Oct. 24, 2012

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Southwood VolleyKnights earn sectional six-peat Southwood’s volleyball team bested Oak Hill in the IHSAA 2A Volleyball Sectional 37 finals at Southwood Saturday to win its sixth-consecutive sectional crown. The Knights overcame a twomatch deficit earlier in the day against Northfield in their semifinals matchup.

of wabash county inc. October 24, 2012

Trick or Treating Hours:

All hours are on Halloween, Wednesday, October 31 City of Wabash from 5-8pm City of Roann from 5:30-7:30pm Town of Lagro from 5-7pm North Manchester from 5:30-7:30pm

www.thepaperofwabash.com

Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977

Vol. 37, No. 32

PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992

(260) 563-8326

Fred Squires named Distinguished Citizen, Thermafiber honored as Business of the Year at annual Chamber Dinner

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Marilyn Custer-Mitchell, outgoing Chamber of Commerce Board Chair, presented the 2012 Wabash County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award to Steve Edris, President and CEO of Thermafiber at the 71st Annual Chamber of Commerce Dinner. (photo by Brent Swan)

by Brent Swan On Oct. 18 inside the Honeywell Center’s Legacy Hall, Fred Squires and Thermafiber were honored at the 71st annual Wabash County Chamber of Commerce Dinner. During the meeting, emceed by Bill Konyha, President and CEO of the Economic Development Group of Wabash County, members and guests were treated to a meal prepared by Honeywell Center Executive Chef Harry Kilmer before a performance by the Wabash High School’s Symphonic Voices choir. “They are civic leaders,” Konyha said of Thermafiber. “One of our local businesses, Midwestern Pallet, had a fire that caused their production to be at risk. Thermafiber employees rolled up their sleeves and pitched in so they could get back

into production as soon as they could. I want to thank them for being such great corporate citizens.” Thermafiber President and CEO Steve Edris accepted the award on behalf of Thermafiber’s 160 employees, saying each employee played a part in the company’s success. “I have had the privilege of being with this company and these people for over 26 years, the last 10 as president and CEO. We’re a pretty humble group and might not know how to react and properly accept these praises and accolades,” Edris said. “Much like the insulation we make, which is hiding behind a wall, sight unseen; it is providing considerable value day in and day out. Our employees are also hard at work without much fanfare creating qual-

ity products for our customers.” Edris went on to say that even though Thermafiber was not established in name until 1996, the company can trace its roots back to 1934 when the factory was first built. The facility was created in 1934 when Brigadier General Robert Wood and Michael Luery selected the Wabash site due to the availability of Mississinewa Shale Limestone, which was used to make rock wool insulation. In 1959, the business was sold to United States Gypsum, which operated the Wabash facility until 1996 when it was sold to a private group of investors. The name of the company was then changed to Thermafiber, a wellknown brand owned by the company. According to Edris, the company was honored 40 years ago when United States Gypsum was honored by the Wabash Chamber of Commerce as Business of the Year. The company has seven employees currently working at Thermafiber who were active in 1972. Following the Business of the Year presentation, Steve Ford spoke to the crowd about the 2012 Wabash County Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen recipient. In his speech, Ford said that this year’s Distinguished Citizen was a man who by all accounts is a “people person.” “This person’s life story to date demonstrates great interest in, and a true depth of, caring about Wabash and all its citizens,” Ford said. “We believe this person’s life journey is what keeps their ever-ready smile lit and the twinkle in the eyes almost present.” While keeping the announcement a secret, Ford went on to describe the Distinguished Citizen as one who graduated from Purdue University with a (continued on page 8)

MARILYN CUSTER-MITCHELL (left) passes the gavel to Kristi Lundquist following the 71st Annual Wabash County Chamber of Commerce Oct. 18 at the Honeywell Center. (photo by Brent Swan)

DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN: Fred Squires receives a congratulatory hug from Skip Daughtry following the announcement of the 2012 Wabash County Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Citizen. (photo by Brent Swan)


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