Richard Bloch facts for kids

Richard Adolf Bloch (February 15, 1926 – July 21, 2004) was an American businessman and helper of others. He is most famous for starting the tax preparation company H&R Block with his older brother, Henry, in 1955.

Richard Bloch faced a serious illness himself. This experience made him want to help other people who were fighting the same disease. He spent a lot of his time and money supporting cancer research and helping patients.

Early Life and Education

Richard Bloch was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to a Jewish family. His parents were Hortense and Leon Bloch. When he was in fourth grade, Richard found a printing press in his uncle's attic. This discovery sparked his first business idea.

He started a small printing business. By the time he was 12, he had three automatic presses. He was even printing things for several high schools in Kansas City. Later, he sold his successful business to a college in Iowa. They used it to teach students about printing.

When Richard was 16, he went to the Wharton School. This is a part of the University of Pennsylvania. He was the youngest person in his class. He earned a degree in economics in 1945. To help pay for college, he bought old cars, fixed them, and sold them for a profit.

Starting H&R Block

After college, Richard Bloch went back to Kansas City. He married his wife, Annette. He started working in the business of municipal bonds. Around the same time, his brothers, Henry and Leon, began a bookkeeping company called United Business Co. Richard's brothers soon asked him to join them as an accountant.

In 1953, Richard left the business for about a year. He worked as an expert helping jewelry stores become more efficient. While on a business trip, he realized his family was most important. He decided to return to Kansas City. Soon after, his brother Leon left the bookkeeping business to become a lawyer.

In 1955, Henry and Richard Bloch changed the name of their business. They called it H&R Block. They changed the spelling to make sure people said it correctly. They decided to focus mainly on helping people prepare their taxes. Henry managed the company in Kansas City. Richard worked on expanding the business all over the country. By 1969, Richard began focusing on expanding the company to other countries. Henry then took charge of the business in the United States.

Fighting Cancer and Helping Others

In 1978, Richard Bloch was told he had a very serious type of lung cancer. Doctors said he only had three months to live. But Richard refused to give up hope. He looked for treatment at the M.D. Anderson Center in Houston, Texas. After two years of strong treatment, his cancer went away. This is called remission.

By 1980, Richard was using his energy to help fund cancer research. In 1982, he sold his part of H&R Block. Richard and his wife, Annette, started the Cancer Hotline in 1980. This hotline helped people newly diagnosed with cancer. It also helped their friends and families learn about available treatments.

Later, they founded the R. A. Bloch Cancer Management Center. They also started the R. A. Bloch Cancer Support Center. Both of these are at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. In 1982, Ronald Reagan, who was president then, asked Richard to join the National Cancer Advisory Board. Richard was also a member of important groups like the National Academy of Sciences and the National Institutes of Health. He received awards for his public service and his work helping cancer patients.

In the late 1980s, Richard Bloch was diagnosed with colon cancer. This cancer was also successfully treated.

Later Years

Richard Bloch passed away from heart failure on July 21, 2004. He was 78 years old. He was survived by his wife, Annette. He also left behind his daughters, Linda, Barbara, and Nancy, and ten grandchildren.