Wendell Whipp was a caring and innovative leader, serving as Monarch’s president for 45 years. He instituted one of the first Ohio employee profit sharing plans. Monarch employees were beneficiaries of Ohio’s first group life insurance in 1917. He initiated a program in 1918, allowing employees to borrow money to purchase homes.
Mr. Whipp affectionately referred to his workers as the “Monarch Family.” He personally tried to soften the blow of the Great Depression by cutting his pay 33% and encouraging others to do likewise. Led by his example, virtually every employee carpooled to save on tires and gas during World War II.
During the Great Depression as other companies cut expenses, Whipp increased research and development investment. When the economy finally rebounded, Monarch was ready and led the industry with new products.
World War II brought significant employment challenges for Monarch. Many Monarch workers enlisted or were drafted while business boomed with war production orders. Mr. Whipp conceived the idea of hiring women to work at Monarch. Women rarely worked outside the home. Sidney resident Virginia Oldham became the first female employee. Six months later, Monarch had over 500 female employees. Whipp’s idea paid huge dividends.