IADD Diecutter/Diemaker of the Year - Well Worth the Wait
After nearly 60 years in the industry, Bob Larson remains as the past, present, and future of the IADD.
by Sean Riley, Associate Editor
SAYING THAT THE diemaking and diecutting industry is in Bob Larson's blood is akin to saying that politics is in the Kennedy's blood, or driving fast is an Earnhardt family trait. Certainly these affirmations are true, but possibly a bit understated. The fact of the matter is that like the Kennedy clan and the Earnhardt lineage, the Larsons have been immersed in their industry for three generations. And just like members of those slightly more famous families, the respect of their peers has come to Bob Larson in the form of the 2002 IADD Diecutter/Diemaker of the Year award presented by packagePRINTING magazine.
The 65-year-old Norwell, Mass. native has now become the first person in the history of the IADD to win all three of the association's top awards, having already accepted the President's Award in 1993 and the S. Ray Miller International Award, six years later. The third piece of his trifecta took a few more years, but he relishes the honor all the same. "I'm sort of in a state of amazement because it has been so many years and I always sat at the awards dinner every year and wondered 'who is it going to be this year?'" he says. "It's a wonderful thing, and I am very excited and humbled to be named Diecutter/Diemaker of the Year."
In his career, Larson has been both a diemaker and a diecutter, serving in key positions with family businesses from 1955 to 1986. During nearly 50 years in the business, he has always been involved "hands on" in some phase of the business.
Larson first began working in the industry when he was only five years old. He would tag along to his father's shop, the Boston Cutting Die Company, and sweep the floors, pick up empty coke bottles, and collect the working mens' soiled rags. As he got older, he began working in the shop on weekends and during summer breaks from school. When he enrolled in Northeastern University's College of Business Administration, he took part in the school's co-op program. "I would attend Northeastern for ten weeks and then work ten weeks at my father's facility," Larson says. "Each time I did this my father would have me do a different job, whether it be working the machinery or going out on the road in sales." He considers himself quite fortunate to receive such a "good, basic upbringing in the business."
Upon graduation, Larson got married and served his country for four years as an officer in the Army, before returning to New England to take up the family business full-time. In fact, he became the third generation of his family to serve as vice president at Boston Cutting Dies, which was originally started in 1912 by his grandfather, Oscar.
Soon, with his knowledge of manufacturing and his cousin, Jerald B. Larson handling sales, the two began purchasing other diemaking outfits, including Higgins Die & Diecutting Company and Novelty Die Corporation in nearby Kingston, Mass. He continued on this prosperous path until the mid-80s when it became apparent to him that a majority of the diemaking and diecutting business had moved overseas to Asia. Realizing that there was little future growth for his company, he merged into a larger company specializing in diecutting systems in 1984.
Finally, in 1987, Larson left the manufacturing sector to dive into a new venture, Larson WorldWide. Using his experience as a foundation, he brought the first dedicated education conference and trade show to the diemaking and diecutting industry. A year later, he developed his concept of a Diecutting and Diemaking Symposium where individuals in the industry could come together to exchange ideas, procedures, and technology in all areas of the diecutting process.
Over the next 16 years, Larson WorldWide presented numerous shows across Asia, Europe, and the United States. These shows offered the die industry an opportunity for education in the latest innovations available. Larson WorldWide has also produced the Diecutting/Diemaking Intelligence Newsletter (DDIN)—providing an invaluable resource to industry professionals and suppliers—and provided consulting services to many companies in the industry.
Outside of Bob's commercial ventures, he has worn numerous hats within the IADD and its predecessor the NADD since 1972. Today, Larson is the only remaining founding member of IADD who is still active.
Being a consultant has also allowed Larson to spend more time with his wife of 42 years, Letitia, his two sons, Eric and Mark, and his daughter Christa. It has also given him time to take part in his favorite hobby, which is collecting Boy Scout Council shoulder patches. He has been involved in international Scouting for almost 30 years, serving on the Executive Board of the Old Colony Council and Boy Scouts of America.
Self-sacrifice merits reward
While Larson's resume certainly speaks for itself, it was yet another selfless act last year that helped earn him packagePRINTING's 2002 IADD Diecutter/ Diemaker of the Year award. He agreed to set aside his own annual Symposium to allow the IADD to present its first Diecutting Odyssey trade show and educational experience, benefitting those companies that wish to send their personnel to only one major event a year. In turn, the IADD used Larson WorldWide's management services. "Bob always puts the IADD at the top of his list throughout all of his business activities, whether it is noting companies' IADD affiliation in his program books, or using his influence to secure topics and speakers for programming," says IADD CEO Cindy Crouse. His nominators agree.
"When reading the criteria for this award, there can be little question that Bob is the most qualified and deserving of the honor," says Steve Gore of Data Technology.
