Memories of Edwin Biography of Edwin H. Neill II Tribute Video Press & Articles Edwin-isms

HAMMOND, LA- Edwin H. Neill II passed over early Saturday morning, February 28, 2004. He was 64. Neill was CEO of the Hammond-based Neill Corporation, an Aveda distributor.

His multi-million dollar company covers 10 states in the Southeast and is a major force in the beauty industry. Beyond creating hundreds of jobs (employing more than 500 people) and bringing progressive thinking to the community, he was also an environmentalist, preservationist and restored many of the historic buildings in Hammond's downtown, bringing new life to the area.

Other corporate companies include 10 Aveda concept salons in Louisiana: Paris Parker Salons and Spas and Lockworks Salons; three Garrison's and Tatum's Global Bar, a healthy cafe and coffee bar that specialized in organic ingredients; seven Aveda Institutes, cosmetology schools in Texas, North Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana.

Neill was a visionary, an entrepreneur, a husband, a father, a friend. His life was dedicated to creating opportunity for others and helping people reach their full potential.

Mick Zatarain, a governmental and private consultant whose family has been close with the Neill family for years, told the Hammond Daily Star, "He created hundreds of jobs and so many families were affected by him, and that's long-lasting. He really loved Hammond. I don't think people realized the impact he made in the downtown area. Neill Corp. was one of the first in the country to allow children to go to work with their parents. They have a nursery school on-site. It was cited on PBS. They're environmentally friendly and, to them, people are more than just employees."

"No one can ever fill his shoes," said Edwin Neill III, son of Edwin H. Neill II and Chief Financial Officer of Neill Corp. "He was so unique and such an innovator. He is still present to all of us: if you ask yourself a question, you can sense how he would answer. In recent years, instead of slowing down and enjoying his success, he worked even harder at the business. He also worked hard at being a father. He knew that it was all about people, and that's one of the things we can learn from him. He always looked to the future and wanted to be better."

"Many people in addition to myself and my siblings lost a father with the passing of my Dad," said Ross Neill, Chief Technology Officer of Neill Corp. "Edwin had grown into a person that loved everyone. His impact has been and will continue to be enormous through all of the people he has assisted in realizing their potential."

Neill's death has touched the beauty industry nationwide.

"Edwin represents all that is and can be good," commented Melissa Yamaguchi, President of The Salon Association, "he believed in the good beyond the game of business. He saw the horizon beyond the shampoo and conditioner landscape. Every time I saw Edwin, he took the time to look me in the eyes and connect. He always had words of encouragement and visions of possibilities."

"Edwin has always been about others: his family, employees, customers, community," said Dominique Conseil, President of Aveda. "I hear his words, 'It cannot be about our planet unless it is about its inhabitants, people.' Edwin is forever the synonym of this value we promote as individuals, as a company, as a network: CARE. One of the best demonstrations of care is to develop others. Edwin's generous heart is in all his accomplishments, most particularly his cosmetology school development program. And he is in all our hearts."

Frederic Holzberger, founder & CEO of Aveda/Frederic's, a northern Aveda distributor, said of Neill, "I've known Edwin for 20 years and I can tell you this: He loved his family, loved people and never knew a stranger. He knew how to create unique relationships with those closest to him, with friends, customers, anyone he came in touch with. A true giant in our industry, Edwin was way ahead of his time. He was a creator, an entrepreneur, without a doubt. When he walked in a room, you sensed his presence; when he spoke, you listened; when he touched you, you felt his strength. Edwin was an environmentalist who restored the old to create the new. He was definitely a risk taker and a true genius. He taught me a lot. Edwin shared everything. His passing has left a huge void in our industry that is sure to be felt by all. "

Neill Corporation encompasses several other business, all centered around the growth and development of the beauty industry. Twenty years ago, Neill was one of the pioneers to address the need for a specialized software for the salon and spa industry the result was SalonBiz® and SpaBiz®, which have been the number one software of Salon Today's Top 200 five years in row.

In the late 90's, Neill launched etopa, a salon and spa resource for architectural and interior design, business plans, sundries, supplies, furniture and equipment, and retail sales development.

Neill was passionate about learning. Some of the businesses that were closest to his heart dealt with personal and professional development. Neill Quality College was his brainchild, dedicated to innovative learning methods that included team building, rope courses, mind mapping, as well as basic business principals.

Out of his love of innovative thinking, Neill also created ededge, a book summary club that featured author interviews with some of the most cutting-edge thinkers of our time.

"Edwin was a man of both Vision and Action," said Michael Bledsoe, president of Headlines Salon in Seattle. "He inspired people around him to become more than they thought possible. He achieved major success in more segments of his industry than any other person, and he accomplished this while always placing family first. Talking to Edwin one-on-one was one of the most exciting things I've done in my life. He was a mentor, a role model, an inspiration, and a damn fine friend."

Neill won numerous community and professional awards. He is survived by his wife, Debra; seven children: Edwin Neill III; Marty Hebeisen of Bern, Switzerland; Ross Neill; Stern Neill of Seattle, Washington; Tatum Neill; Garrison Neill; and Paris Neill; five grandchildren and hundreds of friends and coworkers.

A celebration of his life will be held Thursday, March 4 at 10 am at the Neill family home in Springfield, Louisiana - near Hammond. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to: Child Advocacy Services, 1504 W. Church Street, Hammond, LA 70401 c/o Mary Pirosko. CAS is a non-profit organization that provides programs, like CASA, for abused and neglected children.

Horst M. Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda and a personal friend of Neill's, commented this on his passing, "Greatness never ends, it continues."