When David Keith Hight met Donna ( Dee ) McGuckin they were 17 and 15 years old. Dave was born in Nebraska and raised in Brighton and Dee hailed from Fort Lupton. Dave graduated from high school in 1948 and attended the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dee graduated in 1950 and moved to Denver and studied at Barnes Business College. With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, Dave joined the Navy and was sent to Radio School in Norfolk, Virginia, after training. Before leaving, he and Dee were married on September 21, 1950. Dee worked in the District Public Works office at the Naval Station and they were set to stay the duration of his tour. However Dave's career was shortened by a serious back problem and he was honorably discharged. They returned to Brighton and Dave worked for Carlson-Frank Dairy as Comptroller. Dave had worked in a hardware store in Brighton during high school and in 1955 his father-in-law, Bill McGuckin, left his pharmacy in Fort Lupton and founded a hardware store in Boulder.

Thus it was natural for Dave and Dee to join her father in 1959 at McGuckin Hardware. When Bill first opened the store there were two employees, when Dave and Dee got here, there were four. Today the store employs an average of 315 people in its three different locations – McGuckin Hardware, a Design Center and a Distribution Center .

The hardware store has moved several times in it's almost fifty year history, but never more than a block away from it's original location in Boulder at Arapahoe and Folsom. Working together to support the success of the store, Dave and Dee became partners with Bill McGuckin in 1960 and when Bill died in 1966 they persevered and grew his legacy into the store we know so well today. It truly was a family business with Dee, Dave and all their children working in the store at various times. Today, son Barry is President and his father CEO - together the family is carrying out the values of their family-owned business. The community is grateful for this commitment, accomplishment and loyalty to the Boulder community and it is no wonder the store is regarded as one of the popular “destination places” to enjoy when visiting the city.

The Hights' are appreciative to the community that has shared their success through support of many local charities and have encouraged local businesses through support of the Boulder Independent Business Alliance. They have been active in the Boulder Chamber of Commerce supporting small business in our area and have been an outstanding example for many start-up retail companies. They have recognized the changing desires of the community and have grown from their early store with barrels of nuts and bolts to the contemporary 60,000+ square feet sales floor you shop in today. They have even seen to “political correctness” in our community by welcoming family pets in their store (as long as they are leashed). The popular quote in town is “if you can't find it in McGuckin's, you don't need it!” But truly if you can't find something, they will try to find it for you. That is service!

Dave & Dee Hight know our community and its needs and we are proud to thank them for their contribution of being part of the vitality that has made Boulder such a unique city in Colorado.