Henry Bedford / © Khaki Bedford Photography
From jumping out of airplanes to riding motorcycles to sailing across oceans and steering the helm of an international organization, it’s been a milestone half century for Southwestern Family of Companies Chairman and CEO Henry Bedford. Bedford, who started his career with the Southwestern Advantage program in the 1970s, celebrates his 50th anniversary with SWFC in June.
“1972 was my first year with Southwestern Advantage,” Bedford says. “I’d actually had two summer jobs [beforehand] that were not a lot of fun and I thought, ‘Gee, there has to be something better than this.’”
“I thought, ‘I wonder if I could sell something?’” Bedford recalls. “I had signed up to sell with the Fuller Brush company, to sell household supplies door-to-door and was still learning the routine. Thankfully a friend of mine had just signed up with Southwestern.”
Chairman and CEO Henry Bedford in the 1970’s
“I enjoyed that summer experience. I made enough money to cover my college tuition that year, which was exciting, and actually had some money left over. [It was] really a transformational experience for me.”
Bedford worked with the SW Advantage program in 1972-73 before being brought on full-time with Southwestern shortly afterwards. Back in those days, Southwestern was just one company, SW Advantage, located on Foster Creighton Drive in Nashville.
(L): Bedford with Marti and Ted Taylor at a SW Advantage event. (R): Bedford with SWA alum Ken Wooten in the 1970s.
“I was brought on through the finance and accounting area with the mission of learning the system, but also to connect with the sales managers and explore the idea of starting other businesses,” Bedford says. “I later became treasurer of the company, and then in 2006 when Ralph Mosley retired, I was privileged to take his position. It’s been an honor to be involved with the launch of every business in the family of companies after Southwestern Advantage throughout the years.”
(L): Bedford in 1980. (R): As a “Most Admired CEO” in Nashville, circa 2017.
Bedford, who served as chairman of SWFC for 18 years, credits mentors such as Jim Samuel, Ralph Mosley and Spencer Hays as key influences in his career.
“I think anyone at SWA would tell you their sales manager is a person of great influence in their lives [Jim Samuel],” Bedford said. “I would also say Ralph Mosley and Spencer Hays. Ralph was a close confidant, friend and mentor. We did a lot of things together over the years. I feel I owe so much to Ralph Mosley and Spencer Hays.”
One of Bedford’s favorite memories throughout the years was in 1982 – the opportunity for leadership to purchase SWFC from the Times Mirror organization (who had purchased Southwestern in 1965).
“I was involved in a collaborative meeting with Ralph Mosley and Spencer Hays, and we had the opportunity to buy the company,” Bedford recalls. “And that meant all kinds of things. I worked on an equity plan where there would be a very broad opportunity for leadership in the company to own the business based on achievement that brought value to the company. We, as a team, enjoyed the opportunity to say, ‘How can we create that kind of ownership?’”
Bedford says he feels privileged to have a career based on the principles Southwestern has embodied since its inception in the 1850s.
“Our company was founded on a set of principles such as, ‘finish what you start, do what you say you’re going to do, follow a schedule, don’t put your focus on yourself – put your focus on other people and helping other people,’” Bedford says, “and over the course of time it’s been very pleasing to see that the philosophy of the company has continued like it has.”
“I think what I’m most proud of is the opportunity over the course of time to listen to people’s passions and their interests… then team with them to make those passions come true.”
Bedford with wife Barbara at a Safe Haven charity event in 2010.
In his spare time, Bedford enjoys championing causes that help people in difficult times who are unable to help themselves.
“One of the key projects early on that I initiated was to build the Safe Haven family shelter in Nashville,” he said. “This nonprofit that was being housed in a church was on the brink of being shut down because the fire code didn’t allow people to spend the night in a church. I remember nervously making a solicitation – I had to raise a million dollars.”
“My first call was to Spencer Hays, and he wrote me a check for $15,000,” Bedford said with emotion. “I was following the mentorship of Ralph Mosley, who was very involved with many nonprofits in the Nashville area, and nationally, and have enjoyed over the course of time helping organizations that help other people achieve their goals, very similar to the company’s mission.”
Bedford is also known for having hobbies that border on the “active” side.
“For some reason, I like to do things that a lot of people consider adventurous,” he jokes. “I’ve gotten into skydiving, scuba diving, hot-air ballooning, flying airplanes and sailing sailboats across oceans.”
(L): Bedford prepares to jump out of an airplane in the 1970s with a case of SWA books. (R): Preparing for a motorcycle ride in front of Landers Plaza several decades later.
When asked what advice he would give young people looking to start a career at Southwestern, Bedford says, “Jump into the Southwestern Advantage program! It involves hard work, but also countless rewards. You find yourself developing a set of skills that will stay with you for the rest of your life.”
“Southwestern Advantage is such an incredible environment to test people’s resolve towards goals that they have,” Bedford says. “You can learn about a set of principles at the Sunday meeting, then on a Monday, you’re put to the test! [It’s] a very intense environment, over and over again, learning to apply those principles. And you learn very quickly how faithful you’re being to that vision you have.”
“As a company, we want to be as impactful as we can, and we want to help as many people as possible.”
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Listen to the full 50th anniversary interview with Henry Bedford and SWFC Content Strategist Mandy Hudson here.
