Ron Flick named recipient of the 2026 Dubois County German Heritage Award

The Sister Cities of Jasper, Jasper Deutscherverein, and Jasper Partnership Commission are pleased to announce that Ron Flick has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Dubois County German Heritage Award, honoring his decades of dedication to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the German heritage, history, and cultural identity of Dubois County.

Mr. Flick will be formally recognized at the Annual German American Day Dinner and Award Celebration on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at The Schnitzelbank Restaurant in Jasper. Reservations for the event may be made at German American Day Dinner Event Reservations https://www.jaspergermanclub.org/events/german-american-day via the Jasper German Club website.

The German Heritage Award honors an individual or individuals who have contributed generously of their time, talent, or resources to maintain, improve, and build upon the German roots that remain such an important part of the cultural fabric of Dubois County. Established in 1999 by Sister Cities of Jasper, the Jasper Partnership Commission and the Jasper Deutscher Verein, the award recognizes those whose efforts help ensure that our German traditions, stories, architecture, and community spirit continue to thrive for future generations.

A fourth-generation German American whose family settled in Jasper in 1848, Ron Flick has devoted much of his life and professional career to preserving the history and architectural heritage of Dubois County. As an architect, historian, researcher, author, preservationist, and community volunteer, he has played a vital role in documenting and protecting the treasures that connect local residents to their German roots.

His contributions have touched nearly every aspect of local heritage preservation. Mr. Flick was a founding member of the Redevelop Old Jasper Action Coalition (ROJAC), where he invested countless hours researching and developing conceptual plans that ultimately led to the recreation of the Jasper Depot and Jasper City Mill, two iconic landmarks that help tell the story of the community’s early German settlers. His historical research and architectural expertise were instrumental in ensuring these projects reflected the area’s authentic heritage.

Beyond his architectural contributions, Mr. Flick has spent decades documenting local history, assisting property owners with Historic Registry applications, researching German immigration patterns, preserving historic photographs and documents, and sharing his knowledge with organizations throughout Indiana. He co-authored the book Jasper and Huntingburg, a collection of more than 200 historical photographs that preserves the stories of local communities and families. He has volunteered with the Dubois County Museum, served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of the Indiana German Heritage Society, and helped bring the society’s annual meetings to Dubois County.

Mr. Flick has also been a familiar face at Jasper Strassenfest, serving as chairman in 2007 and 2008, contributing as committee historian, creating educational displays on German culture, and leading tours that connected visitors to the area’s rich heritage. In recognition of his service, he was named Hofmarschall of the 39th Annual Jasper Strassenfest in 2017.

Those who nominated Mr. Flick described him as a local treasure whose passion for history, architecture, genealogy, and German American traditions has enriched the community for decades. His extensive knowledge of Dubois County family histories, his preservation efforts, and his commitment to educating others have left a lasting impact on Jasper and beyond.

The Sister Cities of Jasper, Jasper Deutscher Verein, and Jasper Partnership Commission congratulate Ron Flick on this well-deserved recognition and invite the community to join in celebrating his achievements and the enduring German heritage that continues to shape Dubois County.

Learn more at https://www.jaspergermanclub.org/events/german-american-day

Past German Heritage Award Recipients

Our communities sincerely appreciate the dedicated service of these former German American Heritage Award Honorees and celebrate their contribution every year:

• 1999 – Mary Jo Meuser

• 2000 – Claude and Martina Eckert

• 2001 – Dave Buehler

• 2002 – Linus and Sally Lechner

• 2003 – Joe and Irene C. Eckerle

• 2004 – Dan and Linda Wehr

• 2005 – Leo and Lora Lou Eckerle

• 2006 – Lowell and Joan Glendening

• 2007 – Dave and Janet Kluemper

• 2008 – Raphael and Phyllis Ackerman

• 2009 – Vic and Monica Knies

• 2010 – Gary and Rita Egler

• 2011 – Patti Goepfrich

• 2012 – Larry and Betty Hanselman

• 2013 – Ron and Delli Keusch

• 2014 – Jim and Rita Corn

• 2015 – Lois Kuntz

• 2016 – Stan Jochum

• 2017 – Mike and Ann Ackerman

• 2018 – Father John Boeglin

• 2019 – Rosie Stewart

• 2020 – Al and Judy Bennett

• 2021 – Paul and Laura Grammer

• 2022 – Joe Rohleder

• 2023 – Sandy Wehr

• 2024 – Kim Lottes

• 2025 – Alan Hanselman