Ken Hendricks
Ken Hendricks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1941-09-08)September 8, 1941 Janesville, Wisconsin, United States |
| Died | December 21, 2007(2007-12-21) (aged 66) Afton, Wisconsin, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Kenneth A. "Ken" Hendricks (September 8, 1941 – December 21, 2007) was an American businessman who grew a shingle supply company into a $2.6 billion fortune and a spot on the Forbes 400. Primarily associated with Beloit, Wisconsin, Hendricks lived in nearby Afton.
Contents
1 Business career
2 Death
3 References
4 External links
Business career
Hendricks, born and raised in Janesville, Wisconsin, was a high school dropout who joined his father in the roofing business, reshingling houses on weekends. He eventually started his own firm, which grew into a 500-man multi-state operation by 1971, a time when most roofers were still local. After giving the company to the employees so he would have more personal time, he started ABC Supply by purchasing three failing Bird and Sons locations. Through the years ABC Supply has expanded to almost 500 stores through new start-ups and acquisitions. Most recently ABC acquired the second largest roofing distributor Bradco Supply in 2010. ABC Supply has become the largest U.S. wholesaler of roofing, siding, windows and gutter supplies, with annual sales over $3 billion. Hendricks remained the sole owner, and was added to the Forbes 400 in 2004. In 2006, with his personal wealth estimated at $2.6 billion, Hendricks was added to the Forbes list of the world's billionaires.
He also owned the Beloit Plaza mall and the former Beloit Corporation manufacturing complex, much of which has been completely redeveloped; ABC Supply took over most of the disused Fairbanks-Morse complex, as well. In 2008, he was posthumously awarded, with his widow Diane, a special "20 Year Award of Excellence" from the Downtown Beloit Association because they "nurtured a small movement" that re-energized the city business district.[1]
In 2001, he was cited for exceeding the state's campaign laws mandating a $10,000 limit on political contributions. No legal action was taken.[2] Ken and his wife Diane owned and ran several other companies through the Hendricks Group. He was known for his interest in green building technology, and was set to build an environmentally friendly roof for a complex at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Hendricks was involved in efforts to build a new stadium for the Beloit Snappers minor-league baseball team, and was the developer of a residential plot in Janesville.
In 2006, Inc. named Hendricks its 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year award[3] and he was featured on the magazine's cover.[4] Inc. had ranked ABC Supply its #1 Inc. 500 business in 1986, after which it was too large to list.
Death
Hendricks died at age 66 on December 21, 2007, in Afton, Wisconsin, when he fell through a sub floor under construction and into the garage of his home.[5] He left behind his wife, Diane Hendricks, and seven children, Kendra, Kim, Kathy, Kevin, Brent, Kara, and Konya.[6][7]
References
^ Hillary Gavan (March 27, 2008). "Downtown group marks 20th anniversary". Beloit Daily News. Retrieved 2008-04-23..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Six contributors violate campaign finance laws
^ "Inc. names Beloit's Hendricks as Entrepreneur of the Year". November 29, 2006.
^ USA Today. September 8, 2010 http://blogs.usatoday.com/smallbiz/2006/11/new_tips_for_be.html. Missing or empty|title=(help)
[dead link]
^ "Billionaire Hendricks dies after fall". The Janesville Gazette. December 21, 2007. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
^ Brown, Krista (December 29, 2007). "Hendricks laid to rest". Beloit Daily News. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
^ Hendricks Holding Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
External links
- "Up on the Roof"
Forbes World's Richest listing- Hendricks debuts on Forbes 400
- "Create Jobs, Eliminate Waste, Preserve Value", Inc. magazine profile
