H&R Block World Headquarters with Henry and Richard

Several weeks ago I was walking around in the rain downtown to get pictures of hotels and theaters.  I also found this building, H & R Block World Headquarters.  Of course I starting reading and researching.

It is unique oval shaped building.

After the war in 1945, Bloch and his brother, Leon, founded United Business Company, which provided bookkeeping and other services to small businesses in Kansas City. Shortly thereafter, Leon left the business to pursue a law degree, and younger brother Richard joined United Business Company in 1946.

The company primarily offered small business services, but in 1955, the IRS stopped preparing free tax returns in Kansas City. The brothers published a well-timed tax ad in the Kansas City Star, and the next day, the office was booming. 

In 1955, Henry and Richard Bloch renamed the business H&R Block, changing the spelling to avoid mispronunciation, and focused on tax preparation services. While Henry managed the company in Kansas City, Richard concentrated on nationwide expansion. By 1969, Richard shifted his efforts overseas while Henry took charge of the company's domestic business.

The company rapidly expanded, aided by the concept of franchising H&R Block tax offices. In 1962, H&R Block became a public company, with an initial public offering of 75,000 shares at $4 each. Today, there are more than 12,000 H&R Block offices.

Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Building on KU Campus in Kansas City

Richard Bloch was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 1978, and told he had three months to live. On his personal quest to “beat the odds,” he was cured after two years of aggressive therapy. 

Richard Bloch made a promise that if he survived, he would devote his life to helping others fight cancer. He left the business in 1980 and devoted the rest of his life to philanthropic activities to help cancer patients.

The Richard and Annette Bloch Family Foundation established a cancer hotline and still gives away books about fighting cancer. Richard Bloch passed away in 2004 from heart failure.

Nelson-Atkins Bloch Building

I circled it.  New skill

 2010, Marion and Henry Bloch announced that they would donate their personal collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings to the museum.

In 2011, Henry and his wife, Marion, established the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation to be able to continue to give back to Kansas City for generations to come.  In addition to his own foundation, Bloch and his wife were life-long supporters of three Kansas City institutions: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Saint Luke’s Hospital and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Henry Bloch Executive Hall on UMKC Campus

During his lifetime, Henry Bloch served on more than 50 corporate and nonprofit boards and received more than 50 awards and citations recognizing his entrepreneurial and philanthropic service to the academic, cultural and business communities. He received honorary doctorate degrees from eight colleges and universities.

Henry and Marion Bloch on UMKC Campus

When I took this picture last March I had no idea who it was.

Henry once said, “Over the years, I have enjoyed giving back. And in the process I have learned that true success is not measured in what you get, but in what you give back.” 

Henry Bloch died in 2019 at age 96.

That's the story for the week.  This story started because I saw a neat oval building.  

Until tomorrow.

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