In this interview, James R. Stock, University of South Florida Distinguished University Professor and Frank Harvey Endowed Professor of Marketing, interviews industry god father Bernard J. “Bud” LaLonde. Bud left a legacy to supply chain professionals that will last for generations to come. Bud died in December 2017, at the age of 84 after a thought-leadership career in logistics and supply chain that spanned close to 50 years.

As a professor at The Ohio State University, Bud taught and mentored hundreds of students who would go on to positions of prominence in our profession. Thousands more supply chain professionals would get to know him through his books and articles as well as though his tireless contributions to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). In fact, Bud was awarded CSCMP’s Distinguished Service Award in 1978.

One of the great advocates of our profession, Bud was among the very first to identify and articulate the power and potential of SCM. A prime example was his “Insights” column that appeared in the first edition Supply Chain Management Review, back in 1997. In discussing whether this new concept of SCM was a “myth or reality”, Bud argued—convincingly as always—that companies not embracing this new reality put at risk the value they provided to their customers.