Henry W. Bloch facts for kids

Henry Wollman Bloch (born July 30, 1922 – died April 23, 2019) was an American businessman. He was best known for co-founding H&R Block, a big company that helps people prepare their taxes. He started the company in 1955 with his brother, Richard Bloch, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Early Life and Education

Henry Bloch was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 30, 1922. His parents were Hortense and Leon Bloch. He went to Southwest High School. He also studied at the University of Missouri–Kansas City and the University of Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1944. He even had special training at the Harvard Business School through the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Career and H&R Block

After World War II in 1945, Henry and his brother Leon started a company. It was called United Business Company. Later, his brother Richard joined them in 1946. They helped businesses with their bookkeeping and preparing their taxes. Taxes are money people pay to the government.

The company grew when they advertised in the Kansas City Star newspaper. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) also stopped offering free tax help. This meant more people needed help from companies like theirs.

In 1955, Henry and Richard officially founded the company H&R Block. Henry often explained that they misspelled their last name "Bloch" as "Block" in the company name. This was to make sure people pronounced it correctly, not like "blahch."

By 1962, H&R Block became a public company. This means people could buy shares of the company. In 2019, there were more than 12,000 H&R Block offices. Henry Bloch himself appeared in many TV ads for the company. He would say slogans like "Don't face the laws alone."

Personal Life and Honors

In 1951, Henry Bloch married Marion Helzberg. They had four children: Robert, Thomas, Mary Jo, and Elizabeth. They lived in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Henry Bloch received many honors for his work and giving back to the community. In 1980, he got the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.

Several places are named after him in Kansas City. These include the Henry Wollman Bloch Fountain near Union Station. The Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri–Kansas City is also named for him. And the Bloch Building, a big part of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, carries his name too.

In 2001, Henry Bloch was added to the Junior Achievement's U.S. Business Hall of Fame.

Death

Henry Bloch passed away in Kansas City on April 23, 2019. He was 96 years old. Jeff Jones, the head of H&R Block, remembered him as a great example for business owners. He said Henry showed the best of American business and giving back to the community. His ideas continue through H&R Block and the many charities he supported.