Wayne E. Harding Jr. passes away

Long-time glass industry member Wayne E. Harding Jr. passed away Feb. 14, 2012, at the age of 90. After serving as a naval fighter pilot in World War II, he became a test pilot for Chance Vought Aircraft before partnering with his father, Wayne Harding Sr., to buy Acme Glass Co. in 1947. That company later became Harding Glass Industries, and by 1965, spanned 53 locations in eight states.

Harding Jr. served the flat glass industry as president, then chairman, of the Flat Glass Marketing Association and represented the industry at Senate hearings on small business and U.S. tariff commission hearings, for which he received the Thompson Award of Merit.

In 1968, he co-founded Harding Steel, which makes mechanical parking devices. His son Phil is currently CEO.

Wayne also authored three books: the nonfiction "The Extra 2 Percent that makes Sales Happen," and two novels, "His Edge" and "Love’s Edge."

A service to celebrate his life will be held Monday, Feb. 20, at Harvest Church, 7493 Old Mill Trail, Boulder, Colo. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Denver Leadership Foundation, of which Wayne was an active member, at 5500 E. Yale Ave., #100, Denver, CO 80222.