Hadar Manufacturing was first incorporated in 1960 in Humboldt, Iowa as the Hadar-Wolters Company. It was founded by two Iowa football coaches, Al Hadar of Humboldt, and Norman (Bud) Wolters of Greene. Hadar had developed a method for slow-curing polyvinyl-chloride which made possible the production of the first practical indoor shot-put.  Wolters had developed a weighted conditioning vest that could be made heavier or lighter depending on the user's needs and preferences. Improved versions of both products are still sold today.
     Originally located in an old storefront on Humboldt's main street, the company grew rapidly.  In 1967 Wolters sold his interest to Hadar and founded the Wolters company of Reedly, California, which is still in existence today.
     Later that year Hadar purchased the old Knight's cottage cheese factory north of Humboldt on Highway 169. (Brick Building shown above.  By that time the company was making a line of football dummies and physical education equipment.    

     In 1972 the company built a new factory at its present location at 1515 North 11th Street in Humboldt's North Side Industrial Park. (The green building in the photo above.) In 1975 Hadar sold the company and ran several small businesses in Humboldt until 1982. In 1982 the original company went out of business and Hadar restarted an athletic manufacturing business in Dakota City in the basement of one of his other enterprises. He repurchased his old building in 1986 and began producing a line of football dummies and physical education equipment. Many of his former employees returned to work at that time and the company began to thrive again.
      Al Hadar died in 1992 at the age of 75. He was president of Hadar Athletic Manufacturing, a member of the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame, the Upper Iowa University Football Hall of Fame, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Upper Iowa University in Fayette.

Al Hadar in his playing days at Upper Iowa University in 1942 and Later after Re-Opening Hadar Athletic in the 1980's. 

     Elizabeth Hadar, Al's wife, became president and Chairman of the Board in 1992 -- but she slowly withdrew from the day-to-day operations of the company which were taken over by daughter Mary Hadar Miner and her husband Wayne who serves as plant manager, is a former football, wrestling and track coach.  Wayne was also an industrial engineer at Winnebago Industries, a motor home manufacturer in Forest City, Iowa.
      Joe Hadar, the youngest son, joined the company in 1995.  He had previously worked as an engineer at Rawlings Sporting Goods in St. Louis, Missouri.  He is head of our research and development area and holds several product patents.  Joe coaches the Humboldt High School Soccer Team.
    Older brother Jim Hadar, a computer programmer and network technician, left the University of Iowa and became the fourth member of the management team in 1997. Jim is the chief technical officer.  The four family members serve as the administrative team and board of directors of the company.
     Elizabeth Hadar died in 2003 at the age of 79.  She had been active in many community affairs and service organizations. She was proudest of her work as children's librarian at the Humboldt Public Library for many years.
     The company has continued to grow and add many product lines. In 2001 a new addition to the factory was built (the white building in the photo above).  This new facility added an improved shipping dock, badly needed storage and manufacturing space.  A short time later we added office space in the new building as well as remodeled our old offices, and doubled the area dedicated to our sewing operations. 

      In 2002 a research and development lab was opened in their former building on Highway 169.  Employment has grown from a staff of nine in 1986 when the corporation was re-formed to over 40 during busy seasons today.  

      The company has added welding and metalworking capabilities, and the product line has expanded to hundreds of items in recent years.  A graphics arts department has brought a new look to many older products and we continue to invest in better ways to do the old tasks as well as bringing out new and innovative products.