Hockey and steel tycoon John McConnell dies at 84

(FORTUNE Small Business) -- John McConnell, a steel-processing entrepreneur who grew the company he started on a $600 loan into a billion-dollar enterprise, died Friday of cancer at age 84. McConnell passed away at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, the same city in which he founded his business.

After growing up during the Great Depression and serving in World War II, McConnell enrolled in Michigan State University with G.I. Bill funding. Following in the footsteps of his father, McConnell entered the steel industry as a salesman for Weirton Steel Corp. After several years with Weirton, McConnell sensed the potential in custom-sized steel orders and set off to start his own company to fill that niche.

Headquartered in his basement, McConnell brokered his first order of steel with $1,200 in his checking account and a $600 loan against his 1952 Oldsmobile. The $600 profit on the deal catalyzed the birth of Worthington Industries Inc., (WOR) which was incorporated in 1955. It's now an 8,000 employee-strong company with $3 billion in sales last year.

McConnell received numerous accolades throughout his life, including Industry Week's Excellence in Management award and Financial World Magazine's Outstanding CEO of the Year award. Worthington made Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list in 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2006.

In his 2004 book Our Golden Rule, McConnell attributed his success to his customer service.

"John left his mark not only on the business world but on this community by way he treated people," says Cathy Lyttle, Worthington's vice president of corporate communications. "It didn't matter who you were; he would reach across the table and shake your hand. His philosophy was simple: Be honorable, do the right thing and trust people."

One of McConnell's landmark accomplishments was bringing a National Hockey League to Columbus. As the majority owner of the Blue Jackets, an expansion team founded in 2000, McConnell played a significant role in growing the franchise.

McConnell is survived by his two children, Margaret and John, and six grandchildren.