John M. Harbert
Encyclopedia
John Murdoch Harbert III (July 19, 1921 in Greenville, Mississippi
– March 31, 1995 in Birmingham
, Alabama
) was an American
businessman. He is best known for building his international construction company, Harbert Corporation, into one of the worlds largest, along with creating a personal wealth of well over $1.7 billion. Harbert lived with his wife Marguerite
in the wealthy Birmingham
, Alabama
suburb of Mountain Brook
.
John is also the older brother of late Birmingham businessman Bill L. Harbert
, who was a co-founder of Harbert Corp. and who headed up the company's international operations. In 1993 Harbert Corp. sold its international construction division to Bill. Today the company's former international construction division is known as B.L. Harbert International
and is run by Bill's son Billy.
. He received a degree in civil engineering
from Auburn University
in 1946. In 1949, he founded the Harbert Corporation. The company main business was its domestic and international construction unit, which at the time was one of the largest in the country. In the early 1990s the company sold its domestic construction operation. It also sold its international construction division around the same time to John's brother Bill L. Harbert, which today is known as B.L. Harbert International. Other company subsidiaries engaged in mining
, pipeline
development, land development, limestone
quarrying, road construction. Harbert projects are numerous in Alabama, but the company had many projects in the Middle East as well. In metro Birmingham, Harbert's best known projects include the Elton B. Stephens Expressway (also called the Red Mountain Expressway, U.S. Highway 280), the Riverchase planned community, the accompanying Riverchase Galleria
, the state's largest shopping center, and the Regions-Harbert Plaza
.
A lengthy section of Interstate 459
, the belt highway around the south side of metro Birmingham, is named for Harbert.
Harbert was a noted philanthropist
, with numerous contributions to projects in Alabama
, particularly to Auburn University and to Birmingham-Southern College
, where a building bears his wife's name.
Harbert was married to the former Marguerite “Wita” Jones
. The couple had three children, John Murdoch IV, Raymond, and Marguerite. John Harbert died on March 31, 1995. His funeral was widely attended by many of the U.S's and Birmingham's business executives along with his large number of friends. He was one of the city's largest philanthropist and remains so to this day. He was friends with T. Boone Pickens, and at one time was his buiness partner. His company continues to this day under the leadership of his son Raymond and operates under the name Harbert Management Corporation
.
Greenville, Mississippi
Greenville is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 48,633 at the 2000 census, but according to the 2009 census bureau estimates, it has since declined to 42,764, making it the eighth-largest city in the state. It is the county seat of Washington...
– March 31, 1995 in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman. He is best known for building his international construction company, Harbert Corporation, into one of the worlds largest, along with creating a personal wealth of well over $1.7 billion. Harbert lived with his wife Marguerite
Marguerite Harbert
Marguerite Jones Harbert is an American from the U.S. state of Birmingham, Alabama, with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion as of 2007. She inherited her wealth from her husband, the construction magnate and founder of Harbert Corporation John M...
in the wealthy Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
suburb of Mountain Brook
Mountain Brook, Alabama
Mountain Brook is a city in southeastern Jefferson County, Alabama, and a suburb of Birmingham. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,821. Mountain Brook is a particularly affluent city within the Birmingham metropolitan area and has appeared in several lists...
.
John is also the older brother of late Birmingham businessman Bill L. Harbert
Bill L. Harbert
Bill Lebold Harbert, born on July 21, 1923 in Indianola, Mississippi, is the late businessman and founder of the international construction firm B.L. Harbert International. He was the brother of the late Birmingham, Alabama businessman John M. Harbert, who he help co-found Harbert Corporation. Bill...
, who was a co-founder of Harbert Corp. and who headed up the company's international operations. In 1993 Harbert Corp. sold its international construction division to Bill. Today the company's former international construction division is known as B.L. Harbert International
B.L. Harbert International
B.L. Harbert International, LLC, based in Birmingham, Alabama, began construction operations in 2000 under the leadership of Billy L. Harbert. The company was originally founded as the Harbert International division of Harbert Corporation. B.L. Harbert has two main operating divisions, the U.S....
and is run by Bill's son Billy.
Life
Mr. Harbert served in the U.S. Army during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He received a degree in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
from Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
in 1946. In 1949, he founded the Harbert Corporation. The company main business was its domestic and international construction unit, which at the time was one of the largest in the country. In the early 1990s the company sold its domestic construction operation. It also sold its international construction division around the same time to John's brother Bill L. Harbert, which today is known as B.L. Harbert International. Other company subsidiaries engaged in mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, pipeline
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
development, land development, limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
quarrying, road construction. Harbert projects are numerous in Alabama, but the company had many projects in the Middle East as well. In metro Birmingham, Harbert's best known projects include the Elton B. Stephens Expressway (also called the Red Mountain Expressway, U.S. Highway 280), the Riverchase planned community, the accompanying Riverchase Galleria
Riverchase Galleria
Riverchase Galleria, locally known as The Galleria, is a large super–regional shopping mall in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover, Alabama. It is the 25th largest shopping mall in the United States...
, the state's largest shopping center, and the Regions-Harbert Plaza
Regions-Harbert Plaza
The Regions-Harbert Plaza, is a 32 story, 437 foot office building located in Birmingham, Alabama. The building was originally known as the AmSouth-Harbert Plaza, but was renamed on July 13, 2007 following the merger of the buildings largest tenant AmSouth Bancorporation with Regions Financial...
.
A lengthy section of Interstate 459
Interstate 459
Interstate 459 is a bypass highway of Interstate 59 that is an alternate Interstate Highway around the southern sides of Birmingham, Alabama, Bessemer, Alabama, and several other cities and towns in Jefferson County. Interstate 459 lies entirely within Jefferson County, without exception...
, the belt highway around the south side of metro Birmingham, is named for Harbert.
Harbert was a noted philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, with numerous contributions to projects in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, particularly to Auburn University and to Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
, where a building bears his wife's name.
Harbert was married to the former Marguerite “Wita” Jones
Marguerite Harbert
Marguerite Jones Harbert is an American from the U.S. state of Birmingham, Alabama, with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion as of 2007. She inherited her wealth from her husband, the construction magnate and founder of Harbert Corporation John M...
. The couple had three children, John Murdoch IV, Raymond, and Marguerite. John Harbert died on March 31, 1995. His funeral was widely attended by many of the U.S's and Birmingham's business executives along with his large number of friends. He was one of the city's largest philanthropist and remains so to this day. He was friends with T. Boone Pickens, and at one time was his buiness partner. His company continues to this day under the leadership of his son Raymond and operates under the name Harbert Management Corporation
Harbert Management Corporation
Harbert Management Corporation, based in Birmingham, Alabama, is a U.S. investment management company founded in 1993 by Raymond J. Harbert.The company has investment funds in 12 alternative asset classes in three areas of concentration: real estate, private capital, and absolute return strategies....
.
Books
- John M. Harbert III: Marching to the Beat of a Different Drummer, (ISBN 0-9666546-0-9) by Leah Rawls Atkins, Tarva House, Birmingham, Alabama (1999)