HIGH POINT — Harry Samet, High Point Furniture Industries owner and chairman of the board, passed away March 24 from cancer. He was 80 years old.

The company which Samet co-founded in 1958 with Larry Robinson, is credited with the creation of the market's first budget-priced "wood" desk. Samet and his wife, Joan, took over as sole shareholders following the passing of Robinson in 1990. Today, HFPI manufactures wood office casegoods and upholstered seating from its two High Point, NC, manufacturing facilities, encompassing more than 440,000 square feet of production space. According to a news release, HPFI will continue operations under the current management team, led by CEO/Vice-Chairman and President Spencer O'Meara.

Prior to launching HPFI, Samet served in the Korean War and was a U.S. Navy veteran. He received a BS in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to his service to the woodworking industry, Samet was a board member of many philanthropic groups and business organizations, and was honored by the Anti-Defamation League for his charitable services. In addition to his wife, Samet is survived by his four children and their spouses and six grandchildren.