Mary Bardolph

Founded in 1909 by traveling salesman L. A. Dexter, Sr. as a hardware sales firm in Grand Rapids, the business quickly expanded into manufacturing, incorporating as the National Brass Company in 1912. The company revolutionized the industry by patenting an innovative, easy-to-install tubular lock that used less material, though it nearly collapsed during the Great Depression due to early die-cast manufacturing flaws that required costly replacements. After surviving this crisis and weathering World War II, leadership passed in 1932 to his son, Louis Dexter, who successfully diversified the product line into trailer hardware, heavily invested in research, and ultimately rebranded the growing enterprise as Dexter Industries, Inc.
The Louis M. Dexter Memorial Foundation was later incorporated in 1997 as an independent, private foundation by Louis and Elaine Dexter in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Guided by a simple idea: everyone deserves a solid foundation to build a good life. We bring together schools, healthcare services, and local ministries to clear away the hurdles that hold people back. By working directly with our community, we make sure individuals get the fair shot they need to do well in school, find good work, and truly thrive.