HILLIARD CREWS

SHELBY GROUP INTERNATIONAL
RETIRED CHAIRMAN

Board of DirectorMaster Entrepreneur

Hilliard founded Memphis Glove Company in 1974 as an importer of industrial gloves.  After several years of success, he co-founded with his brothers Crews Safety Glasses and River City Rainwear.  In 1984 he formed Shelby Specialty Gloves to concentrate on the Fire Fighting Industry.  All 4 of these companies are leaders in the Personal Protection Equipment Industry.  Presently all companies operate under the holding company, Shelby Group Intl. Inc. which now operates factories in Arkansas, Mexico, and China and has distribution centers in Piperton, Tn. and California.  Shelby’s sales exceed $250 million and employs 300 in USA and 1400 worldwide.  In 2020, Shelby Group was acquired by Bunzl Corp., a public company on the London Stock Exchange.

Shelby Group was recognized three times by INC Magazine as one of the INC 500 Fastest Growing Privately Owned Companies and was ranked as high as 77 nationwide in 1979 for its fast growth.  Hilliard was awarded “Executive of the Year” award which was sponsored by the Memphis Business Journal and University of Memphis in 1983. In 2007 Hilliard was inducted into the Society of Entrepreneurs of Memphis and in 2015 received the Master Entrepreneur award.

Hilliard formed Shelby Group Realty in 1990 and since that time has formed several other real estate partnerships for development of commercial and residential properties.  Hilliard has also been active as a venture capital investor since 2000 and serves on several boards including serving as Chairman of Triumph Bank.

Hilliard and his wife, Harriett were instrumental in the founding of the Crews Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Memphis in 2012.  Hilliard serves on the Board of Teach for America-Memphis, is a Charter member of the University of Memphis Tiger’s Ambassador Club and has or is serving on several University of Memphis’ boards.  In 2018 Hilliard and Harriett received the Crystal Award for Outstanding Philanthropy and are very active in supporting many charities through the Crews Family Foundation.

Hilliard graduated from Frayser High School and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Memphis.

Hilliard and Harriett have two children, Jason and Stacy, and each of them have two kids so he is the proud grandparents of four.   Jason is a successful real estate developer and Stacy is a stay at home mom.