Ellen Hackney died Oct. 7, 2017, at age 79. She was editor of the North American Retail Hardware Association magazine for 49 years before retiring in 2009. Hackney authored a history of NRHA and wrote and edited in-depth research reports on the home improvement industry. She was a longtime member of the former School of Journalism Alumni Board, serving as secretary of the board from 1984 to 2006. Hackney was also an active member of Women in Communications Inc.