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JOE HARDY - FOUNDER & CEO
Joseph A. Hardy III is a true American success story, rising from a college
student selling home-grown vegetables door-to-door to becoming the Founder
and CEO of what today is the largest privately owned building materials
supplier to professional contractors - 84 Lumber Company.
After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with an Engineering
degree, Joe quickly became the top-producing salesman for the family's
Hardy & Hayes jewelry company. Yet, at the age of 31, and with the
burning desire to build his own business his own way, Joe left Hardy &
Hayes. At the suggestion of a friend, Joe looked into the building
materials supply business and opened Green Hills Lumber. A few years
later, Joe pooled his resources with his two younger brothers and a
friend to purchase a tract of land in the rural town of Eighty Four,
Pennsylvania. There, in 1956, he opened a 'cash and carry' lumber yard
focused on professional home builders in the tri-state region of
Pennsylvania,
Ohio and West Virginia. Joe liked the sound of the name of the small
Washington County town and decided to name his new business, 84 Lumber
Company. |
Joe Hardy |
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at the age of 31, and with the
burning desire to build his
own business his own way, Joe left Hardy &
Hayes |
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Today, the company maintains its corporate headquarters in Eighty Four,
where the original store continues to operate and grow. The company hit the
$1 billion sales mark in 1994, in 2002 sales topped $2 billion and in 2004
the $3 billion sales mark was shattered. With 281 stores, 5
component-manufacturing plants, and 5,000 associates nationwide, 84 Lumber
sets the standard for service to the professional contractor market.
In addition to 84 Lumber Company, Joe founded Nemacolin Woodlands Resort,
one of North America's premier resort destinations. The lavish Mobil Travel
Guide 4 Star resort features three hotels, including the AAA five diamond Falling Rock
boutique hotel and clubhouse, the internationally acclaimed Woodlands Spa,
36 holes of golf on the Links Course and the Pete Dye designed Mystic Rock, a clays Shooting Academy,
Equestrian Center, Hummer off-road driving course, and 15 on-site restaurants and
lounges among a multitude of amenities.
A full-time resident of Fayette County, Hardy’s business experience and
desire to help Fayette County create a better business and economic base to
create more jobs and a better tax base prompted him to run for a seat as a
Fayette County Commissioner in 2003. Hardy was elected and served his term
as Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Fayette County from 2004
to 2007.
Milestones:
- 1952 - Joe opens Green Hills Lumber
- 1956 - 84 Lumber Company is founded in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania
- 1971 - 84 Lumber records $84 million in sales
- 1973 - 84 Lumber opens the 84th store in Denver, Colorado
- 1982 - 84 Components, 84 Lumber's manufacturing division, is opened
- 1987 - Joe purchases Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, a former hunting
lodge, at a bankruptcy sale
- 1992 - Joe promotes his daughter, Maggie Hardy Magerko, to President
of 84 Lumber Company
- 1994 - Yearly sales top the $1 billion dollar mark for the first time
- 1998 - For the second consecutive year, 84 Lumber is selected as
Largest Pro Dealer by Home Channel News
- 2002 - 84 Lumber tops $2 billion dollars in sales
- 2003 - Joe brings the PGA TOUR to Nemacolin for the first annual 84
Lumber Classic
- 2004 - 84 Lumber tops over $3 billion dollars in sales
- 2004 - Joe Hardy begins four-year term as Vice Chairman, Fayette
County Board of Commissioners
- 2005 - 84 Lumber is recognized at #14 of the 100 Best Places to Work
in Pennsylvania
- 2005 - 84 Lumber raises more than $2.7 million for charity, including
over $1 million for hurricane Katrina relief
- 2006 - 84 Lumber Company celebrates its 50th Anniversary
Recent Awards:
- 2004 Fayette Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year
- 2004 B’nai B’rith International Community Achievement Award recipient
for outstanding distinguished character, dedicated leadership and
outstanding civic involvement
- 2004 Association of Fundraising Professionals Philanthropist of the
Year Award recipient for outstanding community leadership and monetary
contribution, through personal funds, to the restoration of downtown
Uniontown
- 2004 Washington County Community Foundation Philanthropist of the Year
Award recipient for charitable donations, including: California University
of PA, Children’s Hospital, United Way of Southwestern PA, Washington &
Jefferson College, 84 Baseball and Softball, and Washington County Food
Bank
- 2004 Home Channel News Golden Hammer Award recipient, which honors top
manufacturers, marketers and retailers
- 2005 Fayette County American Legion Citizen of the Year
- 2005 Penn State Fayette Advisory Board Outstanding Fellow Award
- Communities of Salt & Light Award in Philanthropy
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