Hal Jackson, a native of Winder, Georgia, was born on October 1, 1910, to J. Roy and Emma Jackson. Except for his service in the Army Air Force during World War II, Winder remained his home. He married Katherine Adair on December 25, 1943, and they had two children, Becky and David. As a young man, he began working with his father, then superintendent of the Winder Lumber Company, and part of this property was used by the company to store brick and clay products. He was placed on the payroll at age 15 for $1.50 a week, at a time when, in 1925, most lumber and building supplies were hauled by mule and wagon. In the early 1950's, the Jackson family became sole owners of the Winder Lumber Company, and in the late 1960's Hal became its principal owner. As a small business owner, he was devoted to his community and supported it in many ways, quietly making donations throughout his life to churches, schools, and the community as a whole, including donating the land for the old Winder Library on Midland Avenue. His philosophy was to always give something to support the local community and local projects.