Kansas City Legend Henry Bloch Dead at 96

Henry Bloch with daughters Liz Uhlmann and Mary Jo Brown, when he was recognized as Ingram’s Philanthropist of the Year in December 2017.

A Champion of Business and Philanthropic Causes

H&R Block announced today that co-founder Henry Bloch had died at the age of 96, after a lifetime of legendary entrepreneurship and fierce commitment to civic and philanthropic causes in Kansas City.

Posting on its corporate Twitter feed, the company called Bloch “one of the founding voices of the tax preparation industry.” Bloch and his brother Richard co-founded H&R Block in 1955, creating what today is a public company with more than $3 billion in annual revenues. “With strong personal values and a commitment to clients, Bloch helped guide the growth of the small family business from a single storefront on Main Street in Kansas City, Mo., to become a global consumer tax services provider,” the company said.

Bloch retired as CEO in 1992, then left the board of directors in 2000, but devoted millions of dollars from his personal fortune to charitable causes, and still found time to serve as mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in the region. His philanthropy included the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation, the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Saint Luke’s Hospital and the H&R Block Foundation, the company said.

“Through his honesty and integrity, Henry embodied the best of American business, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. In so many ways, he was ahead of his time and a model for today’s entrepreneur,” said Jeff Jones, president and chief executive officer of H&R Block. “His vision lives on through our H&R Block associates and the many philanthropic organizations that he supported.”

Bloch, along with Bill Dunn of JE Dunn Construction, was recognized as Ingram’s Philanthropist of the Year in December 2017. You can read about his life and impact here.