Co-founder of Home Depot spent 24 years building a corporate legacy
For 24 years, Bernard Marcus led one of Georgia’s most successful Fortune 500 companies as its CEO. Home Depot became the most trusted source and supplier for home improvements.
After being fired from his position as CEO for Handy Dan Improvement in 1978. Marcus teamed up with another former employee of Handy Dan Improvement to start Home Depot. The very first location of Home Depot was located in the eastern metropolitan area of Atlanta in, Decatur, on Memorial Drive. Home Depot’s warehouse concept started a trend that many other retail opertions would soon follow.
In 2002, Marcus stepped down from Home Depot as its CEO and led a much simpler life as a fish watcher. Marcus donated $250 million to build the Georgia Aquarium in the middle of downtown Atlanta to help attract more people to the area. During its time of opening, the Georgia Aquarium was known as the country’s largest aquarium.
Marcus had donated to a number of organizations over and one of hism most favorite was the Republican party. Marcus leaves behind a wife, Billi, and three grown adult children.