It was two years ago when Adams and fellow C&A exec Claude Pruitt launched their new company in Roxboro after Collins & Aikman Corp. filed for bankruptcy and shut its doors at three Person County manufacturing facilities, ending nearly 80 years of doing business here.

But on Friday, Adams stood with Pruitt as the co-owners of P&A Industrial Fabrications and welcomed P&A employees and guests to a two-year anniversary celebration in the former C&A Sycamore facility.

“We have the greatest team of employees I have ever been associated with,” Adams said. “We are so fortunate and blessed to have this team.”

P&A, a manufacturer of paint rollers, opened its doors for business in Roxboro on Sept. 6, 2006.

Person County Economic Development Commission Chairman Jim Stovall told those in attendance Friday that he remembered meeting Pruitt and Adams some two and a half years ago.

“It was very evident they had a dream and a plan to make something good happen from the loss of C&A,” Stovall said, adding that Collins & Aikman had been “one of the true economic mainstays” in Person County for many years.

“They knew they had to compete in a global, competitive marketplace,” Stovall said of Pruitt and Adams. “They knew they could be successful [because they had] the very best workers in the world.

“They have always acknowledged your tremendous work ethic, team spirit and dedication,” Stovall told the employees. “…You made yourself competitive in a world marketplace where others had failed…

“Thank you for making it happen here in Person County,” Stovall said before “officially inducting” Adams and Pruitt into the “Person County Hall of Fame,” by presenting the two with a baseball autographed by former Major League baseball players Enos Slaughter, a Person County native, Jim (Catfish) Hunter and Gaylord Perry.

Adams and Pruitt both acknowledged that it was their goal to create a faith-based company from the outset.

The former Sycamore Plant was renamed the HOPE Plant when P&A began operations. Adams explained Friday that HOPE stands for “Hopeful, Optimistic People with Enthusiasm.”

Adams went on to say that he and Pruitt shared a similar desire when P&A was formed.

“Our desire is for one day God to say, ‘Job well done good and faithful servants,’” Adams said.

Red, white and blue balloons filled the area where Friday’s celebration was held. Each balloon had the word “Hero” emblazoned on it. A banner behind the podium reflected a faith-based message from Adams and Pruitt. It read, simply, “In God We Trust.”

The Vision Statement for P&A is as follows:

“By God’s Grace we will…

• Grow

• Relentlessly Improve

• Passionately serve our customers, employees and community…known by its values of integrity, excellence, giving and profound respect for the individual.”

According to state Rep. W.A. (Winkie) Wilkins, D-Person, P&A is living that vision.

“The proof is in the pudding,” Wilkins said. “You are here today. You are doing well and you deserve congratulations.”

Person County Economic Development Executive Director Glen Newsome praised Adams and Pruitt and all the P&A employees for “all you do for the community.

“Starting up a new business is not an easy task,” Newsome pointed out. But he went on to note that P&A now pays its employees “over 110 percent of the average manufacturing rate in Person County.

“That’s no small feat,” Newsome added.

Pruitt kept his comments short Friday, however, he did refer to his employees as heroes and played Mariah Carey’s hit song, “Hero” for them. That, Pruitt said, told his employees how he felt about them better than he could.

One of the key lines of the song is as follows:

“And then a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on and you cast your fears aside and you know you can survive. So, when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong and you’ll finally see the truth that a hero lies in you.”