Six local entities were honored Wednesday during the fourth annual Spirit of Enterprise Hall of Fame banquet. The banquet, organized each year by Kosciusko County Economic Development Corporation, honors local businesses and private sector organizations for entrepreneurship and innovations. This year’s honorees were Grossnickle Eye Center (Paul, Steve and Bruce Grossnickle); Dr. Ron Manahan (Grace College); Gay and Dan Robinson (Robinson Construction); Bill Henthorn (Seymour/Midwest Rake); Reub, Chandler Williams and the Williams family (Times-Union); and Rex, Brent and Josh Wildman (Wildman Business Group). KEDCo Executive Director George Robertson said the inductees were being recognized for outstanding contributions to the economy and spirit of enterprise in Kosciusko County through innovation and enterprise. Presenters from KEDCo’s board of directors briefly described each inductee’s contributions to the community before a representative accepted the award. The Spirit of Enterprise Hall of Fame was created, Robertson said, to celebrate the great traditions of invention, innovation and entrepreneurship that encompasses the history of Kosciusko County. Dr. Paul Grossnickle, a U.S. Navy fighter pilot and Navy optometerist, started Grossnickle Eye Center in 1957 as a small optometry practice. The business has expanded numerous times over the years. Currently, Grossnickle employs more than 100 employees, performs 5,000 surgeries each year and handles 50,000 patient visits. Grace College was founded as Grace Theological Seminary in 1937 and the college was established 11 years later in 1948. Under Manahan’s leadership, Grace became more of a partner with the community, culminating in the renovation of Westminster Hall in 1996 and the building of the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center in 2007. Grace also was a key initiator and facilitator working with BioCrossoads and the grant from the Lilly Endowment, resulting in OrthoWorx and the Orthopedic Capital Foundation. Robinson Construction was founded in 1956 by Gay and Martha Robinson, operating out of a single pickup truck and building homes around Warsaw. In 1969, Gay and six other local businessmen bought the Wagon Wheel Theatre and built and operated a Holiday Inn franchise. In 1976, Gay and seven partners purchased the land between the Warsaw airport and U.S. 30, eventually resulting in the airport industrial park. The business was incorporated in 1979, adding the Robinson’s five children as shareholders. Since then, the company has been one of the leading commercial and residential builders in the area. Some of Robinson’s work includes Pierceton’s first industrial park, Medcast, West Hill Development, Custom Engineered Wheels, Winona PVD and the first shell building in Warsaw’s Certified Technology Park. Seymour/Midwest began as Midwest Rake in a garage. Bob South and Steve Petty produced a prototype rake and displayed it at a trade fair where the first order of 144 units was taken. In less than 25 years, the company has grown to a multi-million dollar enterprise with customers around the world. Bill and Bobbi Henthorn acquired South’s share of the business in 1996. Under Bill’s leadership as president, sales expanded and a new 16,000-square-foot building was constructed in Boggs Park. In 2010, after the acquisition of Kenyon, Northstar and Toolite brands were completed, the company moved to its current 430,000-square-foot facility. In 2013, the company adopted its new name to reflect the merger of more than 23 different tool brands. The company has more than 250 employees and manufactures 3,500 different tools and 8,000 repair handles. The Northern Indianian was founded in 1854 by Civil War General Reub Williams. In 1935, the Daily Times acquired the Warsaw Union, creating the Times-Union. In 1948, the company secured a broadcast license and operated radio station WRSW until its sale in 2000. The Times-Union began operating the first newspaper website in the county. Numerous press upgrades over the years have afforded the opportunity to produce quality color impressions, and upgrades in technology have afforded the newspaper the opportunity to streamline operations and efficiency. The Times-Union has served its readers and advertisers for 160 years, making it one of the oldest continuously operating family owned businesses in the nation. Wildman Business Group began in 1952 by Rex Wildman. After risking his life for his country, Wildman risked everything back home when he decided to purchase a local dry cleaner. In 1963, he moved the company to Warsaw and it became known as Warsaw Cleaners and Shirt Laundry. In 1977, his son Brent joined the company. Through a series of acquisitions and expansions, Wildman Business Group was born. In 12 years following the addition of Steve Bryant as CEO, the company grew from $3.75 million in revenue to $38 million and from 70 employees to 200 employees. Under Bryant’s leadership and with family support, the company diversified into Facility Services, Wildman Corporate Apparel, Winona Paper and Sportula Products. In 2011, Brent’s son, Josh, took the reins as CEO.
