The Wizard of West Des Moines doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as the Oracle of Omaha, but it looks like that might be what we’re facing.

West Des Moines resident Greg Able is the probable replacement for Warren Buffett. And the reports are that he’s not driving his U-Haul 129 miles west on I-80.

The news that Warren is retiring from Berkshire Hathaway shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, the man is 94 years old. And nobody is shocked to hear that Greg Abel is the heir apparent. But with Warren Buffett stepping down, I fear there could be big changes not only for Berkshire, but our fair city as well.

Warren Buffett is much more than just a brilliant businessman and investor. There are countless brilliant businessmen and investors, but none of them come with the reputation, the folklore, and the magic of Buffett. Warren Buffett is an icon that is as much the face of the city as the College World Series, the Zoo, and Mutual of Omaha, if not more so. He is a shark with a grandfatherly edge. He’s one of the world’s richest men, but he eats at McDonald’s. Warren Buffett is a force of nature that helped put Omaha on the map and made a lot of locals very rich.

I’m not one of those people. But if you look around, you’ll see the work of many of his early acolytes. People who got on the Berkshire train early and never got off. They are members of the philanthropic community who have made Omaha such a great place to live with their generous contributions.

Go to Riverfront Park, the Holland Center, the hospitals, the schools and universities, the museums, and most, if not all, of the charitable social services, and you will see the names of the generous benefactors who have contributed to make Omaha more livable. Many of them have donated money they made from the profits of being an investor in Berkshire Hathaway.

I live in Dundee and last weekend I saw Berkies from all over the world having their picture taken in front of Warren’s house. The house he has famously lived in for decades. Tourists smiled as they stood in front of 5015 Underwood. The building is now the Dundee Bank, but it used to be his grandfather’s grocery store. The store where the young entrepreneur would buy chewing gum and Coca-Cola, then resell them door to door. It’s all part of the Buffett legend. It won’t be quite the same next year with Greg Able leading the stockholders’ meeting.

Which begs the question, how much longer will the meeting be held in Omaha? Will people travel thousands of miles to hear the Wizard of West Des Moines speak? If we keep the meeting, will investors still go to Gorat’s if there’s no chance they’ll bump into the man? No way to tell.

I like looking forward instead of looking back.

Perhaps my worries about the hit Omaha could take are unfounded. Maybe Greg Able has a charisma that has gone unrecognized as the Oracle’s number two. Maybe when he’s out from underneath the gigantic shadow, Mister Able will shine and be a benefit to our city and state. Maybe they’ll keep the meeting in Omaha, and a new generation of investors will flock to town to shop at Borsheim’s, NFM, and get a discounted Dilly Bar at Dairy Queen. It may not be as bad as I fear, but there’s no doubt things won’t be the same.

The jobs at the local businesses Berkshire owns will remain, and the headquarters are supposed to remain here. But the city of Omaha is losing some of its bragging rights. It’s losing part of its identity.

Warren Buffett’s impact on Omaha will live on for generations to come. Thankfully, Susie Buffett and the Sherwood Foundation will be here to support education, the arts, and other local charitable and civic organizations.

All good things must come to an end. But with the end, there’s a new beginning on the horizon. A new beginning for Warren Buffett, Greg Able, and our city.

The big changes are in motion. Enjoy your retirement, Mr. Buffett. And thanks for everything. It was fun while it lasted.

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.

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