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This is a personal recollection of a man I only met a few times. But his life made an impact on mine. It is overtly spiritual and Christian, so if this bothers you, please continue to the next post. Thank you, kind reader. In college, a man named Charles Todd, who ran a company called "Todd Uniform", came to speak to a Christian group I'd was attending at the time. He related his business experiences and the history of his company, and shared his business philosophy with us. Here was a businessman, a CEO, whose main purpose was to serve people. I can't remember everything he said -- much has escaped me after almost twenty years (has it been that long?) -- yet I remember that he showed by his actions and corporate policies that obedience to Christ, caring for people, and building a business were not necessarily mutually exclusive. I later interviewed him and wrote a report on him for one of my b-school classes -- the paper got an A, but I believe it was because of the uniqueness of the subject. If I come across it, I may put some of up here. As I was sorting through a box of old things, I came across a paper containing Mr. Todd's personal philosophy, and thought I'd post it here, in the hope that others might benefit from it. Finally, before I spoil Mr. Todd's words with anything more I might have to say, I want to apologize profusely to him and his family for the previous revision of this article, which included a line reportingly, falsely, that Mr. Todd was no longer with us. I have since been corrected and told he is indeed still with us, had just celebrated his 87th birthday, and that rumors of his demise were greatly exaggerated, which I am quite glad to hear. The word needs more men like Charles Todd. My sincere apologies, Mr. Todd and family. Thank you, Sydd, for bringing this to my attention. I hope my mistake does not detract from what I had intended to be the focus of this article, Mr. Todd's personal philosophy:
Charles W. Todd (not Charles A.) is my uncle. He IS alive and well and had his 87th birthday this past Spring. While your intentions are good, there are many items in your article that are in error. You really owe it to him to get all the facts straight. Posted by: Sydd on September 20, 2004 03:28 PM Tim (is that really your name?) - Posted by: Sydd on September 22, 2004 10:51 PM Tim, I am another niece of Uncle Charles. (It's a big family - he grew up in a family of 9 kids). I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your honoring Uncle Charles. He is a phenomenal man. Many people in his position choose to be focused on themselves and on material wealth. Uncle Charles has, instead, chosen to use his situation to do good and try to help people all over the world. Thank you for acknowledging that he touched your life. Pegi Posted by: Pegi on September 23, 2004 10:55 AM i am trying to gain contact with actual members of this family to get information about the uniform company and some calendars they had produced 'The 1919 Golden Girl Calendar' made for Chas A Todd Uniform Company, were these caledars reproductions or were they made in 1919 as shown on the front of the calendar? Posted by: KAREN on September 29, 2004 05:39 PM Thanks for the correction Posted by: Kelli on March 3, 2006 09:45 PM I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Todd many times during my tenure with Todd Uniform as a production manager in the '70's. I found him a fair, decent, man who ran a very successful ship. Since I thought I worked for the best "uniform" and laundry company in the world, I was certain that Todd Unifrom would come to dominate the industry. I was dismayed that, for some reason, the company was eventually absorbed by a competitior. In any event, the morality and work ethic instilled in me by the Todd Corp. has stodd me in good stead these many years since. I'm happy to know Mr. Todd is doing well. Does anyone know how Tom Fuccolaro, John Centunzi, or, Roby Robertson are doing? Posted by: winston on August 17, 2006 11:20 AM I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Todd many times during my tenure with Todd Uniform as a production manager in the '70's. I found him a fair, decent, man who ran a very successful ship. Since I thought I worked for the best "uniform" and laundry company in the world, I was certain that Todd Unifrom would come to dominate the industry. I was dismayed that, for some reason, the company was eventually absorbed by a competitior. In any event, the morality and work ethic instilled in me by the Todd Corp. has stodd me in good stead these many years since. I'm happy to know Mr. Todd is doing well. Does anyone know how Tom Fuccolaro, John Centunzi, or, Roby Robertson are doing? Posted by: winston on August 17, 2006 11:20 AM I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Todd many times during my tenure with Todd Uniform as a production manager in the '70's. I found him a fair, decent, man who ran a very successful ship. Since I thought I worked for the best "uniform" and laundry company in the world, I was certain that Todd Unifrom would come to dominate the industry. I was dismayed that, for some reason, the company was eventually absorbed by a competitior. In any event, the morality and work ethic instilled in me by the Todd Corp. has stodd me in good stead these many years since. I'm happy to know Mr. Todd is doing well. Does anyone know how Tom Fuccolaro, John Centunzi, or, Roby Robertson are doing? Posted by: winston on August 17, 2006 11:20 AM You can call Charles Todd. He is still in touch with Tom and others. He still lives in Columbia and since you worked for him, I am sure that he will remember. Posted by: Todd Member on October 25, 2006 03:42 PM You can call Charles Todd. He is still in touch with Tom and others. He still lives in Columbia and since you worked for him, I am sure that he will remember. Posted by: Todd Member on October 25, 2006 03:43 PM I have heard that Mr. Todd has had a book wrote. Posted by: Sue on December 23, 2006 09:24 PM I have a gospel quartet known as the Barn Again Gang and we were priviledged to have been asked to do a concert for Charles Todd's 90th birthday celebration recently. We have known Charles just a few years and are so thankful for the blessing of meeting such a man of faith, integrity, honor, compassion and grace. He is truly a reflection of Christ in the world. He is such an inspiration and example of what tremendous things we can do to serve God by serving others. We hope to be given many more years of friendship with Charles as we have so much more to learn from him ! Posted by: Gene Penuel on March 5, 2007 07:33 PM I would really like to get medical background information from the Todd family. Paul Todd was my biological grandfather and I don't have any records for my daughter. I would greatly appreciate any information that could be forwarded. Sincerely, Posted by: Monica Brewer on October 26, 2007 04:06 PM I WORKED FOR CHAS TODD FOR 21 YEARS HE HAD A LOT TO DO WITH MY LIFE I THINK HE WAS A GREAT MAN. I WAS FIRED FROM HIS CO. HE IS STILL GREAT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM. GENE GURIEN Posted by: GENE GURIEN on June 14, 2008 11:13 AM I worked for Todd Uniform/Todd Corporation back in the 80's and remember Mr.Todd when he would visit our plant location in Des Moines,Iowa. He always had very positive things to say about the Des Moines staff and it's personnel.Without a doubt one of the kindest employers I have ever had the pleasure to work for. Posted by: joel buck on January 7, 2010 01:28 PM I worked for Todd Corp. back in the late 70's & early 80's at the Des Moines plant. While Mr. Todd was a wonderful man he allowed Bruce Main to run it into the ground. I married into the Centunzi family. I married the washman at the Des Moines plant. John Centunzi, Sr & Jr. are both alive, well and kickin! Mt mother and sister both worked for Mr. Todd. He treated my mother with the utmost respect. I would love to hear from some former Des Moines workers.....Jim Klosterman for one! Posted by: Tracy Creason on January 26, 2010 07:25 PM I am so happy I came upon this article. I worked for the company in the 50's at the St. Louis Co. Charles's dad was still there then also his Brother David, Sister Margaret, Sister Edna & her husband Bob. Charles's brother Paul. This company has always been so special mostly because of the reasons you have already mentioned. Everyone was treated like famiy. I left there because I was moving away. I moved to a very small town (Leasburg Mo.)I would sure like to have someone in the family contact me.I would just like to make contact again. Posted by: Shirley (Ennis) Williams on August 3, 2010 01:59 PM Add your two cents...
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Charles Todd is alive and well in Columbia Ill. His children are all alive in MO, TN, and TX
Posted by: Kelli on August 9, 2004 01:12 PM