Hal Eckman, founder of Eckman Construction, died suddenly and too soon on December 8, 2011, in Palm Beach, Florida.

A 1968 graduate of the University of New Hampshire Whittemore School of Business, Hal founded Eckman Construction in 1974, which he co-owned with his wife Amy until 2008, when they sold it to some key employees and retired. Hal was deeply involved in community life, including serving on the boards of The Easter Seal Society of NH; the Manchester  Chamber of Commerce: the Economic Development Committee;  the Manchester Airport Access Road Task Force; and was a candidate in 1992 for the U.S. Senate.

“Hal Eckman built a major business, was a significant part of New Hampshire and left a construction company known for its quality and care,” said Brad Cook in the New Hampshire Business Review.

Mark Walsh said of Hal, “They say a good way to be successful is to surround yourself with good people. Hal looked at the big picture and hired the best talent he could find to handle the details. He used to say he wanted the guys that could ‘play any position well’.  Many of these key employees hand chosen by Hal still form the nucleus of the company today.”