Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation honored six businesses Dec. 11 in Warsaw at this year’s Kosciusko Innovation and Entrepreneur Hall of Fame ceremony.
This year’s Hall of Fame inductees, from left to right, in front are Sally Strauss-Krouse, Midwest Poultry; Tom Anglin, Clunette Elevator; John Byrd, Othy/Symmetry Medical; Barb Miller and Beverly Miller, Miller Health Systems; and Mike Kubacki, Lake City Bank. In back are Doug Grant, Lake City Bank; Robert Strauss, Midwest Poultry; Darin Martin and John Hand Sr., Othy/Symmetry Medical; Jack Anglin, Clunette Elevator; Gabe Ayers, Clunette Elevator; Ron Baumgartner and Jeri Seely, The Papers Inc.; and Jim Miller and Brad Harris, Miller Health Systems. (Photo by Phoebe Muthart)

Several inductions into the Kosciusko Innovation and Entrepreneur Hall of Fame were made Wednesday, Dec. 11. The third annual induction into the hall of fame had a record turnout, as only a handful of tickets remained for the event held at Champagne Jam in Warsaw.

Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation once again honored this year’s inductees. Six entrepreneurs were inducted into this year’s hall of fame.
George Robertson, president of KEDCo said, “We are recognizing both the entrepreneur and the company.”

Extremely productive value added agriculture and agriculture-manufacturing sector has been recognized in the past. Don Strauss of Midwest Poultry, founded in 1895, was one of this year’s recipients. His daughter, Sally Strauss-Krouse, and Robert Strauss accepted the award on behalf of the family.

Midwest Poultry continues to operate as a family-owned farm with more than 300 employees. With annual sales in excess of $73 million, Midwest Poultry is one of the largest egg farmers in the nation.

This year’s other recipients are Tom, John and Jack Anglin of Clunette Elevator, founded in 1950. John passed away in 2012, but Jack still assists in the family business.

In the retail/service sector, this year’s inductees include Michael Kubacki and Doug Grant of Lake City Bank, founded in 1872. The bank has assets of $3.1 billion and a market value in excess of $600 million. Today, Lake City Bank is the fourth largest bank dedicated to serving Indiana.

The Miller family – Wallace, Connie, Richard and James – of Miller Health Systems, was also honored. Founded in 1964, Wallace and Connie Miller had a vision to bring long-term care to aging in the county. It has a workforce of 3,100 people throughout the state.

Entrepreneurship and innovation in Kosciusko County is not limited to two industries; it’s widespread across the economy, Robertson said, adding, “It includes a diversified manufacturing sector.”

Dan Brown, left, of Phend and Brown, Milford, presented an award to Publisher Ron Baumgartner, right, and Editor-in-Chief Jeri Seely of The Papers Inc., Milford, on Dec. 11 at the Kosciusko Innovation and Entrepreneur Hall of Fame ceremony and dinner in Warsaw. The event was hosted by Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation. (Photo by Phoebe Muthart)

This year’s recipient is Ron Baumgartner, publisher of The Papers Inc. The company was founded by his parents, Arch and Della Baumgartner. The Baumgartner family has been in the printing business for almost 75 years.

The late Arch Baumgartner bought The Milford Mail Aug. 5, 1939. In 1962, the papers merged creating the flagship paper, The-Mail Journal. The Mail-Journal now has 25 sister publications under the parent company, The Papers Inc., Including ‘the PAPER,’ Senior Life, Auto and RV and Glo, named after Baumgartner’s late wife, Gloria. The Papers Inc. also does commercial printing.

Baumgartner’s entrepreneurial spirit looked for new opportunities with new market products. Last year, StaceyPageOnline.com was launched. It’s gaining popularity everyday and is Kosciusko County’s only daily digital newspaper bringing up-to-the-minute news in Warsaw and Kosciusko County. The Papers Inc. employs 260 people.

In the past two years, KEDCo has honored those in the orthopedic industry. This year’s recipients, John Byrd and John Hand of Othy/Symmetry Medical, were honored. In 1976, the management of Hand Industries started a separate business, Othy Inc., to meet the need of companies for an outside vendor to do precision machining. Today, Symmetry Medical is a global company with sales of more than $400 million and more than 2,400 employees.