Orville D. Merillat
Encyclopedia
Orville D. Merillat businessman and philanthropist, was born on a dirt farm in Tedrow, Ohio
, on May 1, 1916, he quit school in the ninth grade to work on the family farm. He married Ruth Muller on January 19, 1941, and served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II
.
After the war, he started a cabinet-making business with his wife, and became the co-founder, President and CEO of Merillat Industries, Inc., building the business on the principles set forth in Malachi 3:10. Always a team, he and Ruth eventually employed over 3,000 people with more than eleven factories across the United States. Orville retired when the business was sold in 1983 to the Masco Corporation, and his son then became the President of Merillat Industries.
Orville was the recipient of the Michigan Small Business Person of the Year in 1977; co-recipient with Ruth of the National Association of Evangelicals' Laypersons of the Year in 1988; co-founded the Orville and Ruth Merillat Foundation; founded the Christian Family Foundation; was a major benefactor and contributor to Siena Heights College (Now Siena Heights University
) in Adrian, Michigan; was a major contributor to Huntington University
in Indiana; was a major contributor to Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan; was founder and benefactor of Lenawee Christian School and the Christian Family Centre; was the founder and benefactor of 243 acre (0.98338698 km²) Michindoh Camp and Conference Center in Hillsdale, Michigan; donated an obstetrics ward to Narsapur Hospital in India
; donated a wing to Bixby Hospital in Adrian, Michigan
; received an honorary doctorate degree from Huntington College; was the co-author of his autobiography "His Guiding Hand" published by Coral Ridge Ministries in 1992; was a major contributor to the Republican Party; was the father of Richard Merillat
; and was the grandfather of Wendy, Collette and Tricia.
Tedrow, Ohio
Tedrow is an unincorporated community in southwestern Dover Township, Fulton County, Ohio, United States. It lies at the intersection of the east-west County Road J with the north-south County Roads 17-2 and 17-3, 3 miles north and 3½ miles west of the northern edge of the city of Wauseon, the...
, on May 1, 1916, he quit school in the ninth grade to work on the family farm. He married Ruth Muller on January 19, 1941, and served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After the war, he started a cabinet-making business with his wife, and became the co-founder, President and CEO of Merillat Industries, Inc., building the business on the principles set forth in Malachi 3:10. Always a team, he and Ruth eventually employed over 3,000 people with more than eleven factories across the United States. Orville retired when the business was sold in 1983 to the Masco Corporation, and his son then became the President of Merillat Industries.
Orville was the recipient of the Michigan Small Business Person of the Year in 1977; co-recipient with Ruth of the National Association of Evangelicals' Laypersons of the Year in 1988; co-founded the Orville and Ruth Merillat Foundation; founded the Christian Family Foundation; was a major benefactor and contributor to Siena Heights College (Now Siena Heights University
Siena Heights University
Siena Heights University is a Roman Catholic postsecondary institution in Adrian, Michigan. It is affiliated with the St. Joseph Academy and Montessori Children’s House.-History:...
) in Adrian, Michigan; was a major contributor to Huntington University
Huntington University (United States)
Huntington University is an institution of higher education in Huntington, Indiana, United States, that is affiliated with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.- History :...
in Indiana; was a major contributor to Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan; was founder and benefactor of Lenawee Christian School and the Christian Family Centre; was the founder and benefactor of 243 acre (0.98338698 km²) Michindoh Camp and Conference Center in Hillsdale, Michigan; donated an obstetrics ward to Narsapur Hospital in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
; donated a wing to Bixby Hospital in Adrian, Michigan
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
; received an honorary doctorate degree from Huntington College; was the co-author of his autobiography "His Guiding Hand" published by Coral Ridge Ministries in 1992; was a major contributor to the Republican Party; was the father of Richard Merillat
Richard Merillat
Richard Merillat is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and the retired President/CEO of Merillat Industries.Born in Adrian, Michigan, his parents were Ruth and Orville D...
; and was the grandfather of Wendy, Collette and Tricia.