Chariton, Hy-Vee and a Ukraine footnote

Hy-Vee's decision to move its corporate headquarters from Chariton to West Des Moines, announced during July of 1993, certainly qualifies as a major event in Lucas County history, one we still talk about.

And now and then, when Iowa's leading grocer makes a major announcement from those new headquarters, the question still is asked here, "What to you suppose Dwight would think of that?" 

Dwight, of course, is Dwight Vredenburg --- son of Hy-Vee founder David Vredenburg who as corporate CEO from 1938 until 1989 turned a small company into a retail giant.

Curiously enough, there's a Urkaine footnote. 

The decision to move, made by the Hy-Vee Executive Committee and endorsed by the entire board, had been a clandestine operation and came as a considerable surprise to nearly everyone else, including Vredenburg.

In fact, the Hy-Vee leadership waited until Dwight --- still active in retirement as a promoter of international understanding and assistance --- was out of the country, in Ukraine, to announce the decision --- a move that seemed to some especially tacky.

Vredenburg declined to comment on the decision upon returning to Iowa, with one exception: A letter to the editor published in The Herald-Patriot of Aug. 12, 1993. Here's the text of the letter:

To the Editor:

Since the shocking news of Hy-Vee's proposed move of its headquarters to  West Des Moines, which I first  learned of during a trip to  Ukraine, I have been asked numerous times about my position on the matter.

On Aug. 4 a Des Moines Register reporter came to my office to solicit my feelings. I gave him a short "No comment" reply. I am not interested in debating the decision in the Register.

I think the people of Chariton and Lucas County are entitled to more than that, however.

I have told Hy-Vee management that I was opposed to the  move and if I had been here and had been allowed to vote I would have voted against it. I have always felt that Chariton and Hy-Vee were a good "fit." Hy-Vee started in very small towns in southern Iowa and northern Missouri  and our  roots are there. We are a  people oriented company with family values. As we gravitated to larger cities we have tried  to carry that orientation and those values with us. I think Hy-Vee's success is evidence of the merit of  those philosophies.

Chariton has been good to and for  Hy-Vee and Hy-Vee has been helpful to Chariton. It has provided stable employment at good wages. Chariton, in turn, has helped Hy-Vee with tax assistance and other benefits. It has been a mutually beneficial arrangement.

On the other hand, the decision was made by a management team whose track record is excellent.  I  may disagree with their decision and find their reasons for moving debatable, but I had no vote and can do nothing to change it. Any overt move on my part would be fruitless and probably counter-productive. On that basis, I have undertaken to avoid criticism of the move and hope it eventually turns out for the best.

I particularly regret the damage and burden imposed upon 200 loyal headquarters employees.  Many of them will be forced to move, commute or resign. These are painful decisions to be forced to make.

A  large employment base will remain in  Chariton. All of us who love Chariton can only hope that base remains solid and growing for many years to come.

Dwight Vredenburg