Ken Hendricks, R.I.P.
High school dropout and self-made billionaire Ken Hendricks has died at 66 after a fall at his home. He was chief executive of ABC Supply, one of the top makers of roofing materials in the US. For more details on his death, see this Bloomberg story.
Two years ago, Hendricks graced the cover of Inc. magazine. The long feature on him chronicles his improbable rise to fortune, discusses the pros and the cons of his efforts to rejuvenate his hometown of Beloit, Wisconsin, and generally gives an idea of his abundant energy and drive. It’s well worth reading.
Create Jobs, Eliminate Waste, Preserve Value
Those six words explain a lot: Why Ken Hendricks is worth $2.6 billion, how he came to be a walking textbook on identifying and exploiting business opportunities, how he manages to make (relatively) few enemies while treating Beloit, Wisconsin, like one vast fixer-upper–and why he is our Entrepreneur of the Year
ABC Supply now faces a challenge common to companies of all sizes when they lose their prime movers. Where would Apple be without Steve Jobs? Where would Amazon be without Jeff Bezos? Where would your favorite local restaurant be without its owner / manager / impresario? At the same time that they deal with the tragic (and perhaps bitterly ironic) death of their paterfamilias, the members of the Hendricks family also must deal with his death’s implications for the company that so clearly bore his imprint.
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He was a great man and did a lot to help Beloit.
The loss of Ken Hendricks is a big tragedy. I got to know Ken Hendricks through my work with the Rockford Area Ventures developing the Essex building (a former munitions factory) that he had recently purchased. Many of us involved with the project were excited about repurposing the facility as a global center for innovation. Ken was an inspirational character—little ego, optimistic, entrepreneurial and a man of great accomplishments. I remember a number of meetings with him revolving around the future of the Rockford economy—K-12 education, leadership, business incubators, emerging markets, green technology, wind turbines and broadband access among others. His insights were respected and he was always encouraging those around him to get on with the job. He was a visionary and, more significant, an actionary. He will certainly be missed.
Egils Milbergs
Center for Accelerating Innovation
http://www.innovate.typepad.com
Though I never met him, I cried upon reading of his death. I have a second home in Beloit and know how much he has benefited the city. He was one of the people I admired most and one whom I counted on for inspiration. My condolences to his family, friends and associates.
I’ve worked for ABC Supply for five years it is and will always be a woundeful company to work for! Kens passing is only going to make ABC stronger!
I been an ABC employee for three years, and met Ken twice. I heard him tell us his story about his life and the start of this company. I am proud to be part of tha ABC family and also morn the loss of this great man.He will always be remembered in my family as well as the families of all the people he helped. Ken rest in peace!
Tamlyn is proud to be a supplier to ABC Supply and will do whatever we can to help them get through this tragedy, we lost our founder only 4 years ago.
Tom Tamlyn
President
Kenneth Hendricks was THE American cousin of mine.
His grandparents were born in the Netherlands because the name Hendricks is a real double Duth name. he visited us here quite sometimes but since a year or 3 we do not hear from his family me unfortunately.
We were shocked to hear from his death by an other Dutch related family member and we visited their former home in Janesville once and we had a great time together.
Lets all hope thet Diane and his entire family will find the strength and curage to overcome this great loss.
We here in Rotterdam Holland wish them all and nothing but the best.