Herb was nine years old when his family came to the Pacific Northwest from Iowa. The eldest of three siblings, he was born on October 28, 1902. They settled in Selah. It was natural for young Herb to find a business opportunity in the orchards. After graduating from high school and in his early twenties he built crates, which he filled with fruit and driving to Seattle, sold in the Seattle Pike Place Market.
He got into some bookkeeping in the fruit industry and finally spent a year with a bank in Kennewick. In 1923 he moved to Seattle to pursue his goal of a college education at the University of Washington. To gain enough money he took a summer job in a fish cannery at Taco Harbor, Alaska. In the Fall he returned for a year at the U. Needing funds, he took a job at a Seattle bank for a year and a half. His major in Maritime Commerce required a six months at sea. He left his bank job to meet the requirement but spent two years at sea.
Upon his return he was a bookkeeper at the National Bank of Commerce. There he met a young woman making deposits for her brother in law. Alice Gowan and Herb were married in August 1933.
In 1935 Herb left the Bank for a job with Kraft Distributors. Working as a cheese salesman taught him a lot about hard work and provided lessons in salesmanship. In 1940 he got a sales job with Remington Rand, the office machine company. In 1942 he took a leave of absence and joined the Army Transport Service, steering ships through the North Pacific to transport troops to the Aleutians. After the war, he returned to Remington Rand.
Herb opened his own business in 1947. Business Machine Service, his company represented Remington Rand. During this time Herb would obtain a number of machines from the company, obtaining volume discounts, and then loaning machines to staff members at prospective clients. The staff member would tell the boss how good it was and the sale was made. However, Remington Rand learned of his marketing techniques and required the return of the discounts. Herb simply began importing the Addo-x, a well-made Swedish adding machine instead. He did so well he became known among the local business machine marketers as the Addo-X King.
Herb retired in 1971. His beloved Alice passed away in 1981. He realized he wanted to do something worthwhile with his estate. He wanted to help with programs, which offered encouragement to those, interested in small business and entrepreneurism. In the 1980's Herb was able to work with the faculties at Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Pacific Lutheran University and Green River Community College. He was able to participate on advisory committees, mentor programs, and shared his insights regarding small business with students. He enthusiastically enjoyed his participation.
Prior to his death in 1998, he created the Herbert B. Jones Foundation to fund these programs.
Please take the opportunity to read the fuller "Life Story of Herbert Jones-As Seen By Friends" provided in this web site. You will gain a better insight. Herb was a real entrepreneur and small businessman. Herb was a true gentleman.
