To the Editor,

It was a sad afternoon when I read the Tecumseh Products was leaving Tecumseh. It has been heartbreaking to see the empty parking lot.

My husband started working at the Tecumseh Products in June of 1940. In December 1942 he was inducted into the U.S. Army (Infantry) during World War II. We had a three year old son and not much money, so it was necessary for me to work. I moved in with my parents and started working at the Tecumseh Products.

I find it surprising that a lot of people do not know that wives of servicemen received their husband’s seniority when they got a job at the Products — another great gift from Mr. Herrick.

I had a good job and worked there for 13 months until my husband received a commission as Lieutenant and my income from his pay was enough that I no longer had to work. I moved into an apartment in Tecumseh and our son started kindergarten. After the war ended my husband returned to his job at the Tecumseh Products. Shortly after that Mr. Herrick purchased the farm that is now Herrick Park. He gave a lot (land) to Tecumseh Products employees and $100 toward installation of utilities. We had our house built there and once again appreciated Mr. Herrick’s generosity. We often talked about the “free turkeys” at Christmas.

After Mrs. Herrick passed away and Mr. Herrick retired (I had heard he liked raisin pie) so once in a while I made a pie and took it to his home in River Acres and visited for a short time.

I feel privileged to have known Mr. Herrick and all of us in Tecumseh should be forever thankful for having had such a generous man in our town.

I hope the future of Tecumseh Products will be successful wherever they have to locate and also wherever it is, I also hope the name of Ray Herrick will be frequently mentioned. Tecumseh is a much better city with his generosity.

Esther Lamkin
Tecumseh