Community Mourns Death Of Construction Executive Brion Hardin

NORTHPORT, AL — Brion Leonard Hardin, the vice president and CEO of Hardin Construction and a cornerstone of Tuscaloosa’s business community, died Sunday at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa.

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He was 66.

For more than three decades, Hardin built his company and his reputation on faith, hard work and compassion — principles that the company said guided both his business and his life.

Hardin founded Hardin Construction as a small, family-run venture in 1994 and guided the firm to become a respected name in the regional construction industry that now occupies a state-of-the-art 60,000-square-foot fabrication facility on Fosters Industrial Drive in Tuscaloosa.

The firm specializes in welding, pipe fitting and industrial maintenance, along with earning a sterling reputation in the area for its boom trucks and cranes.

For example, Patch previously reported that it was Hardin's firm hired to use this expertise and ingenuity to remove the 12,000-pound electronic sign from atop the 10-story AmSouth building in downtown Tuscaloosa in 2008 — forever changing the look of the city's skyline.

Colleagues and employees remembered Hardin as a humble, faith-driven leader who valued integrity over accolades and people over profits.

“Brion had a vision to build a company rooted not just in construction, but in people,” the company said in a statement. “Through every challenge and success, Brion led with humility, compassion and faith.”

Hardin was known for treating his employees like family, offering a helping hand to those in need and supporting community causes without seeking recognition.

The company he founded said his quiet generosity and commitment to doing what was right left a lasting mark on countless lives.

“Brion was more than a boss or business owner — he was a mentor, a friend and a source of encouragement,” the company said. “His legacy of love, leadership and service will continue to guide our company and our hearts.”

Friends and coworkers described Hardin as a man who built more than a business — he built a community.

“To know Brion was to know kindness, integrity and genuine care,” the statement from his company said.

Along with his contributions in the business community, Hardin also had a noted heart for public service, including serving as Northport's appointee on the Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA) Board of Directors.

"Brion was our appointee on PARA’s BOD and he provided exemplary service to us and to the entire County," Northport City Council President Jamie Dykes posted on Facebook. "This community will sorely miss this man. He was indeed an exceptional soul."

A lover of the outdoors and instrumental in the local golf community, Hardin played a key role in making it possible for Ol' Colony Golf Course in Tuscaloosa to host major competitive events such as the Epson Tour and an NCAA Regional in 2022.

Indeed, many of the expansions and improvements at the public course in recent years were due in large part to Hardin's contributions and efforts.

The Brion Hardin First Tee Teaching Facility also bears his name at Ol' Colony Golf Course — representing just a part of Hardin's legacy that is sure to endure for years to come.

Funeral services for Hardin will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel with burial to follow in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park.

Visitation will be Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

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