Fruth & Co. Celebrate 50th Anniversary
September 6, 1998, article two

Fifty years ago, in November 1948, C. Richard Fruth opened the doors of his public accounting firm on East Center St. His goal was to provide timely, quality and innovative services to Fostoria area individuals and businesses so they could achieve the maximum in profitability and net worth.

Today, Fruth & Company, PPL, the enterprise that still bears his name continues to do just that. Dick could take pride in seeing his firm operating in five northwest Ohio communities with a staff of 16.

Dick was born in Fostoria July 8, 1918, and graduated from Fostoria High School in 1936 and from Bowling Green State University in 1941. He began his career with Konopak and Dalton in Toledo when World War II intervened. Dick enlisted, rising to the rank of captain. He was assistant chief of the audit section of the Army's Pittsburgh Chemical Warfare Procurement District. He was also stationed at the American headquarters in Europe.

In the war's midst, on June 28, 1943, he married Weldon (Brooks), his wife of over 33 years. They had two daughters, Margaret and Nancy.

After the war, Dick worked for Firth Machine and Tool before striking out on his own to offer complete auditing, bookkeeping and tax services. He was optimistic his new venture would succeed.

"Absolutely," said Weldon, "the war was over and we were back."

In 1949, Dick moved his office to the First National Bank. In 1955, he purchased M.L. Trubey's accounting firm and hired Gordon Schutt. Gordon became a partner in 1971 and in 1976 became managing partner, the position he holds today.

"Dick was a real fine man to work for," said Gordon. "He would say, 'Here's a problem. Go figure it out.' He expected you to be self-motivated, so you learned a lot."

The firm learned and continued growing. In 1956, Dick moved into the Professional Building on North Main St. Then, on a wintry day in March 2976, Cortland Heykoop and Frank Kinn along with Dick and Gordon, broke snow-covered ground for the Parkway Drive building that remains the firm's home today.

Dick was a sole practitioner until 1971 when Gordon, Cortland and Frank joined him as partners and the firm was known as C. Richard Fruth and Associates. The firm had offices in Fostoria, Bucyrus and Upper Sandusky. James Pigman and Durward Wight joined the firm in 1976 and the name was changed to Fruth & Co.

On April 23, 1977, Dick Fruth died unexpectedly of a heart attack. His interest was purchased by the remaining partners.

In 1981, Ronald Brown became a partner, joined by Donald Yarris in 1982. Today Don, Gordon and Ron are the principals in Fruth & Co. which now has branch offices in Port Clinton, Fremont, Delaware and Findlay.

The five offices provide their clients with topflight financial and management services buttressed by expertise in agribusiness, automobile dealerships, construction, retail, manufacturing and many other business fields. Services include business succession planning, software implementation, estate planning, financial statement preparation, litigation support, new business start up, payroll, retirement planning and more.

"Obviously," said Don, "we've grown substantially or we wouldn't have the number of offices or the amount of personnel we have today."

In fact, today Fruth & Co. generates as much revenue in a single week as it did in the entire year of 1955.

It is said change is the only constant and Fruth & Co. has had to adapt.

"The biggest change, especially in the last five or six years," said Gordon, "is the computer. But we were always a mechanized operation. Dick Fruth was a farsighted individual. He was an innovator. We began computerizing our operation in the "60s."

Of course, sometimes technological change has its lighter side.

"Talk about technology," laughed Cortland. "We always had the first of things. I remember when we had that wet process copy machine. I can still see the clothespins and clotheslines and the wet copies hanging all over the place."

Dick Fruth set a high standard for community involvement. He served as city treasurer from 1949 until his death. He was succeeded by Cortland Heykoop who was followed by the incumbent Don Yarris. Dick was active in the Chamber of Commerce, Fostoria United Community Fund, Wesley United Methodist Church, Put-Han-Sen Boy Scout Council, Fostoria Shrine Club and the YMCA.

Ron Brown has been active in the Red Cross, Commission on Aging. Fostoria Economic Development Corp. (FEDC), Knights of Columbus, St. Boniface Parish, Elks and Farm Bureau.

In addition to serving as City Treasurer, Don has been involved in the Wesley Village, Country Club, United Way, Geary Family YMCA, Rotary and the State Auditor's Regional Advisory Board.

Gordon has worked with the Athletic Boosters, Country Club, Elks, Findlay Officials Association, High St. Methodist Church, FEDC, and the Hancock County Republican Party.

"Dick was a heck of a guy, a very active person," said Gordon. "He was a community minded guy. We still attempt to carry on the philosophy that we will make a contribution to the communities we're in."

Fifty years is a long perspective from which to reflect on the firm's service to its clients."

"We had some excellent clients," said Cortland," ...After 30 years, we had fourth generation clients. People stuck with us. They are loyal, I felt. After doing someone's taxes that long, you get to know them personally."

"There's a lot more to this business than the debits and credits and numbers," said Don. "In the type of accounting you would do for a manufacturing company, you've got one business to know about. When you're in public accounting, you have to be an expert on 20 businesses or more... That makes it more challenging and enjoyable for me. I like the variety of the work, I like the people.

"The thing I'm most proud of," said Gordon, "is the relationship you have with the individual people you work with. We've had some families and businesses with us for 50 years. You are friends as well as advisors. You're the person they call when they have a major problem or financial decision."

"Fruth & Co. always had the goal of providing quality service to the communities we're in at a price people can afford. We always thought that's part of our obligation to the community."

"It's been a good life for us," he continued. "It's been rewarding. There are many individuals and businesses whose success we felt we've played a part in. We hope our clients feel that way, too."