Last Wednesday, several dozen companies were invited to a very nice ceremony at the Statehouse, where they received the Governor's Business Awards. The event celebrates longevity of Hoosier businesses, and this year's class included 4 hardwood companies who, between them, have served Hoosiers for 366 years.
Leading the class was Jasper Desk Company (133 years), which began making wood office furniture when Ulysses S. Grant was president, and is the oldest wood office furniture manufacturer in the United States. The company has been continually owned by Indiana families since 1876, which means they probably had to wait a few months for the telephone to be invented after they opened! Company president Philip Gramelspacher was on hand to receive the award.
Next to be honored, also from Dubois County, was Inwood Office Furniture (62 years). President Glen Sturn accepted the award for the company that was originally called The Jasper Table Company. Although not yet an IHLA member, I decided that this post would be read by hundreds of IHLA members who would call Glen to convince him of the benefits of belonging to the only organization that works every day to improve the business conditions for his industry!
Our next IHLA member honoree was yet again from Jasper, this time Mike Elliott accepted the award on behalf of the Jasper Group (80 years), which was founded in 1929 and is one of the nation's most diverse furniture companies. They continue to set the industry standard in quality of materials, workmanship, and manufacturing processes, and has been very generous in donating items to worthwhile causes.
Moving to the far north, Ford and Brenda Frick accepted their award on behalf of Frick Lumber Company (91 years), located in Brimfield and a purveyor of high-quality hardwood lumber to the furniture and cabinet makers across the United States.
IHLA salutes these great companies, who symbolize the rich tradition our industry has in the state of Indiana.
0 comments:
Post a Comment