Back in January of 1979, Lowy Enterprises, a prominent Midwest distributor, held a grand opening at its facility in New Brighton, Minn., and drew a huge crowd, including executives of many of its suppliers. Shown here, all smiling, are Joe Quirk, left, executive vice president of Burlington Industries; Irv Harvey, center, president of Galaxy Carpet Mills, and Irv Pomerantz, Galaxy’s executive vice president.