Harvey Grohs - A True American
Success Story:
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Fireworks salesman, potato peddler,
street cop, intrepid underwater explorer and self made
millionaire. "Fairly Honest Harvey" The Cold
Warrior, is the story of the grandson of an indentured
Swedish servant and a Chinese merchant who has dressed
millions of people around the world in his famously warm
and toasty wet suits.
His book Fairly
Honest Harvey: "The Cold Warrior" is an insiders look
into the life of the man whose adventures above and
below the waves in the diving business are legendary.
Harvey was a clever, inventive genius, who thrived on
competition and adversity. He continuously outmaneuvered
the competition and created staunch business relations
and friendships in 35 countries around the globe.
If you enjoy
diving, you'll love Harvey's story, from diving for
victims, contraband and evidence in the Willamette River
for the Portland, OR Police Department to opening his
own dive shop in West Seattle to building the best wet &
dry suits in the world for the US Navy Seals, James
Bond's famous "Goldfinger" underwater chase scenes to
special suits for Jacques Cousteau's TV special
"Octopus, Octopus". Harvey has made a career of
surpassing his customers needs and expectations.
Harvey, ever
the ladies man, was also instrumental in getting women
into the sport of SCUBA diving when he started making
custom dive suits especially for women in the early
1970's. Ever the entrepreneur he also won a
Presidential E Award for his efforts to export American
made Rubatex rubber to over 40 countries about this same
time.
Never satisfied
he began making USGC Approved Exposure Suits
affectionately called "Gumby's by fishermen and sailors
alike on F/V & OGV. He actually tested these suits
in his home swimming pool by filling up the pool with
truckloads of ice to simulate figid artic waters.
Today Harvey's
is still going strong after more than 50 years as a
leader in the diving industry. Harvey passed on
his knowledge to his son Larry, who in turn is teaching
the business to the 3rd Generation of Grohs'.
Preparing to take the helm as Harvey's enters it's sixth
decade of domestic rubber garment production are Grand
Kids: Nina, Kristina, Matthew & Gregory continue the
Harvey's legacy as Larry prepares to pass the torch to
Harvey's grandchildren.
Today 95% of
our product line is still cut, glued and sewn right here
in the good old USA. Nina, Kris & Matt work in the
office and Greg is the head cutter and runs the
production crew & helps Larry keep all the equipment up
to speed.
Unfortunately,
Harvey left us a few years ago passing within a year
after his beloved wife Wilma "The Welder" whom he met in
Portland, OR. She was the original "Flash Dance"
gal, working in the local shipyard as a plate welder.
She was all of about 5' 2" tall and a real "classy
lady". She was also just tough enough to
tell Harvey where he could get off when he went over the
top!
Harvey's often
told the story of how he won her heart over with some
home cooked spaghetti, garlic bread and some red wine.
We wish them
both the best and know that they are both looking down
on us from on high with big smiles on their faces
☺
God
Bless You Grandma & Grandpa,
Nina,
Kris, Matt & Gregg |
