The business grew in the 1950s and 60s, sometimes building homes at a rate of one per week. But schools and light commercial buildings were the firm's forte. Into the late 60s and early 70s, building gangs operated in Auckland and Northland.
Mr Guy also built up a significant joinery manufacturing business which diversified into ship fitout work, working with WECO and other ship builders on new vessels and refurbishing many of the ships that were worked on at Port Whangarei.
In 1978 Mr Guy and his partners built the Kensington Tavern and the group bought the Kaikohe Hotel. In 1981 Jack Guy Ltd opened a branch in Kaikohe.
In the80s it ran the largest commercial construction company in Northland and completed contracts from Te Kao to Point Chevalier.
It built schools, supermarkets, hospitals, factories, including the Kauri Dairy factory, apartments and office buildings in virtually every town and district in Northland and Rodney.
At its peak Jack Guy Ltd employed 124 staff. In the80s Mr Guy shifted attention to property development, building, in partnerships, more than 70 retail premises and office spaces in Kerikeri and Whangarei.
He also invested in the self-storage industry and still retains a significant interest in property in the Whangarei CBD.
Along the way Mr Guy became involved in the community.
He joined the Whangarei Lions Club in 1961 and was still a member 35 years later. In 1974 Mr Guy rose to occupy the top position in NZ as chairman of the council of governors.
Mr Guy has also been a huge supporter of St John. In 1970 he bought an ambulance and donated it to the Whangarei branch.
A long-time St John committee member, he was awarded a Life Membership of the Order of St John in 1993.
In 1986 Mr Guy was elected to the Northland Regional Council (NRC) and remained for nine years. In 1989 he was appointed to the Board of Northland Port Corporation and was on the board for 10 years, much of the time as chairman.
Mr Guy has supported numerous committees and charitable causes throughout his life. Thirty years ago he founded the Jack Guy Charitable Trust.
The trust granted numerous scholarships to Northland students attending university.
The trust also bought land at Ruakaka and donated ex-refinery buildings that were converted into the Holy Family Catholic Church, at Ruakaka.
Mr Guy was founding trustee and benefactor of the Catholic Homes Trust which built the Marian Heights Lifestyle Village. This trust is a major provider of emergency housing in Whangarei.
Mr Guy joins last year's Hall of Fame inductee Jeroen Jongejans along with previous inductees Wayne Cowley (2014), the late Michael Springford (2013), Mike Simm (2012), Dave Culham (2011), Monty Knight (2010) Michael Hill (2009) and the first inductee, the late Tom McKay (2008).
- For details on how to nominate visit northlandbusiness awards.co.nz/hall-of-fame-award/.
