Stephanie, Arthur and Molly Blank with Bill Nordmark

APRIL 19, 2010

It is a great privilege to be here today and present the Atlanta Rotary Legends Award to my friend, Arthur Blank. And it is an honor to have his wife, Stephanie and many members of their Family office and The Falcons here to celebrate with us. This is a remarkable team.   And it is a very special honor to have his mother, Molly Blank, is here with him. I believe this is the first time we have had a recipient young enough to have his mother attend. It reminds me of Governor Barnes comment at Arthur’s retirement party, noting “This is the first time I have been to a retirement party where the honoree is expecting twins.”  But Arthur has always been young at heart and ahead of schedule.

Charlie Yates and Arthur Blank

When I met Arthur 10 years ago, he was already a legend in the business world and our community as the co-founder of The Home Depot. Much of his story is well known to us all:

• The Home Depot, founded 32 years ago, is the world’s largest home improvement retailer,
  • 2,244 stores
  • Revenue of $66.2 BN.
  • At the time of his retirement, The Home Depot
    • Was one of Fortune magazine’s “Global Most Admired Companies.” 
    • Ranked first in social responsibility by Harris Interactive, Inc.

 The Atlanta Falcons, was long an underachieving franchise,

• But in Arthur’s first year, generated a 100 percent increase in season ticket sales – the highest single-year increase in NFL history,
• Began a streak of 56 consecutive sold-out games, and
• Last year completed back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history.
• What is important to him though is giving back
  • $16 MM from the Falcons Youth Foundation
  • Desire for success linked to leaving most of team to Foundation

• The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, along with Arthur and Stephanie’s personal giving, has granted more than $250 million to various non-profit organizations, touching countless lives.
• He has twice been named Georgia Trend magazine's most respected chief executive officer in the state.
• Was 2005 National Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young.
  
  
• Was the 2003 Chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
• He serves on a number of boards reflecting his interests, including
  • Outward Bound USA
  • The Carter Center,
  • The Cooper Institute,
  • Cox Enterprises,
  • Emory University, and
  • Staples Inc.

Preparing these remarks has given me an opportunity reflect on my friendship with Arthur and most importantly to listen to others and learn more about this man and what makes him so special.

And there are several consistent themes that run thru this remarkable legacy of achievement.

Arthur’s mantra in his business and personal life is,

• “There is no finish line.”

He also believes that “The impossible... is only something that hasn't been done yet. “

Arthur credits his parents with giving him a strong drive to succeed.

• Arthur grew up in Queens, New York, in a small one-bedroom apartment with his parents and older brother, Michael.
• His father, Max, started a small mail order pharmaceutical business, Sherry Pharmaceutical. Unfortunately, he passed away when Arthur was only 15.
• Arthur’s mother, Molly, decided to take over the business. She had no business experience, but built it from the ground up into a multi-million dollar company.”

He obviously learned well from their entrepreneurial examples

From his parents he also learned the lessons of giving back

• They taught him that we are called to be our brother's keeper. 
• They shared their scarce time -- and even scarcer dollars -- with people who had even less than we did.
• His mother still tells him that everything we are able to do in life is a gift. 

She also shared her love of the arts with her sons.

• Arthur talks fondly of the trips around New York to concerts and operas.
• And we are proud that she regularly attends performances at The Atlanta Opera with her grandson Kenny.
• I am reminded of Churchill’s saying:  “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”

Charlie Yates