Roger De Clerck facts for kids
Roger De Clerck (born July 27, 1924 – died October 23, 2015) was a Belgian businessman. He was the leader of the Beaulieu textile company. His family was known as one of the richest in Belgium. During his life, he faced some discussions and accusations about how his company handled its money.
Life Story
Roger De Clerck was born in Wielsbeke. He was the second son in a family that owned a large flax farm called "Ter Lembeek." His two brothers became priests. His uncle, Albert De Clerck, was a minister, and his sister Thérèse married Willy De Nolf, who started the company Roularta.
In 1951, Roger De Clerck married Anne-Marie Hanssens. Normally, he would have taken over his father's farm. However, the market for flax became very difficult around that time. So, he had to find a different way to make a living. Roger decided to start making looms (machines for weaving fabric) and later, carpets. In 1959, he created his own carpet company called "Beaulieu." Over the next few decades, this company grew into an international business. He also became involved in politics with the CVP party.
By 1991, Roger De Clerck decided to divide his large business among his children. This happened because of some disagreements among them. His son Jan received the company Domo. Luc became the head of Berry Group. Mieke took over Associated Weavers. Francis got Ideal Group. Ann managed Beaulieu Kruishoutem, and Dominiek received Ter Lembeek. Most of his children kept their main offices in Belgium. Only Mieke moved her part of the business to the USA.
In 1992, Jan De Clerck's son, Anthony, who was eleven years old, was kidnapped. A large sum of money was demanded for his return. After about a month, Anthony was safely freed, and the people responsible were caught.
During the 1990s and 2000s, Beaulieu faced more competition from companies in other countries. In 2005, four parts of the company joined together to form Beaulieu International Group. This group is still the biggest carpet company in Western Europe. Some parts were kept separate, like Domo (because Jan had some disagreements with his father) and Beaulieu in America (which Mieke wanted to keep independent). By this time, none of Roger De Clerck's children were involved in the daily running of the company. In October 2005, Roger De Clerck himself also stepped down from his role.
Public Image
Even though Roger De Clerck was very wealthy and had a huge company, the media often called him "Boer Clerck" (Farmer Clerck). This was because of his farming background, his local accent, and his simple way of acting. He did not like this nickname at all.
In 1999, Roger De Clerck celebrated his 75th birthday. This event got a lot of attention from the news. He invited famous politicians from around the world to a party in his garden. Guests included Margaret Thatcher and George H. W. Bush. Mikhail Gorbachev was also invited but could not come because his wife, Raisa Gorbachev, was very ill. She passed away later that year. Roger De Clerck's son Jan was not invited to the party due to family disagreements.
Later Years and Passing
Roger De Clerck passed away in 2015. He was 91 years old.
