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In Memoriam - Paul T. Henry
May 2, 2008 |
Paul T. Henry, age 68, passed away on April 29, 2008 at an Assisted Living Center in Appleton, WI. Paul was born in Prospect Park, Pennsylvania on January 30, 1940.
Paul graduated from West Chester State University in 1962, with a degree in Education. His first job was as a 5th grade teacher in Glenolden Elementary School. His love and talent for designing early educational learning materials led him to the supply side of the business when he joined The Instructo Corp. as Product Development and Sales Manager. A mere 14 years later he transferred to Teacher to Teacher as their V.P. and General Manager. Paul’s next career opportunity took him to Judy Instructo where he held the positions of Director and President. In 1990 Paul joined Bemiss-Jason as the Key Account Sales Manager and retired from Pacon Corporation in 2005.
He enjoyed track and field when he was in high school where he excelled in many events. He was thoroughly involved in his fraternity at West Chester where he was president of the class and remained extremely good friends with those who influenced him so early on in life. His many hobbies and interests included building model ships, reading novels, and coin collecting.
Paul is survived by four children: Matthew Henry and his wife, Halley, of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and their two children, Brynn (6) and Paige (4); Melanie (Henry) Patino and her husband, Enrique, of New Hope, Pennsylvania, and their three children, Nicolas (10), Antonio (6), and Mia (22 months); Stephen Henry and his wife, Jennifer, of Forest Hill, Maryland and their son, Jack (6 months) ; and Jeffrey Henry and his wife, Elana, of Appleton; a sister: Barbara Leto and her husband, Carmen, of Lewes, Delaware; a sister-in-law: Nancy Bauer of Glenmoor, Pennsylvania; and his mother-in-law: Elizabeth Gilmore, also of Pennsylvania. Paul was preceded in death by his wife Mary Jane in 2005, and brothers-in-law William Bauer and Larry Gilmore.
Paul touched the lives of many during his career in the school supply industry with his positive attitude, friendly smile and kind words.
A memorial service for Paul was held on May 3, 2008 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Appleton, WI. Interment will take place at a later date at Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. |
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June 29, 2007
Pacon Corporation Announces Acquisition of Riverside Paper Corporation |
Pacon Corporation / Appleton, WI finalized the purchase of Riverside Paper Corporation’s paper converting operations located in Mount Pleasant, Iowa on June 29, 2007. The purchase will position Pacon as the brand leader in the Educational market for art and specialty papers.
Jim Schmitz, President and CEO of Pacon stated “This acquisition is a big step in fulfilling the vision of our late founder Jerry Van Hoof to become the leading supplier of converted paper products to the School and Office Products market.”
This purchase completes the sixth acquisition in 8 years and the Company has realized top lines sales growth of over 500%. Pacon currently operates facilities in Neenah, WI and Appleton, WI employing 280 full time employees and 70 seasonal summer employees.
Pacon Corporation is a manufacturer, converter and supplier of Paper Products, Educational Aids and Arts & Crafts Products and markets its products world-wide. Pacon is a member of The Van Hoof Companies, which includes Strathmore Artist Papers™, Bemiss-Jason Display Division, Warehouse Specialists, Inc. and Superior Specialties, Inc.
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April 1, 2005- NSSEA
Pacon Accepts Educational Excellence Award |
The Education Excellence Foundation is proud to announce the 2005 recipients of the Excellence In Education awards: Evan-Moor Educational Publishers, Monterey, CA; Educational Supply Source, Inc., Bastrop, LA; and Pacon Corporation, Appleton, WI. Each company will receive the Crystal Award along with a check for $1,000 to the program that they sponsor. In addition, a representative from each member company has accepted the invitation to join the Foundation's Steering Committee. The programs that are sponsored by these NSSEA member help children either locally and/ or internationally. They truly represent Excellence In Education.
Pacon Corporation & The Adopt-A-School Partnership Program:
SGT Michelle Greek of Pacon's Marketing Department returned from 14 months in Iraq in 2004. During her time there she was in charge of the development of youth programs, resupplying and reconstructing over 60 schools, and implementing an education committee for the northern Babil Province. In the letter that accompanied her application Michelle wrote, "During my time in Iraq I instituted a program called Adopt-A-School that took off with great success. With extensive help from home I was able to get the needed supplies to over 50,000 children. People loved the idea that even though they weren't in Iraq they could make a difference in their own way. Since my return the emails have continued to pour in on a regular basis so we decided to continue the program."
Parents, teachers, and school suppliers across the country partnered with Pacon and Michelle. They get assigned a school in need along with a list of sought-after supplies for that specific school. Through the partnership the Adopt-A-School program gets the needed support for the kids in Iraq.
The check for $1,000 was presented to the The Salvatorian Mission Warehouse in New Holstein, WI along with 9 pallets of needed school supplies. The Salvatorian has made it possible to extend the Adopt-A-School program to other parts of the world like
Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Guatemala, Honduras, Grenada, Chile, and Panama.
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January 25, 2005
Paul Henry Retires After 40 Years in School Market
Pacon Corporation announces the retirement of Paul Henry, effective February 4th, 2005. Paul’s love and dedication in the education field has proven to be invaluable to all those who had the honor of working with him. |
In 1962 Paul started his career in education as a classroom teacher in Pennsylvania. He moved over to the school supply side of the industry when he joined The Instructo Corp. as Product Development and Sales Manager. A mere 14 years later he transferred to Teacher to Teacher as their V.P. and General Manager. Paul’s next career opportunity took him to Judy Instructo where he held the positions of Director and President. In 1990 Paul joined Bemiss-Jason as the Key Account Sales Manager and since 2002 Paul has held the same position with Pacon Corporation.
Over the last 40 years Paul has touched the lives of many colleagues, co-workers, customers, suppliers and friends who will miss his friendly smile, cheerful attitude and kind words. We thank Paul for his dedication and contributions to the school supply industry. As the great football legend Vince Lombardi once said “The harder you work the harder it is to surrender.” After 65 years he will finally take the well deserved retirement he has earned.
All of Paul’s friends at Pacon and in the industry wish him the very best in his retirement.
October 24, 2003
Chairman of Pacon Passes Away
Jerry H. Van Hoof, 89, Chairman of Pacon Corporation passed away on October 14, 2003. He was born in Little Chute Wisconsin and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree as well as a Law Degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1938. He served as a naval officer in the Pacific during World War II. In addition he received his Doctor of Law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1966.
Jerry was Chairman of Pacon Corporation, Superior Specialties Inc., and Warehouse Specialists Inc., active in all businesses until his passing. He also leaves a legacy of service to civic organizations where he served on the Corporate Board of Directors for the YMCA for the Fox Cities, and a member of the YMCA Heritage Committee. He established the Gerard H. Van Hoof Library and Civic Center in Little Chute, the Van Hoof Companies Scholarship Fund and the Little Chute Windmill, LLC.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Virginia Kline. He was survived by his five daughters, nine grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. The family established memorial funds in his name at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Gerard H. Van Hoof Library, and the Little Chute Windmill, LLC.
September 12, 2002
Pacon Corporation announces Bemiss-Jason Corporation Acquisition
Pacon Corporation has announced today that it acquired the assets of Bemiss-Jason Corporation, a Neenah, Wisconsin based company, from Creativity, Inc., a California holding company. Under terms of the agreement, Pacon Corporation will acquire all business assets, including manufacturing equipment, inventories and trademarks from Bemiss-Jason.
“This acquisition is a wonderful fit for Pacon Corporation,” said Jerry Van Hoof, the company's Chairman. "Their paper lines and strong marketing skills, coupled with our manufacturing and distribution efficiencies, really round out our customer offering. Their craft and display lines will also allow us the opportunity to diversify into additional markets".
“The strengths of both firms will be retained and meshed into a common entity,” said Jim Schmitz, the firm's President/CEO. “We wish to capitalize on the excellent trade names of both firms to create a market presence that is unequaled in the school supply industry”.
Pacon Corporation, which celebrated its 50th anniversary as a business last year, is a member of The Van Hoof Companies, which also includes Warehouse Specialists, Inc. and Superior Specialties, Inc., both of Appleton, WI.
Previous acquisitions by Pacon were the purchase of the school division of Wausau-Mosinee Paper Company in 1999, and the poster board division of Newark Paper Board in 2000.
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