Quiet Legacy

H&R Block Has Built Nearly 50 Years of Trust in Franklin

Writer & Photographer / Christina Cochran

On a busy Franklin street, inside an H&R Block office that has seen nearly half a century of change, there is a desk that no one uses.

It sits neatly in place, purposeful and permanent—a reminder that some legacies are never meant to fade. The desk belongs to Don Stidham, who opened the Franklin office in 1969 and whose presence is still felt every day—by clients who stop to tell stories, by former students who pause beneath his photograph in the lobby, and by his wife, Alice Stidham, who continues the work they began together.

Alice remains sharp, gracious and deeply devoted to a business she has helped shape since 1976. In an industry defined by numbers, deadlines and changing regulations, she has built something far more enduring: trust, relationships and a sense of family that stretches across generations.

This year, that quiet dedication earned national recognition. The Franklin H&R Block offices—four of them now—were named among the Top 25 Elite offices in the nation, out of 281 franchises. The distinction reflects one of the highest client return rates in the country.

For Alice, though, the award represents far more than statistics.

“When I hold it in my hands,” she says softly, “everything Don and I worked for comes back to me. The friendships. The dedication. The people.”

The Early Days: Pen, Paper, and Personal Presence

When Alice and Don Stidham began their journey together in Franklin, the business of tax preparation looked nothing like it does today. There were no computers. No apps. No e-filing. Everything was done by hand.

“We started with pen and paper,” Alice recalls. “No online services, no computers. Audits were in person, with the IRS or the state sitting right there in the office.”

It was meticulous work, requiring precision, patience and—perhaps most importantly—face-to-face trust. Clients sat across the desk, papers spread between them, conversations unfolding naturally. It was never just about numbers.

That personal connection became the foundation of everything that followed.

As technology advanced, the Franklin offices adapted—learning computers, transitioning to e-filing, and eventually offering fully digital options that allow clients to submit documents remotely without stepping inside the office. But even as systems modernized, Alice was determined that the heart of the business would remain unchanged.

“The tools are different,” she says, “but the care is the same.”

A Desk That Still Tells Stories

Don Stidham’s desk has remained in the office since his passing, a choice that speaks volumes about the way this business honors its past.

“He started the office in 1969,” Alice says. “So he will always have a desk here.”

His photograph hangs in the lobby, and it often becomes a point of conversation. Longtime clients pause to reminisce. Former students—Don taught before opening the business—stop in to share gratitude.

“It brings back so many stories,” Alice says. “People who have been with us for over 50 years still talk about him. They’re grateful we keep that reminder.”

For Alice, the desk is not a symbol of loss, but of continuity.

“I still feel him here,” she says. “His presence continues to shape the business every day.”

Growth, Change, and the Challenges That Defined a Career

Over nearly five decades, Alice Stidham has seen Franklin change — and has changed with it. The business itself has remained the same, built on steady trust and long-term relationships, even as it has moved through four different locations over the years rather than expanding all at once.

The challenges along the way have been defining.

One of the most significant was the shift from handwritten returns to computerized systems.

“Learning to use a computer and switching to e-filing — that was a big change,” Alice admits with a smile.

Another defining moment came much later, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The hardest part was not being able to sit down and talk with our clients,” she says. “They had to drop off documents, and we had a 48-hour cleaning process before we could even touch them.”

For a business built on personal connection, the distance was difficult—but the team adapted, ensuring safety without sacrificing care.

Through every transition, Alice’s approach remained steady: do what’s best for the client, no matter how the process changes.

From Kentucky to Franklin: Finding Home

Originally from Kentucky, Alice Stidham never imagined Franklin would become the place she’d put down lifelong roots.

That changed when she married Don.

“Don came here to teach,” she says. “I moved here when we married, and we just fell in love with the area and the community.”

Don went on to teach at Northwood Elementary School for more than 25 years, building deep ties with generations of Franklin families.

Franklin became more than a place to work — it became home.

“We decided this was where we wanted to be,” Alice says. “Professionally and personally.”

That sense of belonging is woven into every aspect of the business. The Franklin offices don’t feel corporate or transactional. They feel familiar.

An Award That Represents Family

Being named a Top 25 Elite office is no small feat. It’s a national recognition earned by only a handful of franchises, based largely on client loyalty and return rates.

But Alice doesn’t see it as a personal achievement.

“I couldn’t have gotten here without my clients and my employees,” she says. “They’re more like family.”

When she looks at the award, she thinks of Don—and how proud he would be.

“I can imagine how happy this would have made him feel,” she says.

To Alice, the award represents relationships: the dedication she and Don poured into the business, the employees who embraced that dedication, and the clients who trusted them year after year.

Generations of Trust

One of the Franklin office’s greatest distinctions is its generational clientele.

“We build relationships that go beyond business,” Alice says. “We get to know the families.”

Over the years, they’ve shared laughter and tears, milestones and losses.

“We’ve cried at our desks,” she says. “And we’ve celebrated successes. Everything in between.”

That emotional investment is what keeps people coming back—sometimes across generations.

Clients return not just because their taxes are handled expertly, but because they are known.

Thirty Years of Loyalty: The Role of Kim

Among those who have helped shape the office culture is Kim Midkirk, the longtime office manager who has been with Alice Stidham for 30 years.

“We are family,” Alice says simply.

The bond extends beyond the workplace.

“We go through everything together—inside the office and outside of it,” she says. “That tight-knit feeling is what keeps us close.”

In an industry with frequent turnover, the longevity of Alice’s staff speaks volumes about her leadership style. She leads with trust, respect and empathy — qualities that foster loyalty rather than demand it.

Humility as a Guiding Principle

Despite national recognition and decades of success, Alice remains deeply humble.

“Humility is part of achievement,” she says. “We work as a team to serve our community and do what’s in the best interest of our clients.”

Pride, for Alice, is never loud. It’s quiet, steady and rooted in service.

Service Beyond the Office

That philosophy extends beyond tax season.

One of the office’s most memorable community moments was an event called Breakfast with Block, where the team prepared breakfast bags and handed them out to drive-up community members.

It was joyful, simple and intentionally low-key.

“As a business and personally, we’ve participated in a lot of community giving,” Alice says. “We do it privately. We don’t want attention for the deeds we do.”

Instead, Alice hopes to be known by who they are.

“We believe in supporting the community we live and work in,” she says, “by reaching out when needs present themselves.”

Perhaps the greatest reward comes when former clients stop by — not to file taxes, but simply to visit.

“It means everything when people come in just to see us,” Alice adds. “Or when they let us know they’ve lost someone, or welcomed a new family member. We feel very blessed.”

Looking Ahead: A Legacy of Empathy and Expertise

As Alice Stidham looks toward the future, her hopes are clear.

“We want to continue what we’re doing,” she says. “Setting an example with expertise, ease, enthusiasm — but especially empathy.”

That vision now carries forward with the next generation. Following the passing of her husband, Alice’s daughter, Brenda Stidham Cohen, stepped into the role of part owner, helping ensure the values that built the business remain firmly in place.

Empathy and expertise, Alice believes, extend far beyond tax preparation.

“They transfer into people’s personal lives,” she says.

After nearly 50 years, Alice Stidham’s legacy is not defined by numbers or awards — though both are impressive — but by relationships, consistency and quiet kindness.

In a world that moves faster every year, the Franklin H&R Block offices remain rooted in something timeless: care.

And at the heart of it all is a woman who never set out to be celebrated — only to serve — now supported by a family legacy committed to doing the same.