Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Wisconsin billionare killed falling through floor
the Milwakee Journal Sentinel ^ | FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2007, 1:09 p.m. | By Rick Romell

Posted on 12/21/2007 9:04:30 PM PST by hercuroc

Ken Hendricks, a high school dropout who made himself into a billionaire, died early Friday after falling through a hole in a floor on an addition being built at his Rock County home.

Hendricks, the 66-year-old owner of ABC Supply Co. Inc. in Beloit, suffered massive head injuries and died in surgery at a hospital in Rockford, Ill.

Rock County Sheriff's Department Commander Troy Knudson said Hendricks and his wife, Diane, were having construction done at their home near Afton, between Beloit and Janesville. The couple had returned home about 10 p.m. Thursday night and Ken Hendricks walked out to inspect the progress of the construction work.

"There were blue tarps that were covering open areas that were nailed in place by two by fours and it appears he fell through one of those tarps," Knudson said.

Hendricks fell more than 10 feet to the basement and struck his head, authorities said. No underlying medical condition figured in the accident, said Sue Fiduccia, Winnebago County (Ill.) coroner.

His death has saddened many in Beloit, where Hendricks has been the once-struggling city's key benefactor - bringing in companies, creating jobs, fostering the arts and restoring abandoned industrial buildings.

"It's almost a matter of what hasn't he done," said Ron Nief, public affairs director at Beloit College and a friend of Hendricks. "I think probably the most important thing he's done for Beloit is inspire."

Hendricks, who grew up in Janesville and left high school at 17, built ABC Supply into a nationwide distributor of roofing, siding, windows and other building products. The company has 390 locations, 6,000 employees and about $3 billion a year in sales.

Forbes magazine recently estimated Hendricks' net worth at $3.5 billion, making him the 91st-richest American.

Hendricks started his business career as a part-time roofer, spotting potential customers as he drove a utility repair truck during the day. By age 30 he had 500 roofers working for him and was handling jobs at military bases and large stores. He also invested in real estate and, in 1982 with his wife, Diane, started ABC Supply.

He owned controlling interest in 16 other companies, several of them firms that Hendricks either brought to Beloit or got started there.

Hendricks, who decades ago moved his business base to Beloit because he felt he couldn't get financial backing in his native Janesville, restored the abandoned, run-down Fairbanks-Morse complex and situated ABC's headquarters there. He bought the vacant buildings of the defunct Beloit Corp. and installed a variety of new businesses there, along with a museum featuring sculpture fashioned from old papermaking machinery patterns Hendricks found in storage.

"It's kind of unusual to have a champion of the stature of a Ken Hendricks," Beloit city manager Larry Arft said. "Communities do have their leading citizens who support philanthropy and the arts in those communities, but this was kind of an extraordinary relationship."

Surviving Hendricks are his wife and their seven children.


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: billionaires
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-28 last
To: Hebrews 11:6

Could you post some verses about evil murderers and then note that you hope he’s not an evil murderer, as well?


21 posted on 12/22/2007 11:28:07 AM PST by jiggyboy (Ten per cent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Hebrews 11:6

Why do you say something so vile on the death of a man?

There has to be a verse tha describes people who do what you did. Look for it.


22 posted on 12/22/2007 11:37:12 AM PST by cajungirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: jiggyboy

No, thanks, I’ll pass. Happy Holidays to you, sir.


23 posted on 12/22/2007 12:33:23 PM PST by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God is, and (2) God is good?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: cajungirl
There has to be a verse tha describes people who do what you did. Look for it.

Actually, here's a perfectly good candidate that describes what you appear to have concluded I did: Ephesians 4:29. You might wish to consult it.

Happy Holidays to you, ma'am.

24 posted on 12/22/2007 12:36:23 PM PST by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God is, and (2) God is good?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Hebrews 11:6

I hope you take it to heart.


25 posted on 12/22/2007 3:35:52 PM PST by cajungirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: cajungirl
I hope you take it to heart.

My goal is to take not merely that verse but all of Scripture to heart. When I fail to do so, which is far too often both for my liking and, most especially, the Lord's, then both He and I are grieved.

Now, since I have freely granted you the liberty of questioning my implementation of Scripture, may I return the favor? To wit, the subject at hand: Are you letting the love of this world, as did the fellow in Jesus' story, inhibit your relationship with God?

26 posted on 12/22/2007 4:22:25 PM PST by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God is, and (2) God is good?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Hebrews 11:6

Probably.


27 posted on 12/22/2007 4:43:38 PM PST by cajungirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: cajungirl

We all do.


28 posted on 12/22/2007 5:25:17 PM PST by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God is, and (2) God is good?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-28 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson