# Anyone here remember Percy Ross? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 1, 2017, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225 "2017-09-01T03:52:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2017, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225/1 "2017-09-01T03:52:45Z")
> **[Percy Ross](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Ross)** > > Percy Ross (November 22, 1916 – November 14, 2001) was an American multi-millionaire. He arrived in St. Louis Park, Minnesota around 1946–1947. He was associated with Ross and Ross Auctioneers. In 1959 he purchased a company called Poly-Tech, which made polyethylene plastic bags. He died in Edina, Minnesota on November 10, 2001. > Ross was best known for his philanthropy, particularly through his Thanks a Million newspaper column, wherein he would often grant requests for readers in need. Thanks a... That was back in the day when one had to put pen to paper and actually write something that meant something, then fold the letter, put it in an envelope, lick a stamp and stick it on the envelope that you had to put in a mail box and hope for magic. I wish a few would step up and bring this back. anyone have the address for Steve Job’s estate? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2017, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225/2 "2017-09-01T14:56:55Z")
You want people to bring back handwritten letters? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225/3 "2017-09-01T15:43:39Z")
As far as I can recall, I never heard of him. Looking at the Wiki (which had the actual information about the guy and not just a weirdly non sequitur paean for handwritten letters) I assume you are wishing that some rich people would start giving away money to random supplicants? ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225/4 "2017-09-02T01:08:39Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > You want people to bring back handwritten letters? Heck – I not only send via USPS several handwritten notes and cards almost every week but I write them with a fountain pen. Can I get extra points for that? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225/5 "2017-09-02T01:18:35Z")
Oh, I remember reading his column in the local paper when I was a kid/young adult. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225/6 "2017-09-02T01:31:43Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > You want people to bring back handwritten letters? > > Heck – I not only send via USPS several handwritten notes and cards almost every week but I write them with a fountain pen. Can I get extra points for that? 🙂 You kids and your modern shortcuts. I keep a flock of geese from which I make my own quill pens. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225/7 "2017-09-02T01:33:01Z")
I loved Percy and wished I could play real-life Queen for a Day like him. But my plans, were I to win the Lotto, are distressingly Lutheran/hippy. Wife wanted to start a chain of free ESL schools. I’m good with that. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225/8 "2017-09-02T01:41:32Z")
I didn’t remember his name, but I did remember the “Thanks a Million” column. I recall thinking it was kind of icky and exploitative. I commend him for giving away his money. I was just uncomfortable with parading people’s personal tragedies around for self aggrandizement. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225/9 "2017-09-02T03:14:28Z")
I also heard more than once that he did not give anonymous gifts. No publicity = no donation. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225/10 "2017-09-02T03:21:15Z")
Nope, never heard of him. Slightly off topic, but I don;t think I’ve ever met anyone named “Percy” (first name anyway). ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225/11 "2017-09-03T00:03:32Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > As far as I can recall, I never heard of him. Looking at the Wiki (which had the actual information about the guy and not just a weirdly non sequitur paean for handwritten letters) I assume you are wishing that some rich people would start giving away money to random supplicants? Yeah, why not? I’m sure there are plenty of folks out there in need who are able to put their thoughts together who won’t ask for help because they’re not sure where to even ask for help. Wouldn’t it be nice if more folks with money and resources who are themselves philanthropists got a little more involved in where and to whom the cash flows? Supplicants, really? ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-remember-percy-ross/795225/12 "2017-09-05T01:17:22Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > You kids and your modern shortcuts. I keep a flock of geese from which I make my own quill pens. I’ve done that but only at Old Fort Niagara for recreational and educational purposes. 🙂