Last week I shook hands with Henry Bloch

[KansDem]

That’s the “H” in H&R Block. I attended a function at the Kansas City Public Library that featured Henry Bloch in a question/answer exchanged with the library director. Okay, at first I thought “Here we go: Another “success story” involving a wealthy American business icon. But I must admit I was very pleasantly surprised. Mr. Bloch was soft-spoken and articulate. He presented an air of humility sorely lacking in today’s CEOs. I was particularly impressed with his reminiscence of how his tax-preparation business was founded and how it grew. In essence, he acknowledged that being in the right place at the right time was just as important as vision and determination.

I shook hands with him during an informal reception following. I came away rejuvenated that there were still “movers and shakers” in the business world who haven’t forgotten their humble past, and who look at all persons in society with equal empathy and respect.

Oh, and he had to leave early from the reception. Why? I was told his wife is seriously ill at home and he didn’t want to be away from her for too long, and I thought, "Man, could Newt, Rush, John, David, and the rest of the Republican "family values he-men” learn a lesson from this man!"