Oct. 23, 2009 (PR Newswire) --
MILWAUKEE, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Elmer Winter, co-founder and past president of Manpower Inc., passed away yesterday at the age of 97. Since his retirement in 1976, Winter kept regular office hours at the Manpower World Headquarters and took tremendous pride in watching the small business he co-founded in 1948 grow to a $22 billion Fortune 120 employment services firm with offices in 82 countries.
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"It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Elmer Winter, one of the most beloved keepers of Manpower's history, culture and values. While Elmer was cherished by our present-day employees as a warm friend, charming historian and gregarious storyteller, we also honor his remarkable impact as a trailblazing entrepreneur, generous philanthropist and talented artist," said Manpower Inc. Chairman and CEO Jeff Joerres.
From the day in 1948 that he opened a tiny Milwaukee staffing office with his brother-in-law, Aaron Scheinfeld, through his retirement in 1976 and beyond, Winter was passionately committed to Manpower's values for the dignity of people and the meaningful role of work in their lives. Among many other philanthropic and social initiatives, he started the Manpower Foundation and Youthpower, an initiative to provide summer job placement services to Milwaukee teenagers.
"Elmer was a role model for everyone in the Manpower organization regardless of position, age or function. He was a dedicated family man, a tireless worker, a compassionate manager, and a loyal friend," said Mitchell Fromstein, former Manpower Inc. CEO (1976-1999). "He set the standards by which his successors would operate and set the stage for unbridled growth. He was, and will continue to be, an icon of the Manpower culture."
Winter, whose first job in 1922 was delivering fruits and vegetables by horse-drawn cart to brewery workers along Highland Avenue, worked until the last week of his life just steps away at the Manpower World Headquarters. He delighted in personal contact with members of the Manpower family and welcomed all visitors to his office, taking particular pleasure in meeting international visitors and new employees.
