Thomas Ignatius Hussey

The Consummate Salesman

The following article is extracted from the NYLTA (New York Lumber Trade Association) Newsletter dated May 1931. Their mast head stated that the newsletter was published monthly by The NYLTA Club located in Grand Central Terminal, New York City. It does a great job of describing Thomas's mercurial business career and his equally mercurial personality.

The Rest of the Story

Where the article leaves off is with Tom and Alice living in the upscale community of Kew Gardens, home to such personalities as Charlie Chaplan, George Gershwin and Will Rogers. He traveled extensively on business and pleasure including trips to the west coast as well as an annual trip to Savannah to visit, hunt and fish. He entertained lavishly, played golf and lived the good life.

A little more detail his business life, late in 1919 he was made a Vice President and Director of A.E. Lane Lumber Corporation. He remained with A.E. Lane until 1926 when he ventured out on his own. The result of this venture was a partnership with George C. Williams in the millwork end of the lumber business that was known as the Hussey-Williams Company. Tom was the President of the company and was both popular and successful.

Hussey-Williams Company prospered and in 1935 Tom sold his interest and returned to Savannah a wealthy man. He bought a house in the city of Savannah, as well as a country home on the Isle of Hope. He live well and wide with servants, cars and all the trappings of a successful man.

In early 1941, as Americas entry into World War II grew nearer, Tom moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina and invested his money in a Western Auto franchise. The timing and the location were right. Fort Bragg, which is located near Fayetteville, grew from 5,400 soldiers in 1940 to 67,000 troops in 1941. During that same period 31,544 civilian workers were employed at the Fort and among other accomplishments, they constructed 2,739 new buildings. The Western Auto franchise prospered. As good as Tom's timing and location were, his choice of a store managers was poor. Within a year, the manager had embezzled all of the stores funds and reportedly fled to South America.

This event coincided with the death of his wife Alice. Broken and penniless, he returned to Savannah where he lived out the remainder of his life in his parents home on Waldburg Street.