W E LC O M E TO T H E B U S I N E S S, J E R R Y • 47 THE PASSING OF THE BATON In 1963 we created a profit sharing program for the company. At first it was an additional ten percent contribution to all employees. Then we were able to increase it 15 percent. It took me six years to convince my father that we should have a profit sharing program in addition to a yearly bonus. Being a product of the Depression, he did not think it was a good idea. When we finally started it he said we should have done it six years earlier. During my 38 years leading Harold W. Young, Inc. we made a contribution to the profit sharing every year. Today some members of the organization have hundreds of thousands of dollars in that fund. In 1965, my mother’s health had deteriorated. My father needed to spend more time at home taking care of her. He officially put me in charge of sales while he managed our finances. Together we incorporated the company. My father put one more dollar into the business than me—so he was still in charge. Unfortunately, my mother died at age 63, in 1967. Several years later my father married his next door neighbor, Sadie. He stopped making any calls but continued to pay all of the bills and salaries. At 43 years old I was running the show.