In my journalism work, and in my own battle to restore my health, I've found out far too much about how the government and corporations collude to not only control what you eat but how these so-called healthy choices are destroying people's health, not working to maintain it. Governments and the World Economic Forum are also working overtime to destroy small business and family-run agriculture. GMO and synthetic grains are already a proven hazard, while eating the bugs and synthetic meats are the latest boondoggle the elitists wish to shove down our throats (literally). 

So, it is always encouraging to find food companies that not only prioritize health and healthy production, but stick to their values and honor their foundation, honor their employees, and honor people.

Bob's Red Mill is one of those companies. Their founder Bob Moore passed away on February 10. But the story of how he gave back to the community that embraced him, and chose to bypass corporate raiders to give the company back to its employees, is worthy of a Feel-Good Friday treatment.

Bob's Red Mill founder Bob Moore has died at 94. @GBHNews pic.twitter.com/XHP5iLtJ1y

— Henry Santoro (@HenrySantoro) February 11, 2024

He grew the company with his wife Charlee, who passed away in 2018. In 2010, Mr. Moore secured the company's legacy by transferring its ownership to its employees. More than 700 employee owners own the company. According to the Washington Post, "The Bible says to do unto others as you would have them do unto you," he later told Portland Monthly, explaining his belief that sharing profits and ownership would "make things more fair and more benevolent."

Moore was originally a Southern Californian. He grew up in Los Angeles, and was an entrepreneur and business owner early on. He owned a couple of gas stations—one successfully, one unsuccessfully—then he worked the odd job here and there. Moore and his wife Charlee decided to move north to Redding, California, where he started a small mill with antique milling stones. Moore and Charlee decided to retire to Milwaukie, Oregon, to study theology, and left the mill to his sons to run. God had other plans, and it wasn't for him to study Greek and Hebrew.

The Moores started a small mill in Redding with antique milling stones, then left their sons to run the mill while they moved to Milwaukie for what was supposed to be their “retirement”: going to theology school to study the Bible in Greek and Hebrew. One day, while going for a walk and reviewing their Bible flash cards, they stumbled upon an old abandoned mill. They decided to buy it—and it would eventually become Bob’s Red Mill. Moore was 50 years old when he started the business.

Though the Moores tried to continue theology school while running the mill, the mill grew quickly. As of 2018, the business was generating $50 million per year in revenue, available for sale in every continent except Antarctica, and is entirely owned by its employees. 

Moore stayed at the helm of his company and remained on the board up until the time of his death. Both Moore and Charlee wanted to inspire future generations, so they made huge financial contributions to Oregon State University, Oregon Health & Science University, and other health-focused research programs throughout the state.  

One of my favorite quotes is attributed to George Eliot: "It’s never too late to be what you might have been," and it is clear that Moore never stopped believing he could be more, do more, and give more. The joy of life was evident in his voice, his demeanor, and his relationship with the community. Moore is also a lovely example of this Proverb: "One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor." 

Not only did Moore share quality products, and tools for health and longevity with people, but he shared the bounty of his legacy and his earnings first with his employees, and then to the generations of young people in Oregon.