quote:
Originally posted by samn7282:
I read in Shoalanda's column about Roger Bedford running for governor. It said he is married to the late Elton Darby Sr.'s daughter. It said Sports Illustrated called him a multi-zillionaire. So I assume I should know who Mr. Darby was. But I have no idea and am curious. Can somebody fill me in. Was he from this area? How did he make his fortune etc.?
The original story was that Mr. Darby had an idea about storm windows, saving energy cost and protecting the wooden frames.
He borrowed a couple of thousand dollars, had some windows made up to his design, and took them up north in the winter time.
People liked the idea, and he shopped out the manufacture and started building a fortune.
He owned what used to bethe largest lumber/building supply business in this area, Southern Sash, which had multiple locations.
The advent of mega-supply home improvement stores slowly brought about the end of Southern Sash, but the Darbys had already made a fortune and branched out into other businesses.
One of the original Southern Sash stores was at the corner of Florence Blvd and Wilson Dam road (now Cox Creek Pkwy)where Kmart Plaza now is.
I believe one of the Darby girls married a football player, Todd or something.