Joseph Hardy

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Joseph A. Hardy (born ca.1924) has lived a true American success story, from selling home-grown vegetables door-to-door to becoming founder and CEO of the largest privately-owned building materials supplier to professional contractors, the acclaimed 84 Lumber Company.

After Hardy graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, he took the advice of a close friend and, with the funds he had, opened the Green Hills Lumber Company. After a few years, in 1956, Hardy joined his younger brothers, and together they opened a “cash and carry” lumber yard in the rural town of Eighty Four, Pennsylvania. Hardy liked the name of the small town and decided to name his new company 84 Lumber.

Hardy maintains his company’s headquarters in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania. The company broke the $1 billion sales mark in 1994, hit the $2 billion sales mark in 2002 and the $3 billion sales mark was reached in 2004. With more than 500 stores and component manufacturing plants and 8,000 associates nationwide, 84 Lumber sets the standard for service to the professional contractor market.

In addition to the 84 Lumber Company, Hardy founded and remains active in operating the Hardy family-owned Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, one of North America’s premier tourist destinations. The resort features three hotels, including the new Falling Rock hotel and clubhouse, the internationally acclaimed Woodland Spa, a Hummer of-road course, a shooting academy, and fifteen onsite restaurants. The resort is also home to the Mystic Rock gold course, designed by Pete Dye, and home to the PGA Tour’s Eighty-Four Lumber Classic. Hardy celebrated the 2004 Eighty-Four Lumber Classic in style, providing the crowds with a concert featuring Rocket Star and Smash Mouth.

In addition to his involvement in 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Hardy also serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Fayette County where he lives and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is located. Hardy has employed the same leadership, vision and drive that created 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort to lead a multi-million dollar renovation of Uniontown, the largest city in the county, donating millions of dollars to support street and building improvements and construction of green spaces. He is now leading the charge, with a group of assistants such as Robert C. Junk Jr., former President of the Pennsylvania Farmers Union, to create an urban mall, featuring some of the best known retailers in the country that will stimulate tourism in a business corridor that for decades was ignored.

In 2004, Hardy received both the Golden Hammer Award, which honors top manufacturers, and Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Washington County Community Foundation for his charitable donations. In 2005, he received the Outstanding Fellow of Penn State-Fayette County, The Eberly Campus Award. Hardy has always recognized charities and plays a vital part in his local community.

Hardy and his first wife, Dorothy, had five children, the youngest of whom, Maggie, is now president of 84 Lumber. With his second wife, Debra, he has two daughters, Taylor, 6, and Paige, 8.

Hardy has recently been quoted 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." It is also rumored he is considering making an attempt to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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