Wells Fargo president revisits collegiate past
Aaron Swenson
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: News
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For someone who has been working in the banking industry for 31 years, the personality did not fit the mold.
John Stumpf, president and CEO of Wells Fargo and an SCSU alumnus, took his first steps on campus since graduating 31 years ago, but made himself right at home.
He used his dry sense of humor to transform Ritsche Auditorium into the Apollo Theatre.
"I had the chance to talk with two different classes today and these students are fabulous. I never would have gotten into school today, and I probably shouldn't of gotten in 35 years ago," Stumpf said.
His parents, who raised him on a Pierz dairy farm as one of 11 children, got to experience their son speak professionally in front of a crowd for the first time in their lives.
And Stumpf did not take it lightly.
"They heard me talk a lot as a kid, and it apparently has taken them 31 years to get over it," Stumpf said.
He continued to make wisecracks, even when he introduced Ruth, his wife of 33 years.
"I would also like to introduce my first wife Ruth. She is also the current wife. She was shameless in the pursuit of me, so I finally gave into it. It was a small town, so there wasn't much to choose from," Stumpf said.
After getting the packed auditorium's attention, he got down to business, but maintained his comedic ways throughout.
How did Stumpf get where he is today?
He grew up sharing a bed with two brothers, because there were only three beds between seven brothers.
"For those of you who are accounting majors, you do the math. Someone had to sleep three to a bed, and that third person was me. I never got dressed alone until I was married," Stumpf said.
In high school, he was not known for his academic
prowess, so he began working as a baker at the Sanitary Bakery in Little Falls.
While driving to work on Sept. 21, 1972 he decided take a turn towards SCSU to take his college entrance exams.
He passed the exam and slowly adapted to college, where he would graduate in 76' with a finance degree.
John Stumpf, president and CEO of Wells Fargo and an SCSU alumnus, took his first steps on campus since graduating 31 years ago, but made himself right at home.
He used his dry sense of humor to transform Ritsche Auditorium into the Apollo Theatre.
"I had the chance to talk with two different classes today and these students are fabulous. I never would have gotten into school today, and I probably shouldn't of gotten in 35 years ago," Stumpf said.
His parents, who raised him on a Pierz dairy farm as one of 11 children, got to experience their son speak professionally in front of a crowd for the first time in their lives.
And Stumpf did not take it lightly.
"They heard me talk a lot as a kid, and it apparently has taken them 31 years to get over it," Stumpf said.
He continued to make wisecracks, even when he introduced Ruth, his wife of 33 years.
"I would also like to introduce my first wife Ruth. She is also the current wife. She was shameless in the pursuit of me, so I finally gave into it. It was a small town, so there wasn't much to choose from," Stumpf said.
After getting the packed auditorium's attention, he got down to business, but maintained his comedic ways throughout.
How did Stumpf get where he is today?
He grew up sharing a bed with two brothers, because there were only three beds between seven brothers.
"For those of you who are accounting majors, you do the math. Someone had to sleep three to a bed, and that third person was me. I never got dressed alone until I was married," Stumpf said.
In high school, he was not known for his academic
prowess, so he began working as a baker at the Sanitary Bakery in Little Falls.
While driving to work on Sept. 21, 1972 he decided take a turn towards SCSU to take his college entrance exams.
He passed the exam and slowly adapted to college, where he would graduate in 76' with a finance degree.