Fenton Hord, former CEO of Stock Building Supply, dies

Fenton Hord, a titan in the LBM industry, passed away on March 9 at age 74.

Hord joined the former Carolina Builders as executive vice president in Raleigh, N.C. in 1987 before being named CEO just a few months later. At the time, Carolina Holdings had just seven yards. 

Under Hord’s leadership, the company became Carolina Holdings and made a series of strategic acquisitions, evolving into a national supplier of building materials. The company took on the Stock Building Supply banner, with Hord retiring in 2007. When Hord retired Stock was a 350-location, $5 billion LBM giant. Stock merged with Building Materials Holding Corporation. (BMC) in 2015.

HBSDealer’s predecessor, Home Channel News, took a look at Stock under Hord’s leadership in 2006.

Hord began his career at Eskimo Pie Corporation, a subsidiary of Reynolds Aluminum Company, in 1967 as a junior accountant. At age 30, Hord was hand picked by his mentor Louis Reynolds to assume the role of president and CEO.

He also served on the board of directors for several businesses and organizations throughout his career including Wolseley PLC, Cornerstone Building Alliance, Reeds Jewelers, Trinity Episcopal School, Investors Management Corporation, and the Jian Group.

Details about services for Hord are available here.