I’d been to the country club to play golf and for business meetings, but none as important as this. Mr. Herrick had a reputation for his generosity as well as his straightforwardness. This turned out to be our only face to face encounter.
Gene Cooley was the superintendent in Tecumseh when I arrived in Britton. He invited me to lunch to share his insights into the area as his district and mine were neighbors. He told me a story about Ken Herrick.
A few years prior, Tecumseh voters approved a bond issue to build a pool. Mr. Herrick opposed the idea, but it passed in spite of his opposition. As the pool progressed a series of cost over-runs made the project $100,000 short of completion. Mr. Herrick showed up one afternoon, unannounced, to meet with Gene. After a brief exchange, Herrick reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a checkbook, and wrote a personal check for $100,000.
Gene was in shock, “I thought you were against this.”
“I am, but the community wants it, so let’s get it done.” Then he got up and walked out.
It was late summer of 2003 when I met with Mr. Herrick. He was retired from Tecumseh Products but kept office hours there a couple of hours each day overseeing the Herrick Foundation. I complemented him on his suit as I sat down for lunch. He just smiled. A server appeared and asked what I’d like to drink. “I’ll have a manhattan.” We were already starting to see eye to eye. He got right to the point.
“How can I help you?”
As I reached for the packet of information complete with drawings and a detailed budget, I spoke of the development of an athletic complex in Britton.
He waved his hand and said, “I don’t need to see that. How much are we talking about?”
“Our budget is $680,000.”
“I’m not giving you $600,000.”
“We don’t need that much. We’ve already received $200,000 from Max Larsen’s estate. I know you were good friends, and that’s why I’m approaching you next.”
Mr. Herrick was surprised that we’d received such a grant. I explained the circumstances regarding the gift, and he complemented me on the accomplishment. He said that he’d heard good things about me. That’s the last we spoke of money.
He directed the conversation to our families. He wanted to know about mine, and told me about his. He spoke fondly of his father, Ray, and the development of Tecumseh Products. Ray worked with Henry Ford prior to opening his Tecumseh business. He also founded the Herrick Foundation that Ken now led.
Ray helped establish the Tecumseh Country Club, including the golf course, so he’d have a place to entertain clients. He was also involved in the Herrick Park subdivision where many of “The Products” original employees built homes.
While my children were just beginning their careers, his children’s life paths were well established. After a time our conversation switched to our wives.
Shirley Todd Herrick was a graduate of Britton Schools. Their courtship was traditional. They dated, fell in love and married. It was clear that Ken thought the world of her. She helped him become as successful as he had.
I shared similar thoughts about Ruth. He enjoyed the story of our elopement. He found it adventurous.
Near the end of our conversation he offered up, “You know Bob, we’re a lot happier when they’re happy.” I agreed. And then he said, “Why does it take us so long to figure that out?”
After about two hours we bid our good-byes, and Ken said he’d be in touch. He wished me well.
I went back to school, found the school composite that included Shirley’s picture hanging in the hallway with the other composites from Britton’s one hundred plus years, and I contacted our school photographer. I asked if he could use the composite to develop a gift. He said he could. I told him, “I need it now.” Two days later I had a dual framed picture. Shirley’s class composite was on one side, and her portrait was on the other. I drove to Tecumseh Products and dropped the picture and a note for Ken. I thanked him for our meeting, hoped he’d enjoy the picture, then went back to school with my fingers crossed.
About two weeks later, on the opening day of school, I received a check in the mail for $100,000. Two more weeks passed, and another $100,000 arrived. We had $400,000 and were well on our way to our goal.
TBC