The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22


a A''S'I-> Your columnist
Horace White has talked with
many people
who knew Louis in the early days
and they all say that one thing that
marks the man out from most men
Is that he has an enlightened ap-
proach 10 the difficult tasks before
him. When asked 10 explain this
idea further these people say that
Louis is the kind of person who
appraiseS the facts and proceeds TO
arrive al a Soluton. He cannot be
rushed into decisions nor can he
be frightened away from a decision
because the appraised facts may
indicate that the conSequents of
a decision demand little sacrifice
and work. In other words, Louis
Blount is tough minded business
man. He can call spade A spade"
without losing hope in the future.
Great Lakes Mutual could not
have selected a better man to he
responsible FOR the operations of
the company. Louis Blount has
grown with Great Lakes. All of
us must have noticed In our ex-
periences. men who have added
to the growth Of a business with
out growing themselves. This has
not been the case with Louis. He
has grown as he has made his
company grow. He has kept him
self aware of the world in which
he lives. He is a part of the great
movements that form eddies and
currents about him. BY so doing
he has demonstrated to the young
that II is nothing short of lazi-
ness to carry on business just for
business sake. Business must be
carried on for the growth and
development of the people served
by that particular business. Great
Lakes has become more than just
another insurance company. IL
has become a vital part Of the
lives of the members and the
community which II serves.
Blount is a leader OF men. Your
columnist has watched him for the
past ten years lead the men about
him with skill that is amazing TO
say the least. He has worked with
men who have no great back
grounds OF corporate experiences.
Many OF the men with whom he
has worked had very little corpo-
rate experience for that matter.
This statement is not criticism
of the men with whom he has
worked. There are not many Me-
groes who have had any great ex-
periences with corporate business
activity.
The men with whom Louis has
worked have been men who have
had the sense and wisdom to give
support and loyalty to good leader
ship. Louis has given leadership
and not "bullyship." He has been
able to give leadership because he
has been sure Of his ground and
when ne was not sure of his ground,
he was willing TO put In the work
and time necessary to make him
self sure.
Louis has the ability 10 oppraiSe
men. He very seldom asks a man
to explain what he is What Louis
Blount4 wants TO know is what a
man is willing 10 become | have
seen young men become something
important to themselves, their
families and communities under the
leadership Of Blount,
Men can only grow under lead
erShip from a personal point OF
view il the leader is an intensely
human person. Men may work
for time as II they are ma
chimes, but they will never grow
TO love their work and their
leader unless he Is very human.
A leader has to be able 10 listen
to the pettiness, narrownesS and
the great hopes of men with
equal concern. Blount has the
faculty to help little man to
become a big man by standing
with him long enough In his lit
tleness so that he can see. with
out too much fear, that he is lit
tie.
Blourt has sat in meeting called
by the frantic and has not lost his
| head
Louis Blount is a hard but kind
! task master. He * strict task
master because he knows that men
| lose reSuect for themselves IL they
| fail because nobody expects enough
Of them. Few men can do enough
TO please themselves and even
when they please themselves that
is not enough Man is a compare
/ tive animal. He likes TO test what
| he thinks is good by the opinion
/ of someone other than himself
One cannot becloud the mind Of
Louis by petty gossip He may al
low you to talk but he does not
forna, opinions on the basis Of RoS-
sip. He always asks. How do you
/ know" This question always
brings. "Er-Ha" or They Say" and
Louis responds. "A shaue" The
way he says it is so dlsarming.
Louis. your company Is giving
YOU honor at this season. Allow
us on the outside Of the company
TO say that we know many boys
and girls who will honor you
long after YOU are not here be-
cause Of the encouragement you
have given them. The integrity,
honesty and forthrightness YOU
have practiced will serve long
after YOU as a foundation for the
expansion Of Negro business in
Detroit.
Now. we know how you have
been the representative of your
board and policyholdcrs. We know
that your board has sent you when
they could not go. We know that
that fine board has wanted you
10 lead them into new paths. We
know that your people follow you
because their association with you
over the years has not found you
wanting. Our little testimony is
added 10 theirs because we in the
whole Detroit community have not
/ found Won wanting RleSeed arc we