Heard last night that Bill Mays, founder of Mays Chemical Co., had passed away. Bill, an IU alum, was a native of Evansville and an acquaintance of mine (mostly by way of his board service at Vectren).
With all the racial strife making the news (and the Cooler) lately, I thought it appropriate to mention Bill's passing -- particularly in the context of a recent study by a UC Davis economist which has also made news essentially declaring the death of the American dream: that is, most of us are destined for nothing better than the life into which we are born.
Well, if that's true, then Bill Mays was a glaring exception. He's being remembered as "Indiana's best black businessman." While I don't think Bill would bristle at such a characterization, I think it more appropriate that he simply be remembered as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Indiana history....and a great role model for anybody who might want to flip the bird to the "you ain't goin' nowhere, chump" paradigm.
Bill founded his company in 1980 as a one-man shop. Thirty-four years later, it turns almost $200 million in annual revenues and does business all over the world. White, black, or otherwise -- there aren't too many people who can tout that kind of success.
Hat's off to a remarkable man who leaves a remarkable legacy from which, I think, we all can take some guidance and inspiration.
With all the racial strife making the news (and the Cooler) lately, I thought it appropriate to mention Bill's passing -- particularly in the context of a recent study by a UC Davis economist which has also made news essentially declaring the death of the American dream: that is, most of us are destined for nothing better than the life into which we are born.
Well, if that's true, then Bill Mays was a glaring exception. He's being remembered as "Indiana's best black businessman." While I don't think Bill would bristle at such a characterization, I think it more appropriate that he simply be remembered as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Indiana history....and a great role model for anybody who might want to flip the bird to the "you ain't goin' nowhere, chump" paradigm.
Bill founded his company in 1980 as a one-man shop. Thirty-four years later, it turns almost $200 million in annual revenues and does business all over the world. White, black, or otherwise -- there aren't too many people who can tout that kind of success.
Hat's off to a remarkable man who leaves a remarkable legacy from which, I think, we all can take some guidance and inspiration.