Billionaire roofer dies in fall from roof.

nojobny · 12-21-2007, 02:44 PM

Roofing magnate dies in fall

BELOIT, Wisconsin (AP) -- The 91st-richest man in the United States, a roofing company billionaire, has died after falling through his home garage's roof, local authorities said Friday.

Ken Hendricks, 66, reportedly was checking the roof on his garage when he fell.

Ken Hendricks, 66, was checking on construction Thursday night on the roof at his home in the town of Rock when he fell through, Rock County Sheriff's Department Cmdr. Troy Knudson said.

Hendricks suffered massive head injuries, according to his company, ABC Supply Co.

Hendricks' wife called authorities and attempted CPR on her husband, Knudson said. Hendricks was taken first to a Beloit hospital and then transferred to Rockford Memorial Hospital in Winnebago County, Illinois.

He was pronounced dead there early Friday morning, Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia said. An autopsy was planned for Friday.

Hendricks was the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of ABC Supply, which describes itself as the nation's largest wholesale distributor of roofing. The Beloit-based company does about $3 billion in business a year.

Hendricks had a net worth of $3.5 billion in September, according to Forbes magazine. That made him the country's 91st-richest person, according to the magazine's ranking of American billionaires.

But he seemed unfazed by his wealth.

"It doesn't make any difference to me; I can't spend it," Hendricks said in an interview with Inc.com in September 2006. "I'd have to sell the company, and I'll sell the company over my dead body."

Hendricks, the son of a Janesville roofer, worked side-by-side with his father growing up. A high school dropout, he started his own roofing business at age 21, according to his biography on ABC Supply's Web site.

Tired of having to deal with multiple suppliers scattered around the country, he and his wife, Diane, started a national supply distribution chain in 1982.

The company celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, with 6,000 employees in 390 locations nationwide.

"This is an enormous tragedy and a great loss to the family, associates and the community," ABC Supply said in a statement.

Hendricks and his wife also owned a variety of companies through the Hendricks Holding Co. and a property development group with more than 25 million square feet of industrial and commercial real estate.

The couple had seven children, according to their biographies.

touchdownward · 12-21-2007, 02:48 PM

Sad and how bitterly ironic.

nojobny · 12-21-2007, 03:15 PM

Isn't it. You would think at that point in his career he would get an employee to do that for him. But I guess not when it's what you're know for.

Preacher · 12-21-2007, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nojobny

Isn't it. You would think at that point in his career he would get an employee to do that for him. But I guess not when it's what you're know for.

If I read it wrong, it was his own roof he was checking out...

I hope and pray his family makes it through the holidays ok.

***tony hipchest*** · 12-21-2007, 05:41 PM

you cant even make up this type of irony. i wonder if it was his own product he fell through.

touchdownward · 12-21-2007, 06:15 PM

Not to sound cold here, but this would be the equivalent if Milton Hershey would have drowned in chocolate.

klick81 · 12-25-2007, 02:42 AM

Nahhhh...i don't really find it ironic, seeing as how he was checking for problems (which he obviously found). Ironic, imo, would be if he was up there for another reason, and just fell through. Either way, RIP.

touchdownward · 12-25-2007, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klick81

Nahhhh...i don't really find it ironic, seeing as how he was checking for problems (which he obviously found). Ironic, imo, would be if he was up there for another reason, and just fell through. Either way, RIP.

You don't find it ironic that this guy is a billionaire for selling roofing supplies and he fell to his death through his own product in his own home?

Like I said earlier, not trying to make light of the situation, but this oozes with irony.

stillers4me · 12-26-2007, 10:45 AM

I guess he found the problem.

I guess he could have had someone else go up there, but he sounds like a guy that worked hard the old fashioned way and wanted to do it himself. RIP.

12-21-2007, 02:44 PM	#1
nojobny Team Captain Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 782 Member Number: 5924 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Billionaire roofer dies in fall from roof. Roofing magnate dies in fall BELOIT, Wisconsin (AP) -- The 91st-richest man in the United States, a roofing company billionaire, has died after falling through his home garage's roof, local authorities said Friday. Ken Hendricks, 66, reportedly was checking the roof on his garage when he fell. Ken Hendricks, 66, was checking on construction Thursday night on the roof at his home in the town of Rock when he fell through, Rock County Sheriff's Department Cmdr. Troy Knudson said. Hendricks suffered massive head injuries, according to his company, ABC Supply Co. Hendricks' wife called authorities and attempted CPR on her husband, Knudson said. Hendricks was taken first to a Beloit hospital and then transferred to Rockford Memorial Hospital in Winnebago County, Illinois. He was pronounced dead there early Friday morning, Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia said. An autopsy was planned for Friday. Hendricks was the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of ABC Supply, which describes itself as the nation's largest wholesale distributor of roofing. The Beloit-based company does about $3 billion in business a year. Hendricks had a net worth of $3.5 billion in September, according to Forbes magazine. That made him the country's 91st-richest person, according to the magazine's ranking of American billionaires. But he seemed unfazed by his wealth. "It doesn't make any difference to me; I can't spend it," Hendricks said in an interview with Inc.com in September 2006. "I'd have to sell the company, and I'll sell the company over my dead body." Hendricks, the son of a Janesville roofer, worked side-by-side with his father growing up. A high school dropout, he started his own roofing business at age 21, according to his biography on ABC Supply's Web site. Tired of having to deal with multiple suppliers scattered around the country, he and his wife, Diane, started a national supply distribution chain in 1982. The company celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, with 6,000 employees in 390 locations nationwide. "This is an enormous tragedy and a great loss to the family, associates and the community," ABC Supply said in a statement. Hendricks and his wife also owned a variety of companies through the Hendricks Holding Co. and a property development group with more than 25 million square feet of industrial and commercial real estate. The couple had seven children, according to their biographies. __________________

12-21-2007, 02:48 PM	#2
touchdownward Team President Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 2,011 Gender: Male Member Number: 3188 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Billionaire roofer dies in fall from roof. Sad and how bitterly ironic. __________________ Blah!

12-21-2007, 03:15 PM	#3
nojobny Team Captain Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 782 Member Number: 5924 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Billionaire roofer dies in fall from roof. Isn't it. You would think at that point in his career he would get an employee to do that for him. But I guess not when it's what you're know for. __________________

12-21-2007, 05:41 PM	#5
*tony hipchest* IRONMAN a.k.a. Tony Stark Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Give me back my game... Posts: 34,340 Member Number: 658 Thanks: 184 Thanked 230 Times in 164 Posts	Re: Billionaire roofer dies in fall from roof. you cant even make up this type of irony. i wonder if it was his own product he fell through. __________________

12-21-2007, 06:15 PM	#6
touchdownward Team President Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 2,011 Gender: Male Member Number: 3188 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Billionaire roofer dies in fall from roof. Not to sound cold here, but this would be the equivalent if Milton Hershey would have drowned in chocolate. __________________ Blah!

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12-26-2007, 10:45 AM	#9
stillers4me Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 8,670 Gender: Female Member Number: 2656 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Billionaire roofer dies in fall from roof. I guess he found the problem. I guess he could have had someone else go up there, but he sounds like a guy that worked hard the old fashioned way and wanted to do it himself. RIP.

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