That was Val Forgett, Jr who passed away in 2002. He was the founder of the original Navy Arms and built up the company based largely on Italian imports of reproduction antique type arms. The N-SSA owes much of its popularity to his products. After his passing, Val III has taken the company in new directions with the acquisition of Old Western Scrounger and the Gibbs Rifle lines. He is still young (compared to us old farts) and active in the firearms trade. If you go to the Nation's Gun Show in Dulles, VA, he usually will be there with several tables of his stuff.
Froggie