Remembering Henry Bloch

"Tax is what we do, it is not why we are here."

Today we mourn the passing of H&R Block co-founder Henry Bloch. Henry is remembered as a father, husband, friend, entrepreneur, author, mentor, war hero, and philanthropist.

Along with is brother Richard, Henry created H&R Block and invented the tax preparation industry. But tax is not what we will remember about Henry, because he, and the company he built, are much larger than that.

When I joined H&R Block, Henry was long retired, but I wanted to get to know him. Rediscovering H&R Block’s purpose was a high priority for me as CEO and I wanted a strong understanding of our past. Who better to learn from than the visionary who founded this now worldwide brand? Since meeting Henry, he’s shared many stories about serving clients and supporting local communities. He told stories about long-term client friendships and helping them through life’s milestones. He rarely, if ever, talked about tax. 

Last fall, my wife Margaret and I had the pleasure of attending dinner at Henry’s home. After dinner, he asked us all to sit outside with him, one of his favorite things to do each evening. Margaret’s chair was covered with leaves, so Henry proceeded to brush off the chair before she sat. Here was a 96-year-old man, bending over with his cane, insistent he be the one to clean her chair! It was one of many reminders that helping and serving others is truly in H&R Block’s DNA.

In 2018 we introduced the company’s new purpose: to provide help and inspire confidence in our clients and communities everywhere. This purpose will help guide our future as the company continues to evolve and change for years to come, but it’s also largely inspired by our founder who I’ve grown to cherish. 

Henry Bloch will be missed. He’s helped more people than he’ll ever know and his legacy of service is one we’re proud to carry on.