Gerrard Wendell Haworth

Born in Nebraska, he moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan in 1926, where he attended high school.

[2] Hoping to earn extra money to put his children through college, Haworth started a woodworking shop in his garage in 1945.

Three years later, he quit teaching to focus on his new company full-time, which was founded as Modern Products.

In 1993, he was named the "Entrepreneur of the Year" by the University of Michigan Business School.

Western Theological Seminary, Hope College, Grand Valley State University his alma mater Western Michigan University and Black River Public School, as well as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Holland have all benefited from Haworth's donations.