All employees here at Stormy Kromer receive this nifty plaque when they are hired, reminding them of the rich Kromer history they are keeping alive.
We all have fun displaying them on our desks, sewing machines and other work stations. It gives everyone a little extra sense of pride.
So we got to thinking, who else deserves this honor?
Last month, at a long overdue dinner meeting in Milwaukee, Bob Jacquart, our CEO, presented Dick Grossman with a special Caretaker of a Legend plaque.
If you need a quick refresher, Mr. Grossman was the second owner of the Kromer Cap Company, having purchased it from Stormy himself in the mid-60’s. In 2001, after one meeting and a handshake, Bob and Dick had an agreement which moved the Kromer Blizzard Cap to its current home in Ironwood, MI. Dick continued running the Kromer Cap Company for a few more years in Milwaukee, manufacturing the company’s cotton caps used by welders, railroad workers, and other tradespeople.
At 79, Dick is now retired from the hat business. He’s as high-energy as ever, and is downright giddy about the success of Stormy Kromer over the past 10 years. He’s pretty sure that Stormy would be proud of us too.
Presenting this small token of appreciation to him seemed the least that we could do. Without him, who knows what would have been the fate of the now iconic cap? He believed in the product, in making things in the USA, and in good old-fashioned quality. He kept things going until the next Caretaker was ready to take over.
And for that Dick, we tip our caps to you.
