As long as I have attended National Paper Trade Association meetings and gone to the chairman’s lunch, the Stanley O. Styles Award has represented the highest principles and ideals of the paper industry," said Don Clampitt. "My father was the true visionary behind Clampitt Paper, and I am honored to be considered with him as a recipient of this award."

Don Clampitt will accept the Stanley O. Styles Industry Excellence Award on behalf of himself and Max at the Paper2014 convention, March 23-25, in New York City.

More information about the annual scholarship program or NPTA is available online.

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