You are here: John Clark Online > Articles > Samplers

Samplers

Crisis? What crisis?

William T Grant was a businessman. He made a small fortune out of selling people the things they needed at prices they could afford.

Being rich is fine, but is it enough? William Grant didn't think so. He wanted to be remembered for more than being the guy who founded the WT Grant dime stores. So in 1936 he established a charitable foundation called (you'll never guess) the Grant Foundation.

The very first gift the Foundation made was to a couple of doctors, Arlie Bock and Clark Heath. They thought medical research was focused too much on the causes of disease; they wanted to study the causes of wellness. William Grant, a grateful patient of Dr Bock's, agreed to fund the research.

Thus it was that, between 1939 and 1942, 268 healthy Harvard sophomores were selected for intense long-term study.

More...

Lessons from a seeker

Were you born before 1960?

Then you will know of Leon Jaworski, the Polish immigrant's son who brought down a president. His tenacity as the Watergate special prosecutor led to Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974.

Leon Jaworski had a son, Joseph. He too became a distinguished trial lawyer in Texas. By the age of 40, he personified success. Married to his high school sweetheart, professionally esteemed, wealthy, he had, in his words, "a picture-book life."

But one evening in 1975, Joe Jaworski's world came crashing down. He had spent Thanksgiving weekend hunting at his father's ranch. When he arrived back at his home in Houston, his wife Fran sat him down.

"Joe," she said, "I want a divorce. There's somebody else that I love."

More...

Other resources and links