[duffysmom]

If you don't get the Villages Vmail here it is. The video interview with the Morse family is revealing.
The Villages Vmail - October 2012 - Home

[gomoho]

Revealing doesn't exactly explain how you felt about the interview. Personally I was very impressed with the kids and think they have their eye on the ball. Spoke with my doctor today, who rents space in the professional area near LSL and he said since the Morse family turned over the management of the property to an outside company things are not going as well. The Morse's bent over backwards to their clients, apparently the management company only cares about the bottom line.

[Mikeod]

I was impressed by the obvious effort to instill a good work ethic all through the family. There are some who begrudge them the money they made and are making with TV. They didn't start out rich. They mentioned that things got really tight up north and they had to scramble to keep things going. The kids went to school and then worked at the restaurant and shop, starting with some pretty menial jobs and learning the business from the bottom up.

They have created a unique, well-planned community for almost 100K residents that attracts people from all over the country and overseas. They are still actively involved in the process even though their accumulated wealth may have allowed them to sit back and rake it in without lifting a finger. That, to me, shows the concern they have that their vision is realized exactly as they want.

[Lbmb24101]

Completely agree w mikeod
That video was impressive
Only in America!
And to continue the family business...
I had a wealthy uncle that once he passed away, his children destroyed the business he had established w so much hard work as a Cuban exile in the 1960's so the Morses are blessed in that way as well!

[keithwand]

I spent summers on Torch Lake about 300 yds from Brownwood Acres. My wife wore her Brownwood Acres T shirt yesterday at the opening.
Realize that Central Lake, MI (Brownwood Acres and where he was a quarterback) is a small town of less than 1,000 people.
Morses did well and hats off to them.

[bkcunningham1]

The Morse "children" look so young. I wonder how old they were when they were working for the family in Michigan.

[Barefoot]

Congratulations to the Morse family for a great job! Live long and prosper.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

The Morse "children" look so young. I wonder how old they were when they were working for the family in Michigan.

Gary Morse is reportedly 76.

The kids are probably in their early fifties.

Most of the huge growth to The Villages has happened in the last ten-15 years it seems, if you check the ages of the villages just south west of Spanish Springs as that is when the "new" development started.

Grandfather Harold Schwartz was the "glad hand" guy with a good idea and son Gary seems to have been the fellow who moved the ideas forward. Gary named our town "The Villages" in 1992 according to this article in Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vil...lorida#History

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

The Morse "children" look so young. I wonder how old they were when they were working for the family in Michigan.

IN the video he said he was eight when he started washing dishes.

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Gary Morse is reportedly 76.

The kids are probably in their early fifties.

Most of the huge growth to The Villages has happened in the last ten-15 years it seems, if you check the ages of the villages just south west of Spanish Springs as that is when the "new" development started.

Grandfather Harold Schwartz was the "glad hand" guy with a good idea and son Gary seems to have been the fellow who moved the ideas forward.

Just what year did Gary join his dad in business? When did Harold Schwartz pass away?

Gary join his dad in business? 1983

When did Harold Schwartz pass away? December 2003

[duffysmom]

It must be an amazing feeling to see the happiness of the residents and to know that you had a hand in creating this paradise. Life is so much more than monetary rewards and they appear to have a clear understanding of that. I also enjoyed the obvious respect they have for one another and the banter between them. It appears that they have wonderful childhood memories of Brownwood and want to share them with this community. God Bless them.

[cathyw]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Gary Morse is reportedly 76.

The kids are probably in their early fifties.

Most of the huge growth to The Villages has happened in the last ten-15 years it seems, if you check the ages of the villages just south west of Spanish Springs as that is when the "new" development started.

Grandfather Harold Schwartz was the "glad hand" guy with a good idea and son Gary seems to have been the fellow who moved the ideas forward. Gary named our town "The Villages" in 1992 according to this article in Wikipedia.

The Villages, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I did an internet search and it says Tracy is 54, Mark is 52 and Jennifer is 49.

[ilovetv]

They personify the American Dream along with all the rest of us who got here by working and living within our means.

They've built a place that makes most of us feel "rich", not monetarily, but with happiness and being outdoors and active most of the time.

[NotGolfer]

The Free Enterprise system is "alive and well" here....AND....we ALL get to enjoy it!! I'm so grateful for the Schwartz/Morse family for their work ethic, their vision and what seems to be a humble spirit as well. I've heard many stories about Mr. Schwartz going down to the square and meeting and chatting with the folks. Wish I could have met him!! If I knew where to send it....I'd drop off a "thank you" note for the Morse family!!

[Challenger]

"you can't please all of the people , all of the time " but The Family has put a good try on it. Without the "profit motive" I don't think this wonderland would exist. The American dream is still alive and we also are its beneficiaries.