Tommy Huskey

Year Inducted: 2025

Freddie Thomas Huskey was born in Caldwell County, NC on February 17, 1954 to Troy and Cleo Huskey. Tommy graduated from North Wilkes High School in 1972. He was an outstanding athlete, playing basketball, football and baseball all four years of high school. He was also on the track team his junior and senior years. The first NWHS Varsity football team was formed in the Fall of 1970. As a junior, Tommy was the quarterback on that team. Although they had a winless first season, Tommy earned All Conference honors that year, as well as his senior year. He went on to play football for the junior varsity team at Appalachian State University for one year.

Tommy was an All Conference basketball player his junior and senior years. His senior year, he was named to the All Conference Tournament Team and was the District 7 AA Most Valuable Tournament Player. He also played on the freshman basketball team at ASU.

His senior year, Tommy was an All Conference player in baseball.

After graduating from Appalachian State with a degree in marketing, Tommy returned to Wilkes and worked for New York Life Insurance. He began his career in the glass industry in 1980 as a territory sales representative for Carolina Mirror Company. His work ethic and likable personality allowed him to gain increasing levels of responsibility, moving up the ranks within the company to Regional Sales Manager, Vice President of Sales, and ultimately becoming CEO of Carolina Mirror in 1990 at the age of 36. Tommy was so well respected by his staff, that in October of 1994, the Industrial Sales Force of Carolina Mirror established a scholarship in his honor at Wilkes Community College.

Tommy married Alison Collins on January 7, 1995. They had 2 children, Alaina and Cole.

In August of 1996, Tommy joined Gardner Glass Products as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. The Gardner family named him President in 1998 and in February of 1999, he and his management team led a successful buyout of the company. Under Tommy’s direction and vision, Gardner Glass Products introduced the Dreamwalls Family of glass products in 1999. The idea of creating an emotive marketing message for fabricated glass products was truly revolutionary to the industry.

In August of 2002, Tommy was instrumental in Gardner Glass Products buying Carolina Mirror. At that time, Gardner Glass Products was the largest independent mirror manufacturer in North America. Tommy served on the Board of Directors of the North American Association of Mirror Manufacturers. He served as Chairman and CEO of Gardner Glass Products until his death on November 27, 2011 at the age of 57.

Soon after meeting Alison, he joined St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where he was an active member and served on the Vestry. In the 1990’s, he served as a board member of the Wilkes YMCA and was on the local board of First Citizen’s Bank.

In 2006, Tommy was instrumental in the efforts of bringing a community bank back to Wilkes County. In July 2008, Great State Bank was chartered and opened. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and chairman of the Corporate Governance committee of the bank from 2008-2011. Great State Bank was bought by Skyline National Bank in the Fall of 2018.

Tommy began a vision of “The Viking Crew” in 2010. He envisioned an organization that would be an integral part of student lives in his alma mater North Wilkes High School. He wanted to see better opportunities for NWHS students. The first Tommy Huskey Memorial Golf Tournament was held on August 24, 2013 and continues to be held annually. Thousands of dollars of scholarships have been awarded to graduating students because of Tommy’s vision that he helped make a reality.

Tommy was inducted into the 2022 class of the North Wilkes High School Viking Hall of Fame. It was established in 2012 to recognize individuals who exemplified excellence and dedication while a part of the North Wilkes High School family.

Tommy will always be remembered for his love of God, his family, his employees, his friends and his dedication to the betterment of Wilkes County.