Noel E. Hord’s career in the footwear industry and commitment to mentoring young people left a lasting legacy for future generations.
The Indiana native was a college dropout who decided to enter the shoe industry, a career move that proved to be so great he was nicknamed the “Jackie Robinson of retailing,” the Wall Street Journal reports. His first job was as a stock runner at Barker’s shoe store in Terre Haute, IN, his hometown. He said he was the first Black salesperson in Terre Haute in an interview with Footwear News.
“When I started there, they placed me in men’s shoes because they were more comfortable with me there than in the women’s and children’s departments,” he said, according to the outlet.
Hord later trained at Wohl Shoe Co. in St. Louis and then served a decade at J.L. Hudson in Detroit. His later roles included president of Enzo Angiolini from 1988 to 1991, followed by group president of the Enzo Angiolini and Nine West division for two years, per another report by Footwear News.
He then led U.S. Shoe as president and chief operating officer, where he championed diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“We want to be an organization that sees diversity as a strength — diversity in terms of background, race, gender and experience,” he explained, according to the outlet.
Hord also played a pivotal role in the $600 million merger with Nine West Group, per Footwear News. When the deal was finalized, Hord served as Nine West Group’s president and chief operating officer. He credited his team at Wohl with providing the knowledge needed to make the merger possible, which led to decisions such as improvements in the Easy Spirit and Bandolino brands.
“They had the philosophy that first you build your organization and then the organization will build your business. They made me a believer that business is not marketing and product; it is people,” he told the outlet.
Hord’s career trajectory further included:
- Dunk Inc. (1999 to 2000)
- BCBG Max Azria Inc. (2001 to 2002)
- New York Transit Inc.(2003 to 2007)
- Private consultant (2007 to 2009)
- Li & Fung Ltd. (2009 to 2010)
- Donald J. Pliner (2010 to 2016)
He also launched The Hord Foundation Inc. in 1989 with his late wife, Cora, to provide Black youth in the greater Danbury, CT, area with resources to achieve academic success through scholarships and support programs, according to the foundation’s website. The foundation hosts an annual charity ball to raise funds for its programs and holds events twice a year to support middle and high school students and their families in succeeding in secondary school and college.
Hord, whose legacy extended beyond the footwear industry through his philanthropic work, died May 27, 2026, at age 79 after living with Parkinson’s disease, according to The Wall Street Journal. He is survived by his wife, Tamar; daughter, Michelle Hord; son, Noel Daniel Hord; grandchildren, Sydney, Noel Phillip, and Alexander; brother, Fredrick Hord; and sisters, Gloria Norman and Katherine Utley, according to an obituary.
“My dad, Noel Hord, lived a life of perseverance, purpose, and quiet strength,” Michelle wrote on Instagram. “From his early days in the shoe business to becoming president of Nine West, he opened doors in an industry where few people who looked like him had been given the chance to lead … To me, he was Dad (and Papa) first. But I am so proud that his story, his work, and his legacy are being recognized.”
Marc Fisher, founder and CEO of Marc Fisher Footwear, commented, according to Footwear News:
“Noel was a wonderful person and a true professional. I had the privilege of working with him at Nine West many years ago, and I always admired his work ethic, his deep knowledge of the business, and the way he carried himself. He was thoughtful, dedicated, and highly respected by everyone who had the opportunity to work with him. My condolences go out to his family, friends, and all who knew him.”
