"He Tackles Tennis, Life With Zest."

The Clearwater FL newspaper article about John Kellogg was headlined with the quote about tackling tennis and life with zest.  John had just written the short autobiography that's part of Pieces of a Life.  and apparently sent a copy to the newspaper along with the ones he sent to his children (myself and Ken) and five grandchildren.  He turned 75 three days after the article was published on Aug. 22, 1974.


I'll quote some of it, though you'll know what's coming if you've read the book.  His philosophy was written in stone.  "Not many 75-year-old men play tennis three times a week.  J.W. Kellogg does, and his arduous schedule tells a lot about the man."

" 'I hadn't played in more than 35 years, didn't have the time.  After I retired, I took lessons and it all came back, ' said Kellogg, a member of the Clearwater Tennis Club. ' "  Note:  He did play with Ken and a little with me when I was in grade school, but maybe that didn't count.

"Although his game is slower now, he plays it with the same dedication and seriousness with which he has tackled work and play all of his life.  Dedication to a goal and extra effort to 'make each job successful plus' pay big dividends, Kellogg said.  With that in mind, he is leaving his five grandchildren a double legacy:  several thousand dollars in bonds for each and the story of how one man toppled from the lap of luxury as a child, working his way from poverty to riches."

"He inched his way toward the edge of his chair.  The crow's feet deepened around his gray eyes as he recalled the first work room for his big manufacturing venture, SealTex, an adhesive bandage.  'It was a basement room next to the boiler with one window and one pigtail light.' he said, squinting at the still-remembered glare.  But the rent was only $10 a month, that was the important thing."

"It is the story of a self-made man.  It is also the story of a growing, industrialized nation and an era now almost lost in the mesmerizing hum of a computerized society.  Kellogg's father, a graduate of M.I.T. and a builder of bridges, died when the youth was about 11 years old.  Kellogg set his goal of financial security early.  He has attained that goal and is satisfied.  But perhaps the best legacy, after all, and one that any grandparent can leave, is a first-hand account of days that are gone forever. " 

Note:  It seems that Charles Kellogg, John's father, did not go to M.I.T., but he and his father did build bridges all over the eastern part of the United States.  Also, John was 13 1/2 when his father died, not 11.   

1930: The Stress of Being "Laid-Off"...and Rehired

As you know from Pieces of a Life, Ruth Meredith, pictured above, and John Kellogg were married in June, 1929.  The Depression hit just months later in October and the economy began to slide precipitously. This was shocking to the Kelloggs - and to everyone else in the country.  At this point, both Ruth and John still worked for Montgomery Ward, but a rocky road was ahead.

Thurs., Jan. 8, 1930 - "I was laid-off.  More than 50% of office got it.  Am all broken up over it.  John found an opening for me in Hse. Auditor's Office.  Hard to get transfer."    Doubtless, Ruth was stressed out about the sudden loss of a job she and John counted on for extra money.  That was also familiar work in a department where she knew everyone.  Without John's help, Ruth never would have been transferred over to the House Auditor's Office.  Everyone fired - both at Wards and elsewhere - was job-hunting.

Fri., Jan. 9, 1930 - "Finally got transfer - but keeping it quiet.  Packed all my belongings and left Gen. Methods (what there is left of it) tonite.  Florence is still there."   Years later my mother, Ruth, told me that Florence Childers kept her job, at least at first, because she had no spouse employed by Wards.  Florence, a close friend of Ruth's, was married at the end of 1930 to Clyde Ballentine. He didn't work for Wards.

Sat., Jan. 10, 1930 - "Worked straight through until 2:00 today (Sat.) - hard - so tired I cried when I came home.  Didn't go to show.  We baked our first pie - butterscotch - for tomorrow."   Ruth was trying to take on a new job of tedious typing job involving a lot of numbers and columns, I'd imagine.  She was also working for and with people she didn't know. There were no computers to handle rote tasks, so typists did that work.  On top of that, Ruth and John were having a few people in for a light meal and dessert the following day - more pressure!