Supplier of dimension lumber & baseball bat billets for the Louisville Slugger. The following abbreviated description is from the Louisville Slugger webpage. http://www.sluggermuseum.org/sluggerhistory.aspx

A disastrous flood along the Ohio River in 1937 did significant damage to one of the factories and some of the offices. Working almost nonstop for weeks to repair the factory, Frank Bradsby was worn down. His efforts during this ordeal are believed to have led to his death later that year.

Hillerich & Bradsby Co. served its country during World War II by producing M-1 carbine stocks, tank pins and billy clubs for the armed forces. It also continued to make baseball and softball bats for the troops. Bud Hillerich died in 1946 and his son Ward took over. But after only three years as president, Ward died in 1949. His brother, John A. Hillerich Jr., succeeded him.

In 1954 the company purchased Larimer and Norton Inc., a lumber company in Pennsylvania, and created its own timber division. This expansion assured that the bat making operation would maintain an adequate supply of timber. The company also further diversified its products with the purchase of Wally Enterprises in Ontario, Canada which marked the firm’s entrance into the ice hockey stick business with Louisville Hockey, later known as TPS Hockey.