My father's cousin went to high school with Chuck Feeney, and they graduated from a high school in Elizabeth, NJ. He was from a poor family and appreciated the high school education that helped him to become such a successful businessman, and when he sold his company, becoming a billionaire in the process, he decided to invite EVERY member of his high school class ( and spouses) on an expense paid trip with him to Ireland! My father's cousin. Barbara said he was the most down to earth, humble, thankful man and a joy to be around.
I didn't read that article mentioned in the Times, but I'll go back to read it for sure. Glad that Smith found a way to do what he wants with his company.
Feeney's altruism shines even brighter when set against his DFS (that's the company he started) partner, Robert Miller. Miller hasn't been in the news as much lately, but he and his family generated a lot of it during the 1990s-2000s. Miller used his money to burnish his image, buy lots of properties all over the world, marry off his daughters to rich, powerful men...well, you get the picture. I forgot Miller's name and had to look it up. That's when I found this article on him https://therake.com/us/stories/millers-tale which makes quite interesting reading.
If only some of those tech billionaires out there would take up Feeney's mantle...
I read your Inc. column while looking for more information on Mr Smith. Believe it or not, I could find nothing about him in Wiki. I did see though that there is an Eddie Smith Field House on the UNC-CH campus and he gave a commencement address there.
So really I was just trying to find out a little more about the guy besides what you wrote about him Bill. Was he a local boy made good? If so, that partly speaks to the boy who made the man I think. I think what he did with that almost defunct boat company is amazing especially since the company is located in a part of the state that has faced its challenges.
So Bill, if you could find out more about Mr Smith, Jr besides the fact that he worked an awful lot, that might make an even better story.
Kurt Vonnegut and his friend and fellow author, Joseph Heller, went to a party at a billionaire’s mansion in Shelter Island, New York.
They walked in and found themselves in a room filled with artwork by the likes of Monet and Picasso, like an art gallery.
Vonnegut turned to Heller and asked, “How does it make you feel that our host only yesterday may have made more money than your novel, Catch-22, earned in its entire history?”
Heller replied, “Yeah, but I have something he doesn’t have. I have enough.”
Love the story about Smith. Do you think Ben & Jerry ice wish they something similar ?
Vermonter here - I wondered the exact same thing about Ben & Jerry!
My father's cousin went to high school with Chuck Feeney, and they graduated from a high school in Elizabeth, NJ. He was from a poor family and appreciated the high school education that helped him to become such a successful businessman, and when he sold his company, becoming a billionaire in the process, he decided to invite EVERY member of his high school class ( and spouses) on an expense paid trip with him to Ireland! My father's cousin. Barbara said he was the most down to earth, humble, thankful man and a joy to be around.
Love, love the stories about the wealthy giving away their money for the betterment of all. Awesome role models.
Loved seeing Rosie O'D on Kimmel too.
I wish there were more “billionaires “ who behaved like this. Greed these days is way out of bounds!
This reminded me of the "Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great" book
https://www.amazon.es/Incorruptible-Good-Companies-Great-Stay/dp/0241692024
Thanks!
I didn't read that article mentioned in the Times, but I'll go back to read it for sure. Glad that Smith found a way to do what he wants with his company.
Feeney's altruism shines even brighter when set against his DFS (that's the company he started) partner, Robert Miller. Miller hasn't been in the news as much lately, but he and his family generated a lot of it during the 1990s-2000s. Miller used his money to burnish his image, buy lots of properties all over the world, marry off his daughters to rich, powerful men...well, you get the picture. I forgot Miller's name and had to look it up. That's when I found this article on him https://therake.com/us/stories/millers-tale which makes quite interesting reading.
If only some of those tech billionaires out there would take up Feeney's mantle...
I read your Inc. column while looking for more information on Mr Smith. Believe it or not, I could find nothing about him in Wiki. I did see though that there is an Eddie Smith Field House on the UNC-CH campus and he gave a commencement address there.
So really I was just trying to find out a little more about the guy besides what you wrote about him Bill. Was he a local boy made good? If so, that partly speaks to the boy who made the man I think. I think what he did with that almost defunct boat company is amazing especially since the company is located in a part of the state that has faced its challenges.
So Bill, if you could find out more about Mr Smith, Jr besides the fact that he worked an awful lot, that might make an even better story.
Kurt Vonnegut and his friend and fellow author, Joseph Heller, went to a party at a billionaire’s mansion in Shelter Island, New York.
They walked in and found themselves in a room filled with artwork by the likes of Monet and Picasso, like an art gallery.
Vonnegut turned to Heller and asked, “How does it make you feel that our host only yesterday may have made more money than your novel, Catch-22, earned in its entire history?”
Heller replied, “Yeah, but I have something he doesn’t have. I have enough.”