Joseph Alexander Hardy III (January 7, 1923 – January 7, 2023) was an American businessman and the founder, and CEO of 84 Lumber Company and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.

84 Lumber

thumb|84 Lumber sign

During the 1970s, 84 Lumber's business grew and opened 229 stores. In 1984, the company undertook an expansion plan to open at least 30 new stores. Along with grand openings, stores were remodeled and renovated from no-frills lumber yards to new and improved building materials stores. In 1987, as the improvement plan generated success, the business opened their strict policy of cash-and-carry to options of using credit.

Joseph Hardy's son, Joe Jr. worked his way up through the ranks and became Chief Operating Officer at 84 Lumber, however, he was passed over as successor of the company after he became affected by multiple sclerosis. He would get tired easily and have to go home at a reasonable time to sleep, Joseph Hardy viewed this as a flaw and fired his son.

In 1992, after 34 years of running the company, Joe Hardy handed the daily responsibility of 84 Lumber to his daughter, Maggie Hardy Magerko, (later Maggie Hardy Knox) who had served as Executive Vice President. The company continued to expand, opening its 400th store in 1997.

With Hardy Magerko as leader, 84 Lumber began targeting construction customers and thus added a professional sales force, consisting of 450 new sales representatives, to the team. While this proved to be successful, the company was still facing stiff competition from big-box retail stores and saw the need to expand into the growing do-it-yourselfers crowd.

The situation for the company improved some years after the crash, as the market started to bounce back. With a restructuring of the workforce and the selling of company real estate, Hardy Magerko was able to turn the company around and increase sales 27 percent from 2012 to 2013.

Personal life and death

Hardy served in World War II in the US Army Air Corps as a communications officer in the South Pacific. He earned a degree in industrial engineering at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Engineering in 1948 and worked at his uncle's downtown Pittsburgh jewelry store before striking out into the building materials supply field at the age of 31. the wedding took place on May 5, 2007, in Las Vegas, Nevada. On August 20, 2007, Hardy filed for divorce, with the petition citing "irreconcilable differences". whom he married in December 2009. On November 21, 2014, 91 year-old Hardy married Jodi Santella Williams. They had one son together, named JJ Alexander Hardy.

Hardy has served on the University of Pittsburgh and Washington & Jefferson College Board of Trustees.

Hardy was quoted as saying, "I want to die broke. For the remainder of my life, I want to enjoy and participate in the giving of money to help improve people's lives."

Hardy died on January 7, 2023, his 100th birthday.

References

  • Official Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Website
  • Official Eighty-Four Lumber Classic Website
  • Official PGA Tour Website
  • Official 84 Lumber Website
  • Pittsburghers of the Century
  • Uniontown Herald Standard
  • Channel 4, WTAE TV