About 18 years ago, I attended my first distribution convention as the new managing editor of INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION. I was nervous, to say the least, as I entered a huge ballroom, filled with strangers. I walked around a bit and then introduced myself to a man standing near the entryway. He was Gary Buffington, the executive vice president of the Southern Industrial Distributors Assn.

I liked Gary right away. He made me feel like I had known him for years. His warm smile and booming laugh were intoxicating. I was impressed that he knew everyone, and that they all liked him.

That was the beginning of our long friendship. Gary, who died from cancer July 11 at the age of 57, was the ultimate gentleman. I could always count on Gary for a quote, information or just to talk about the distribution industry that he loved so much.

After learning of his death, the memories came in a rush. The dinner we had with the I.D.A. staff in Hawaii, the great conversations we had at various distribution parties, the fun at the mid-year meetings, and his entertaining stories of past conventions. Gary had traveled everywhere and knew more about restaurants and food than anyone I've ever met.

He never really talked much about himself. He had mentioned that he had served in Vietnam but never said he had received the Bronze Star. That wasn't Gary's style.

He was more comfortable talking about distribution, which was his life. He had been the executive vice president of SIDA in the 1970s and into the '80s. When SIDA, the National Industrial Distributors Assn. and Central States Industrial Distributors Assn. merged into the Industrial Distribution Assn. in 1988, Gary was selected to be executive vice president. It was a natural choice.

The industry was in tumultuous times. Many old-line distributors were either selling or merging their businesses. Gary, I.D.A.'s officers and board of directors worked tirelessly to make the new association succeed. And it has.

He helped establish the University of Industrial Distribution, an education program that has been endorsed by 19 trade associations, and he also served on the advisory board for three universities.

Gary never complained about his illness. He treated it more as an inconvenience and fought a courageous battle against a terrible disease.

Distribution has lost a great champion. And we've lost a great friend.

jkeough@reedbusiness.com