How Saint Anthony of Padua became involved with business decisions at the Ampex Company.
An American citizen, Thomas Kevin Mallen (Kevin Mallen) was born in County Wicklow and educated at Rockwell College. After World War II he went into business and, with some friends, bought control of the Ampex Company, a tape recording venture based in California.
Kevin Mallen worked with Ampex from about 1948 to 1954, starting as the executive vice president and general manager. Gradually, he came to look after the international activities of Ampex. He calculates that an investor in 1950 will have gained returns of 85 times their original investment.
Kevin Mallen credits some of his success to having Saint Anthony of Padua on his board of directors. he regards the saint as an old friend,
But I don't bring him in unless the situation is pretty tough.
When big decisions had to be made at Ampex Kevin Mallen would say,
Listen Saint Anthony, you're in this thing with us, it's going to be worth so much to you if a certain thing happens, and we would promise him, and we would pay him.
At the end of a board of directors meeting, Kevin Mallen would say to his associates,
We've done pretty well today, now we'll send something to good old Saint Anthony.
They would subsequently send cheques to the Good Shepherd convent in San Francisco. The board members thought the practice unusual, but as it worked, nobody complained.
It's just silly when you look at it from a business standpoint, but it's there, and I believe in it for one.
Kevin Mallen understands that Saint Anthony is a businessman and must be paid. He knows of occasions where people asked for the saint's help, promising something in return but they never paid him.
While the partnership works for Kevin Mallen, he thinks it is equally beneficial for Saint Anthony. He knows that trusting in a saint's help in a business transaction requires a certain level of spirituality and belief. When Kevin Mallen left Ampex he did not insist that his associates continue with the practice.
This episode of 'Radharc' was broadcast on 19 November 1965. The reporter is Peter Lemass.
