Bill Harmsen facts for kids
| Born | June 24, 1912 Saint Paul, Minnesota, US |
|---|---|
| Died | April 10, 2002 (aged 89) Wheat Ridge, Colorado, US |
| Spouse | Dorothy Harmsen |
Bill Harmsen (born June 20, 1912, in Saint Paul, Minnesota – died April 10, 2002, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado) was a clever businessman. He is best known as one of the people who created the popular Jolly Rancher brand of hard candies.
Contents
The Story of Jolly Rancher
Bill Harmsen and his wife, Dorothy, were a great team. Dorothy was born on September 3, 1914, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They had three children together.
Starting a Sweet Business
In 1942, Bill and Dorothy moved to Denver, Colorado. Seven years later, in 1949, they opened their very own candy store. It was located in Golden, Colorado. They named their store "The Jolly Rancher." This name was inspired by an old store called "The Jolly Farmer" from their hometown of Minneapolis. That store sold hard candies during tough economic times.
At first, the Harmsens bought candy from other companies. But they weren't happy with the quality of the candy they received. So, they decided to make their own candy. This decision led to the creation of the famous Jolly Rancher candies we know today!
Jolly Rancher Becomes a Hit
The Harmsens worked hard and built a very successful company. They ran The Jolly Rancher for almost 21 years. In 1966, they sold their company to a larger business called Beatrice Foods. Bill Harmsen stayed on as president of the Jolly Rancher division until 1977.
Later, in 1996, another big company, Hershey, bought Jolly Rancher. Since then, Jolly Rancher has become one of America's most popular hard candies. It comes in many different flavors. Millions of these candies have been sold since they were first created!
Life After Candy Making
After Bill Harmsen left the candy business, he and Dorothy found new passions. They became very interested in collecting Western Art. This type of art shows scenes and people from the American West. They even started their own publishing company to write about their art collection.
Some of the famous artists whose works they collected included Alfred Miller, George Catlin, Joseph H. Sharp, Victor Higgins, Frederic Remington, and Robert Henri.
Giving Back to the Community
Bill and Dorothy Harmsen were also very generous. Later in their lives, they donated large pieces of land to the Golden Gate Canyon State Park in Colorado. This helped create and protect beautiful natural areas for everyone to enjoy.
In 2001, the couple made another huge donation. They gave nearly 5,000 pieces of art and items related to the American West to the Denver Art Museum. This amazing gift helps people learn about and appreciate the history and art of the American West.
Bill Harmsen passed away in 2002 at the age of 89. His wife, Dorothy, passed away in 2006 at age 91. They left behind a sweet legacy with Jolly Rancher and a rich cultural legacy through their art collection and donations.
