Resolution 520-1998
Mayor Emeritus Wilhelmina Harvey
RESOLUTION NO.
520 -1998
A RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF
THE LATE HENRY DRETTMANN
WHEREAS, Detroit industrialist, Henry Drettmann of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, passed
away after a brief illness at the age of 93; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Drettmann who immigrated to the United States at the age of 21 with
just $36 in his pocket went on to become an American success story. As a youth, he had
served as an apprentice tool and die maker in his home town of Breman, Germany. After
arriving in the United States in 1926, he found employment in New York City with Bell
Laboratories where he remained for three years; and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Drettmann moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1929 an~~~ h~a~gs
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from his New York years, founded Active Tool and Manufacturing Com~~jUsN'n~hs
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before the Crash of '29 and the beginning of the Great Depression. With ~~ ~rk P}1d
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intensive personal labors, despite the economic chaos that was rocking t~ cffimt~ ataJ,e
time, he became a principal supplier to such automobile giants as Henry Ford and Walter
Chrysler. His company contributed significantly toward the allied victory in World War II as
part of the American defense industry and went on to prosper during the post war years.
WHEREAS, starting in the early 1960's, Mr. Drettmann began working with his son, Henry
"Bud" Drettmann of Key West, and they continued to expand as a diversified company with
plants throughout Michigan and Indiana. Mr. Drettmann remained actively involved in the
management of the company until his recent illness. He continued to tour the company's
plants on a weekly basis and proudly watched its most recent expansion that included the
installation of the world's largest hydraulic press lines at their Clinton Township, Michigan
facilities.
WHEREAS, Mr. Drettmann was a former member of the Detroit Yacht Club and
remained a member of the Detroit Athletic Club at the time of his death.
WHEREAS, Mr. Drettmann is survived by his wife, Margarete Nardone Drettmann; his
son, Henry Drettmann and daughter-in-law, Mary Drettmann, who were responsible for the
funding and refurbishing of the Little White House Museum in Key West; his daughter, Marilyn
Drettmann Blake; eight grandchildren and several great grandchildren from whom he
found great joy in his final years; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA:
Section 1. The Board hereby adopts this Resolution as evidence of its regret and
mourning for the passing of the late Henry Drettmann.
Section 2. The Board hereby requests the Clerk to forward copies of this Resolution
to his beloved family to express the Board's sorrow.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 9th day of December, 1998.
Mayor Wilhelmina Harvey
ommissioner Shirley Freeman
,,_/"::-- C6mmissioner George Neugent
, .!: - '\' ,.Commissioner Mary Kay Reich
.f.:~,<;'.". ' r, :~C.' Q,mmjssioner Nora Williams
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".~tf@~f~..2A' Y L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
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absent
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yes
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By 'G~""'~M
Depu Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
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