Benton Harbor, Michigan, the home of Lou’s uncle Emory, was the logical place for Upton Machine Co.’s headquarters. Today, Whirlpool continues to honor its deep roots in Benton Harbor and Michigan’s manufacturing legacy.
Lou valued his people. In 1917, before the idea of work-life balance was commonplace, he gave employees a week’s paid vacation. Then, in a letter, he asked employees’ wives to encourage their husbands to relax and not spend their leave “cleaning out the garage.”