BELOIT — ABC Supply Co. founder Ken Hendricks is being remembered this week in Rock County and beyond as a community visionary, a generous philanthropist, a loving family man and the embodiment of American entrepreneurial success.

Hendricks, 66, died early Friday at Rockford Memorial Hospital after falling through the ceiling of a garage at his home in Rock Township just north of Beloit late Thursday night. He sustained a serious head injury, according to Rock County Sheriff’s Department Cmdr. Troy Knudson.

“Ken went to check an area where they were having work done in their garage,” Knudson said.

Hendricks’ wife Diane placed an emergency call at 10:18 p.m. Thursday saying her husband was unconscious. She began CPR, which was continued by sheriff’s department deputy Craig Keller.

Beloit Township emergency services and city of Beloit paramedics arrived by 10:27 p.m., Knudson said, and rushed Hendricks to Beloit Memorial Hospital. He was transferred to Rockford Memorial Hospital, where he died.

Hendricks was chairman and chief executive officer of ABC Supply Co., a wholesale distributor of roofing, siding, windows and other construction materials. The company is headquartered in Beloit and has more than 350 stores around the country.

Hendricks and his wife started the company in 1982 with three stores. ABC now has annual sales of $3 billion and annually makes Forbes magazine’s list of the country’s largest privately held companies.

Rock County residents were stunned Friday by news of Hendricks’ death. Community leaders, friends and even those who had not met him in person recalled him with fondness and respect.

“It is a shock; this was a personal loss for all of us,” Beloit City Manager Larry Arft said. “Obviously, he was one of, if not our leading citizen, and was the leading industrialist in our city. I hope the Beloit community will join me in an expression of condolence.”

Pete Raskovic experienced Hendricks’ kindness first-hand as the team manager for the Urban Force Racing team. The team of students maintains and provides the pit crew for an ASA late-model race car, which was purchased by Hendricks.

“He treated me like a son,” Raskovic said. “He just cared so much about these kids and had such a vision for the high school.”

Raskovic had hoped for the best when he received word of the accident Thursday night.

“We were praying all night,” Raskovic said. “It’s really tough — I just can’t believe he’s gone.”

Others expressed similar sentiments.

“Ken, he was — he was my friend, you know? It’s hard to believe he’s gone,” said restaurateur Peter Gabriele of Beloit. “(Beloit’s) not going to be the same, that’s for sure.”

Friend Prudence Harker, who was at a Blackhawk Bank board dinner with Hendricks earlier Thursday night, said, “You can’t drive through Beloit without seeing what he’s done for this town.” At the dinner, Harker said, “(Hendricks) was talking about tomorrow, like he always does.”

Fighting tears, she added, “I can remember his smile as we speak, the twinkle in his eye.”

Hendricks, a Janesville native, served on the governing boards of a number of organizations, including Forward Janesville. He was remembered by fellow board member Anne Lutz as a “visionary.”

“One of his favorite expressions was, ‘A ship is safe in a harbor, but that’s not what ships are meant for,’” said Lutz, the director of customer operations for Alliant Energy. “He could have relaxed on the benefit of what he had achieved, but he was always looking out there for ways to improve the communities and people.”

At age 17, Hendricks dropped out of school to take a job driving a truck for a power company. At 21, he started his own roofing business, which eventually would evolve into ABC Supply.

His sense of entrepreneurial adventure was “unparalleled,” Harker said, as was his dedication to local philanthropy.

“It didn’t matter at all who you were or what you were or where you came from,” said Carter Linneman, the head coach of the Rock County Gladiators semi-pro football team.

The Gladiators wanted to use a school football field in Janesville for their games, but the local school board denied that request. Hendricks offered the use of the old Beloit Catholic High School field, which he owned.

“He supported everybody’s dreams, no matter how big or small; in any way possible that he could help, he was doing that,” Linneman said. “He was probably one of the most likable people around. He treated everybody the same, no matter who you were.”

Marion Wozniak, chairwoman of the Forward Janesville board, said it was easy to see something special in Hendricks.

“He was one of those rare individuals who made a significant difference,” Wozniak said. “It was hard to know Ken and not realize that he was a very special person. He was a very positive and wonderful man — I think that’s the reaction you’ll get from everyone.”

Hendricks served on the Beloit College Board of Trustees, which awarded him and his wife honorary degrees in May.

“As a trustee of Beloit College, Ken was an important contributor to some of our most critical decisions over the past decade,” said college President John Burris. “His love of the city extended to this college, and he saw here the chance to build this community for the future.”

While he supported numerous community endeavors, his family was most important to him, friends said.

“He always talked about his family and how much he loved them,” said Steve Sheiffer, Janesville’s city manager.

Just a week before his death, Hendricks discussed with the Stateline News his plans for the new year. He said he didn’t like to make resolutions regarding his business, but was hoping to find more time for himself and his family in 2008.

“I’m going to spend more personal time,” he said.

Hendricks’ fondness for Beloit was widely known and appreciated. His company and its subsidiaries rehabilitated and reused a number of high-profile industrial and retail buildings in the city, and helped develop riverfront property in a revitalized downtown.

Said state Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, “Ken was a true visionary who wanted the best for his hometown. I respected Ken for his love of old architecture and industrial artifacts. That love drove him to preserve and transform some of our landmark properties in Beloit rather than bulldoze them.

“He helped turn blight into bright sources of pride for our community.”

Harker agreed.

“His vision affected Beloit, Janesville, all the communities around here,” Harker said, “(but) also the world.”

Hendricks is survived by his wife, seven children and 14 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Anne Hendricks.