Har-Bell partner becomes president, sole shareholder

Bryan Tucker became president and sole shareholder of 37-year-old Har-Bell Athletic Goods Inc. on April 9. He bought the ownership interest of shareholder Robert Horton for an undisclosed amount. He became co-owner with Horton in 1999. The business is located at 315 Park Central West and had 2003 revenues of between $1.8 million and $2 million, Tucker said.

Har-Bell's primary market is public and private schools within a 100-mile radius, said Steve Linski, general manager of the nine-employee company. "The majority of our business is all orders," he said. Traveling salespeople take orders and outfit team members with uniforms and equipment, he added.

Inventory includes sports equipment and uniforms for baseball, football, basketball, softball and track, Linski said, adding the store also carries trophies and letter jackets. Southwest Missouri State University, Evangel University and Drury University are among its Springfield clients, as well as various little league teams, he added.

Harold Harrison and Glen Bell established Har-Bell in 1967. Together, they operated the store until 1994.