John Heyer will be the first to admit that he took a job in the coatings industry simply because he needed a job back in the early 1970s.

But what he did with that opportunity led him to a remarkable career that included finally owning the company he went to work for, as well as decades of activism in industry trade associations that culminated in being inducted into the Powder Coating Institute's Hall of Fame this year.

"It's a career I look back on with very fond memories," says Heyer, who is now retired from Kettle Moraine Coatings in Jackson, Wisconsin. "My business in the finishing industry is what provided the income for our family and put food on the table for over 40 years. Beyond that, it has been a great experience getting to know and interact with all the wonderful people in our industry."

Read our Legends interview with John at http://finishingandcoating.com/index.php/powder-coat/1144-legends-john-heyer-kettle-moraine-coatings-ret