I recently saw in The Advertiser-Tribune that Tiffin University is naming its new recreation center in honor of Gary Heminger and his wife, Jane. It is a well-deserved recognition.
Gary is a graduate of Tiffin Calvert High School, Tiffin University and Wharton School of Business. My barber used to cut Gary's father's hair and he said that Glenn, Gary's father, was extremely proud of Gary and his siblings. It must have been a large sacrifice for their mother and dad to pay the separate tuition to send the Heminger children to Calvert out of a working man's wage.
Today, Gary Heminger is president of Marathon Petroleum Corp., a multi-billion dollar corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange. He is also the chairman of board of trustees of Tiffin University.
I think Walter Winchell, the well-known columnist of the 1940s, once said, "You should remember those who helped you on the way up in life. ..."
I recently attended a shareholders' meeting of Marathon Petroleum Corp. in Findlay and sat next to two elderly gentleman who were Marathon retirees and shareholders. We got to talking about Gary Heminger. I said I crossed paths with Gary years ago when I taught him commercial law at Tiffin University at 8 a.m.
One of the gentleman stated he hired Gary for his first job at Marathon, fresh out of Tiffin University. Gary told him, "I will not disappoint you for hiring me." The gentleman said he placed Gary under a stern taskmaster for his first job at Marathon. Gary's boss later called the gentleman and said this Heminger was doing a great job and should be promoted to a more responsible position. Well - you know the rest!
The reason I quoted Walter Winchell earlier: You see, the elderly gentleman told me that when Gary Heminger was named president and chief executive office of Marathon Petroleum, the gentleman received a phone call from Gary's office asking him if he would have lunch with Gary. When they got together, Gary said, "You may not remember, but you hired me to work at Marathon." He just wanted to say, "Thanks."
That's class!
Very truly yours,
Michael B. Lange, attorney at law,
Tiffin
