INDIANAPOLIS (March 21, 2019) – Governor Eric J. Holcomb will honor 65 Indiana companies and organizations during an event at the Indiana Statehouse, presenting each with the Governor’s Century or Half Century Business Award in recognition of each company’s longevity and service to its employees, community and the state.
“Today we honor businesses that have helped lay a foundation for economic success in Indiana, maintaining operations for more than 50 to 100 years and creating long-term career opportunities for Hoosiers,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Through a strong dedication to their employees, their businesses and their communities, these companies exemplify the pioneering spirit and perseverance that will push our state forward for years to come.”
The Governor’s Century and Half Century Business Awards honor Hoosier businesses that have remained in operation for a minimum of 100 or 50 consecutive years and have demonstrated a commitment to community service. More than 1,500 Indiana companies have been recognized during the award’s 28-year history.
Century Award honorees for 2019:
- Cash Concrete Products, founded by Clyde Cash in 1918, is a family-owned and
operated company in Greencastle providing quality building materials like
ready-mix concrete, concrete block, brick, stone veneer and other supplies
for commercial, farm, industrial and residential uses.
101 years; Putnam County
- Claeys Candy,
founded by Jerome “J.C.” Claeys in 1919, launched its operations
in Claeys’ garage in South Bend. The company makes confections such as Old
Fashion Sugared Hard Candies, Chocolate Charlie®, Gourmet Peanut Brittle
and Fudges using the finest ingredients in small production batches.
100 years; St. Joseph County
- Cummins, Inc.,
a global power leader, is a Columbus-headquartered corporation with
complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service
engines and related technologies. The company offers a diverse portfolio
of products including diesel and natural gas engines, hybrid engines and
electrified powertrains. The company’s products are used in trucks, buses,
trains, a variety of watercraft as well as off-highway equipment and
generators.
100 years; Bartholomew County
- Dubois County Title Co., Inc., which has served southwest Indiana communities since
1891, offers its clients cost-effective, accurate real estate title
searches, title insurance and escrow closings. The current third and
fourth-generation family members along with the company’s talented team
continue to work together to protect and reduce real estate ownership
risks.
128 years; Dubois County
- Good Samaritan,
Knox County’s largest employer and Indiana’s first county-owned hospital,
offers affordable access to high-quality health services for southwest
Indiana and southeast Illinois residents. Licensed for 158 in-house
patients, Good Samaritan also has more than 540,000 outpatient and 39,500
emergency-room visits annually. With services ranging from radiation
oncology to child birth, this growing health care provider balances
quality patient care with preventive education.
111 years; Knox County
- Hauenstein’s,
which originally started as a sales and repair shop for horse bridles, is
a family-owned clothing store in Tell City led by Albert and John
Hauenstein. The store provides quality clothing options for men, women and
children, including brands like Carhartt, Levi’s, Wrangler and Carolina
Boot.
153 years; Perry County
- Henry Poor Lumber Company, which has been locally-owned and operated in the
Greater Lafayette area since 1918, supplies building materials, wood
packaging, custom mill work, engineered components, cabinets,
countertops and floor coverings. Today, the company has three locations in
Indiana, including its main 65,000-square-foot headquarters with a
15,000-square-foot showroom in Lafayette, its Flooring Express
facility in Lafayette and its Kokomo-based sales office.
101 years; Tippecanoe County
- Hertel’s Shoe Store, which was founded in 1888, is a
third-generation, family-owned shoe store in Batesville. Operated by
Harold and Katherine Weiler, Hertel’s Shoe Store sells name brand
shoes and offers custom-fitting services for men, women and children
in southeast Indiana.
131 years; Ripley County
- Indiana Bridge,
Muncie’s oldest manufacturer, is a minority-owned business enterprise
providing high-quality steel fabrication and erection services across the
U.S. Founded as the Indiana Bridge Company in 1886, the company originally
constructed steel structures like bridges, trestles and bridge abutments,
later expanding to complex facilities and rack and structural projects.
133 years; Delaware County
- Insurance Management Group (IMG) is an independent insurance agency headquartered in
Marion with additional offices in Indianapolis, Carmel, Elwood and Fort
Wayne. IMG specializes in home, auto, and business insurance programs as
well as employee and senior benefits. Tailoring insurance coverage to
fit its clients’ unique and individual needs, IMG has proudly served
customers since 1875.
144 years; Grant County
- Levin Tire & Service Center, founded by Henry Levin in 1918, is a
third-generation, family-owned business offering automotive maintenance
and repair services, new tires and tire-related services across its six locations
in northwest Indiana.
101 years; Lake County
- Modern Aluminum Castings offers its customers, which include small and
mid-sized original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), full-service aluminum
casting capabilities from design to delivery. At its 60,000-square-foot
Terre Haute facility, the company houses a fully-automated production
system designed to accommodate all casting requirements.
100 years; Vigo County
- More Farm Stores,
a fourth-generation, family-owned business, has served rural areas in
northeast Indiana since 1913, offering new and used equipment for
agricultural, construction, landscape and outdoor purposes. More Farm
Stores has 30 employees across its three locations and is one of the
largest compact tractor dealers in the Midwest.
106 years; Whitley County
- Peerless Printing Corporation, currently owned by Kurt and Anne Kohlmorgen, was
founded in 1901 and purchased by Kurt’s great grandfather, John Hood
Macadam, in 1910. Primarily serving central and north central Indiana, the
Marion-based business specializes in print sales, office supply sales and
office furnishing with focuses in office design and equipment.
118 years; Grant County
- Reis-Nichols Jewelers, family owned and operated in Indianapolis since 1919,
offers the largest selection of quality jewelry brands in the Midwest with
more than 20 designer lines and a dozen top-name Swiss watches. With a
staff of industry experts including gemologists, designers, diamond
setters, goldsmiths, watch makers and engravers, Reis-Nichols was built on
and continues to uphold its values of service and respect for
its customers.
100 years; Marion County
- Ryan, Moore, Cook, Triplett & Albertson LLP is a Frankfort-based law firm founded by Judge James
Kent in 1902 and joined by then associate Thomas Ryan in 1907. The firm
provides legal services in estate planning, business, real estate,
creditor’s rights and civil litigation to Hoosiers and businesses in
Clinton County and the surrounding areas.
117 years; Clinton County
- Sandman Brothers,
which started as the Sandman Tire and Bicycle Shop in 1918, is a
Shelbyville-based, family-owned automobile sales and repair business,
serving as a Cadillac, GMC, Buick, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and Vespa
dealership in Shelby County.
101 years; Shelby County
- Sutton-Garten Co., an Indianapolis-based distributor of welding
equipment and gases, was founded in 1918. The company sells, services and
rents welding equipment, provides gases for industrial and beverage gas
customers, and produces dry ice for commercial uses. Sutton-Garten has 35
employees, including third and fourth-generation family members, and has
been recognized by the American Welding Society for promoting welding and
welding training.
101 years; Marion County
- YMCA of DeKalb County, founded by Charles Eckart who also served as the
first president of the board, offers spiritual, physical and mental
wellness programs for Hoosiers and recreational facilities, which include
pools, indoor and outdoor tracks, soccer and football fields, trail
networks, a splash pad and one of the only field houses in the Midwest.
Over the past five years, the YMCA of DeKalb County’s membership has
quadrupled to serving more than 11,000 people in northeast Indiana.
107 years; DeKalb County
Half Century Award honorees for 2019:
- Amish Acres
was founded by Richard Pletcher when he purchased the 80-acre
Stahly-Nisley-Kuhns farm, the only Amish farm listed in the National
Register of Historic Places, at public auction in 1968. After restoring
the farm and relocating historical structures to Nappanee, Amish Acres was
transformed into one of Indiana’s premier heritage tourism destinations,
attracting visitors to its restaurants, shops, live theatre and
lodging.
51 years; Elkhart County
- Bassemier’s Fireplace, Patio & Spas, which was founded by John and Diana Bassemier in
1968, is an Evansville-based, family-owned business selling fireplaces,
patio furniture, spas and saunas, awnings and other outdoor equipment. In
2014, the company was recognized as one of the Best Places to Work and
Companies to Watch by the Indiana Chamber and Indiana Economic Development
Corporation (IEDC), respectively.
51 years; Vanderburgh County
- Biagi, Chance, Cummins, London, Titzer (BCCLT) Inc. provides civil, electrical and mechanical engineering
services in Indiana and across the eastern U.S. Throughout its more than
50-year history, BCCLT has maintained long-term client relationships while
providing professional expertise for governmental agencies, education institutions
and health care and industrial businesses.
54 years; Vanderburgh County
- Cancer Association of Shelby County, founded in 1959, is a Shelbyville-based nonprofit
providing cancer patients with assistance for transportation,
medication, health insurance costs, in-home care, medical equipment,
dental services, nursing supplies, equipment and human service needs such
as utilities, mammograms and colonoscopies.
60 years; Shelby County
- Cancer Services of Grant County is a community-based nonprofit serving cancer patients
in Grant County by ensuring access to quality care. The nonprofit offers
free services such as patient navigation, transportation, financial
assistance, home healthcare equipment, wigs, supplies, free screenings and
housing assistance.
60 years; Grant County
- Dogan and Dogan Attorneys at Law is a Portage law firm founded by Matthew Dogan in
1947, when he moved to northwest Indiana after serving as a law professor
at Indiana University. Matthew’s son, Thomas Dogan, is the managing member
of the firm, and Thomas’ son, Matt Dogan, serves as an attorney
partner.
72 years; Porter County
- Eichhorn & Eichhorn LLP, founded by attorney John Lawyer in Hammond in 1938,
is a trusted litigation firm providing trial litigation services
and legal assistance in Indiana and Illinois. Fourteen of Eichhorn
& Eichhorn’s attorneys were recently ranked by Super Lawyers as
Indiana’s 2019 Super Lawyers or Rising Stars.
81 years; Lake County
- Garcor Supply Company, which was founded by Steve Corbett and Emil Garlati
in 1965, is a Marion-based business supplying special fasteners as well as
parts and equipment for heaters and controls, power transmissions, mills,
and pneumatics and hydraulics.
54 years; Grant County
- Gatlin Plumbing & Heating (GPH), family owned and operated since 1938, was started by
Ivan and Marjorie Gatlin as a residential and commercial plumbing
business. GPH has since expanded to include underground, large-scale
commercial plumbing, HVAC and sheet metal divisions.
81 years; Lake County
- Good Oil Company, founded by Don O. Good Sr. in 1941, is a fuel jobber
and owner of the Good To Go convenience store chain, which operates 16
retail locations and supplies more than 100 dealer locations. Along with
giving back to the community through philanthropic events and
sponsorships, Good Oil raised more than $40,000 this past summer for local
schools through its “G.O. for School Safety” campaign.
78 years; Pulaski County
- Gorman & Bunch Orthodontics, which was founded by Dr. John C. Gorman Sr. in
1962, is a Marion-based orthodontics practice with six additional
locations in Indiana. The practice is committed to integrating the latest
technology and treatment techniques in orthodontics to deliver quality
care for its patients. Gorman & Bunch Orthodontics is the No. 1
provider of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen in the state.
57 years; Grant County
- Hoosier Hills Credit Union, a Bedford-based financial cooperative, operates eight
financial service centers in south central and southwest Indiana,
providing personal and commercial loan, savings, investment and insurance
services. Today, Hoosier Hills Credit Union has more than $550 million in
assets and serves nearly 30,000 members in 35 Indiana counties.
50 years; Lawrence County
- Hoosier Uplands,
founded as a community action agency in 1966, is a nonprofit providing
comprehensive services like housing and energy assistance, health and
education-focused programs and counseling to poor, elderly and disabled
Hoosiers in southwest Indiana.
53 years; Lawrence County
- Jayco manufactures
and markets towable and motorized recreation vehicles (RVs) through its
Jayco, Starcraft, Entegra Coach and Highland Ridge RV divisions. Today,
the company has more than 3,000 employees and supplies over 300 dealers
across the U.S. As one of the industry’s top RV manufacturers, Jayco
contributes to the growth of the RV industry, with nearly 80 percent of
all RV production occurring right here in Indiana.
51 years; Elkhart County
- Kersting’s Cycle Center is a Winamac-based motorcycle dealership established by
Jim and Nella Kersting in 1962. With more than 40,000 square feet of
showroom and service space, Kersting’s Cycle Center sells 400 motorcycles,
including Harley-Davidson and Yamaha brands, annually. At its
facility, the business also features a motorcycle museum called the World
of Motorcycles Museum.
57 years; Pulaski County
- Lawrenceburg Veterinary Clinic, founded by Dr. Jerald Jacobsen in 1968, is a
Greendale-based veterinary clinic. Originally a mixed animal
practice, the Lawrenceburg Veterinary Clinic transformed into a walk-in
clinic providing primary care and surgery for dogs and cats across the
tri-state (Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky) area.
51 years; Dearborn County
- Lewger Machine & Tool, a Kendallville-based manufacturer founded in 1951,
specializes in machining, grinding and surface grinding, stamping and pump
rebuilding. At its 26,600-square-foot facility, the company makes parts
for customers across the U.S. and Canada, including large corporations
like Kraft Foods and Parker Hannifin.
68 years; Noble County
- The Log Inn,
a family-owned restaurant founded in 1965 by Pete and Vic Rettig, is one
of the oldest log inn and stage coach stops in the nation, originally
built in 1825. After the family purchased the building, they discovered
its logs, researched its history and learned Abraham Lincoln visited the inn
in November 1844. Acquired by Gene and Rita Elpers and now managed by
their children, Kathy, Daryl and Trish, The Log Inn is known for their
homemade food, with fried chicken as the specialty.
54 years; Gibson County
- Lonsbury Garage,
founded by Al Lonsbury in 1951, is an eight-bay full automotive and diesel
trucking repair shop, servicing Steuben County and surrounding areas with
a focus of providing excellent customer service and quality of work at an
affordable price.
68 years; Steuben County
- Luke Family of Brands, founded by Ralph Luke in Hobart in 1967, is a
third-generation, family-owned company that has diversified into
commercial divisions such as Luke Oil, GoLo, County Line Orchard, Luke
Convenience Stores, Luke Builds, $5 Car Wash and LiqGo. Today, Luke
distributes more than 500 million gallons of fuel annually through its
network of retail gas stations, dealers and fuel distributors across the
Midwest, and supports growth opportunities for more than 900 employees.
52 years; Lake County
- MacAllister Machinery Company, one of Indiana’s leading heavy equipment suppliers,
sells and rents Caterpillar equipment along with more than 50 other
brands. The Indianapolis-based company, which has 34 locations across
Indiana and Michigan, was founded by E.W. MacAllister and is a
third-generation, family-owned business, offering quality
products, parts and advanced technologies for its growing client base.
78 years; Marion County
- Major Hospital Foundation was established in 1961 to support Shelby County’s
community hospital, Major Hospital, and its patients by improving the
hospital’s technology, equipment and facilities, enhancing patient
assistance and increasing health education. The foundation recently
committed $1 million to the construction of the Sue Ann Wortman Nephrology
Center, which is scheduled to open this summer.
58 years; Shelby County
- Mann’s Inc.,
founded by Richard Mann in 1968, offers plumbing, heating and air
conditioning services to residential and commercial customers in northeast
Indiana.
51 years; Huntington County
- Manpower of Richmond, launched by Hoosier entrepreneur Geneva Allen in
1966, is a staffing services business with locations in Richmond,
Connersville and Portland. Manpower, a third-generation franchise owned
and operated by Michael J. Allen, Michael D. Allen and Debbie
Whirley, serves most of east central Indiana, including Blackford, Henry,
Fayette, Jay, Rudolph, Union and Wayne counties.
53 years; Wayne County
- Mason Corporation, started by Ralph Mason in 1950, is a
Schererville-based, family-owned business that manufactures and markets
high-purity inorganic tin-based chemicals, which are used in a wide
variety of applications and sold and shipped globally. The company is
currently managed by the third generation of the Mason family, and has
grown alongside the town of Schererville since its inception.
69 years; Lake County
- Mayfield Insurance, founded by Herschel Coleman in 1921 and now owned by
Dean Mayfield, is an independent insurance agency located in Mooresville devoted
to selling and servicing all lines of personal and business insurance
coverage.
98 years; Morgan County
- McIntosh Energy,
which was started by Korean War veteran Russell McIntosh in 1953, provides
fuel cards and onsite fuel delivery for commercial fleets and business
owners. The company also operates four Sunoco MacFood Mart gas stations in
northeast Indiana.
66 years; Allen County
- McMahon’s Best-One Tire & Auto Care, an independent tire dealer and auto repair/fleet
service shop with five locations in Fort Wayne and New Haven, has been
family owned and operated since 1969. Pat “Bubba” and Kim
McMahon run the day-to-day operations which began with Pat’s father. In
2018, McMahon’s supported more than 30 local charities and organizations, including
Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana, Community Harvest Food Bank and Fort
Wayne Pet Food Pantry, to name a few.
50 years; Allen County
- Mercer Machine Company, established in 1954 by founder Wayne Mercer, provides
high-precision machining services for the aerospace, automotive and
commercial industries. The company utilizes state-of-the-art equipment in
all areas of production, including turning, milling, wire electrical
discharge machining, production sawing and inspection.
65 years; Marion County
- Miles Printing,
originally founded by Charles Moran in 1920 as a precision die-cutting
business, is a WBE-certified, woman-owned marketing, print and
communication company, providing marketing, design, e-commerce, print and
fulfillment with inventory management for clients in the life sciences and
health care sectors.
99 years; Marion County
- Myers Spring Company is a Logansport-based manufacturer that
designs and produces quality springs and wire forms
for industries such as agriculture, automotive, industrial, heavy
truck and many others. The company was started by Walter Myers, who
had a passion for quality service that is carried on by Myers
Spring’s 65 employees and celebrated by its growing customer
base, which includes the company’s first customer since it was founded in
1946.
73 years; Cass County
- N.A. Logan,
started by Nicholas Logan in 1957, is a Gary-based, family-owned
industrial painting and specialized coating contractor, offering expert
field and shop capabilities to industrial and commercial businesses in
Indiana, Michigan and Illinois.
62 years; Lake County
- Natco Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative in east
central Indiana, providing loans, checking and savings accounts, credit
card options and other financial services to Hoosier families. The credit
union has been consistently rated by Bauer Financial as a five-star
financial institution – the highest possible rating for banking
performance.
75 years; Wayne County
- New Horizons Rehabilitation, a Batesville-based nonprofit with locations also in
Brookville and Penntown, offers care and support for Hoosiers with
intellectual and developmental disabilities in southeast Indiana. Through
day services, community participation, residential support and employment
opportunities, New Horizons helps provide greater life experiences for
more than 300 individuals in five counties.
51 years; Ripley County
- Northwest Indiana Telephone Company (NITCO), founded by George Mussman in 1939, the Hebron-based
telecommunications company provides broadband, commercial and residential
fiber optics, DSL and voice services in northwest Indiana.
80 years; Porter County
- R.P. Wakefield,
founded by Russell P. Wakefield in 1954 and acquired by Donald
Ruegsegger in 1963, is a Waterloo-based hardwood moulding company
designing, developing and delivering quality wood products for its
clients. The company is now owned by Donald’s son, Brian Ruegsegger.
65 years; DeKalb County
- Romary Associates, a commercial land, design and building firm
established by Ed Romary in 1968, specializes in land acquisition, space
planning, interior design as well as conventional and modular construction
of financial institution buildings.
51 years; Allen County
- Runnebohm Construction is a Shelbyville-based design/build general contractor
with more than 65 employees. The company has completed hundreds of
projects throughout Indiana, with a focus on industrial and commercial
construction.
51 years; Shelby County
- S.U.S. Cast Products was founded by Salvador Sienna, who helped fuel the
growth of Indiana’s die casting industry, in 1946. Operating a
state-of-the-art, 65,000-square-foot facility in Logansport, the
privately-held manufacturer owned by JR Merlau and Jeff Todd provides
high-quality aluminum die cast parts throughout North America to top global
OEMs.
73 years; Cass County
- Speedgrip Chuck Company, founded by Fred Earnest and his son Richard Earnest
in 1946, is a manufacturer of high-precision, customized workholding
equipment for CNC machine tools. From its Elkhart facility, the company
sells to a diverse set of customers and industries, including automotive,
aerospace, defense, off-road and construction, and health care.
73 years; Elkhart County
- Sullair,
established in Michigan City in 1965, is one of the largest air
compressor manufacturers in the world. The company is globally recognized
as a leading manufacturer of air compressors – including portable, oil
free and oil flooded stationary and a complete line of complementary air
treatment solutions – for use in nearly every industry, from manufacturing
and oil and gas to food processing and construction.
54 years; LaPorte County
- Wabash MPI,
a global supplier of production and laboratory hydraulic and pneumatic
presses, was founded in 1941 by Charles Brown. The first hydraulic press
was created for a Wabash high school science teacher who wanted to teach
his students about molding and laminating various materials. Wabash MPI
has expanded into presses for production compression molding, transfer
molding, C-frame as well as presses with vacuum assist, and has produced
more than 12,000 presses in its 78 years of operation.
78 years; Wabash County
- Wawasee Boat Company, founded by Ken Harkless in 1929, provides boat sales,
service and storage for customers on Lake Wawasee and surrounding lakes,
and has grown to be one of the largest marinas in the state. In 1977, Doug
and Carolyn Anderson and their son Russell obtained ownership and have
operated the 45-acre campus on the north shore of Lake Wawasee for 42
years.
90 years; Kosciusko County
- WBAT-AM,
a radio station serving the northeast Indiana region for 72 years,
officially signed on in 1947. Through the years, WBAT has been a music
radio station, a news/talk station and the “voice” of the Marion High
School Giants. The station regularly partners with several nonprofit
organizations to increase community awareness and support,
host radiothon fundraisers and offer free advertising.
72 years; Grant County
- Winamac Coil Spring, founded by Walter Pesaresi in 1948, is a
third-generation, family-owned and operated company
that produces quality, long-lasting springs and wire forms
globally. The company’s products are utilized by a variety of
industries such as off-road vehicles, racing, agriculture equipment,
medical devices, industrial equipment and heavy machinery. Winamac Coil
Spring’s mantra is that the company’s current 188 employees are its
“greatest asset.”
71 years; Fulton County
- WXXC-FM,
a radio station serving the northeast Indiana region for 71
years, was founded in 1948 as WMRI. Through the years, WXXC has played
light adult contemporary music, classic hits and popular adult
contemporary music. Like WBAT, the station helps increase awareness and
support, hosting fundraisers, offering free advertising and providing
extensive coverage of nonprofit events and news.
71 years; Grant County
A number of these award winners have utilized
services provided by the Indiana Small Business Development
Center (SBDC) and Indiana Procurement
Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) to fuel their growth in Indiana. Myers Spring and R.P. Wakefield,
for example, received business planning and strategy development services
from the Indiana SBDC, a one-stop shop for Hoosier entrepreneurs looking
to start and grow a business, while Mercer Machine Company received contracting
assistance from the Indiana PTAC, which helps Indiana businesses compete for
and win federal, state and local contracts.
Photos of the 2019 Governor’s Century and Half
Century award winners will be uploaded following the ceremony. Please click here to access the
photos.
