Walter Hachborn
Walter Hachborn | |
|---|---|
 Statue of Walter Hachborn, outside of Home Hardware's headquarters in St. Jacobs | |
| Born | July 24, 1921 Conestogo, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | December 16, 2016 (aged 95) |
| Known for | Co-founder of Home Hardware |
Walter Hachborn, CM (July 24, 1921 – December 16, 2016) was a Canadian businessman and co-founder, with two others, of Home Hardware, a Canadian home improvement and construction retailer which supplies contractors and individual retail consumers.
Early life[edit]
Born in Conestogo, Ontario, he lived in St. Jacobs, Ontario, most of his life.
Career[edit]
He started working in the hardware industry in 1938 and created Home Hardware in 1964 with two partners, Henry Sittler and Arthur Zilliax.[1] He had been its president since the beginning seeing the company grow from 122 dealers to over 1100 stores and annual sales of over $6 billion. He retired from day-to-day operations in 1988 and retained the title of President Emeritus until 2010 with more than 75 years in the hardware industry.[2]
Recognition[edit]
In 1985, he was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, where he served as a member of WLU's board of governors for 10 years.[1] In 1988, the Retail Council of Canada recognized Hachborn's success at Home Hardware. In recognition of this accomplishment he was presented with the Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year Award.[1] He was also awarded the distinction of Retailer of the Century in 1999.[1] In 1999, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. He was named to the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2014.[3]
Death[edit]
Hachborn died on December 16, 2016, at the age of 95.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Csillag, Ron (2017-01-09). "Walter Hachborn co-founded Canadian chain Home Hardware". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
- ^ "Home Hardware Stores co-founder Walter Hachborn dies at 95". Maclean's.
- ^ "Maxwell: In praise of a Canadian hardware icon". thesudburystar. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
- ^ "Walter Hachborn, co-founder of Home Hardware dies at 95 - 570 NEWS". www.570news.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-18.
- "About Walter Hachborn". Island Home Limited. Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2007-10-29.