John M. Crawford – (1939-2001) After graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in association management, Crawford earned the distinguished Certified Association Executive (CAE) and Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) designation from the American Society of Association Executives.

From there, he began his career in 1969 with what was then the Screen Printing Association International (SPAI), eventually becoming the Chief Executive Officer of SPAI in 1972. When Crawford took the reins of the SPAI, founded in 1948, it was floundering as an association. Under his leadership of the organization, Crawford improved virtually every statistic important to an association, its members, and its leaders: membership increased by 664.5%; staff was up by 950%; convention attendance improved by more than 1,460% while exhibit booths were up by almost 5,575%; and the association’s budget grew by some 6,366%.

He steered the association through the many technological changes and trends that the screenprinting technologies experienced during his tenure and held the organization together as a unified group. And he was highly influential in helping to find other associations worldwide to influence and guide them to promote screenprinting technologies internationally.

In 1979, Crawford founded the Traveling Squeegees, which consisted of members of the SGIA, their families, and friends. The purpose of the group was to promote fellowship within the organization, share ideas, and promote friendship with those in other countries. For 22 years, the group traveled the world; Scandinavia 1979, Bermuda 1980; Cancun 1981 and 1996, Australia 1981, 1987, and 1997; Mexico 1983, 1988, and 1989; the British Isles 1984, Hawaii 1984; the Orient 1985; Lake of the Ozarks 1987, Holland 1988, Spain 1988, Portugal 1988, Barbados 1990, Vancouver 1991, South America 1991, Switzerland 1992, Paradise Island 1992, Costa Rica 1993, Guatemala 1993, Ireland 1994, England 1994, Wales 1994, Greece 1995, Turkey 1995, Egypt 1995, Calgary Canada 1996, New Zealand 1997, Galapagos 1997, Ecuador 1997, Peru 1997, Branson USA 1998, Germany 1999, Austria 1999, Italy 1999, Germany 2000, Poland 2000, Baltics 2000, China 2001, Nepal 2001, Tibet 2001. After Crawford died in 2001, the Traveling Squeegees continued their travels to visit screenprinters in other countries.

Crawford was inducted into the Academy of Screen and Digital Print Technologies (ASDPT). in 1982.

He served as the director of the Screen Printing Technical Foundation, the Digital Printing & Imaging Association, and the Academy of Screen and Digital Print Technologies (ASDPT).

In his spare time, Crawford enriched the field of association management to which he’d dedicated his life, serving on numerous boards, committees, councils, and projects – for the American Society of Association Executives and the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, civic and religious organizations, his local community center and citizens organizations.

Crawford earned the distinguished Certified Association Executive (CAE) and Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) designation from the American Society of Association Executives. Recognizing his many contributions and achievements, Crawford was awarded the venerable Key Award from the American Society of Association Executives in 1990. “I desire to contribute, to leave the world a better place than I found it,” he told Association Management magazine. “People group because we can’t survive without one another. Volunteers are important because their activities help build a better world.”

Crawford was self-effacing and modest–preferring to credit his successes to the competent staff surrounding him and the network of more than 100 volunteers he’d recruited each year to guide the SGIA International’s Board of Directors and serve on its myriad committees.

Crawford believed that almost anything is possible. His can-do enthusiasm infused that vision inspired all who knew him, and engendered loyalty in those who worked with him. He was a mentor, adviser, colleague, and friend to many and will not be forgotten.

John Crawford passed on Sunday, November 8, 2001, of cardiac arrest at 62. His wife, Carolyn, and son, John III, survived him.

Crawford posthumously received the Howard Parmele Award in 2002, which is conferred upon those whose dedication and accomplishments reflect an ongoing commitment to improving the industry’s products, services, and image.