Siebert, Klem named to Dubois County Business Hall of Fame
Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana and Dentons Bingham Greenebaum announced U.B. “Butch” Klem and the late Robert Siebert as the most recent laureates inducted into the Junior Achievement Dubois County Business Hall of Fame.
The laureates will be celebrated at a special breakfast on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 7:30 a.m. ET, at The Huntingburg Event Center.
The announcement was made by Assistant VP and Campus Dean of VUJC Christian Blome.
“Mr. Klem and Mr. Siebert are two remarkable leaders joining a distinguished group of innovators who exemplify Junior Achievement’s vision that our young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities,” he said.
The JA Dubois County Business Hall of Fame honors members of the Dubois County Business Community who exhibit strong vision, innovation, and inspiring leadership and are visionaries within their respective industries.
The Business Hall of Fame selection committee accepts nominations for inclusion into the Hall of Fame from the Dubois County community. The selection process involves narrowing the choices to five candidates for each category–active and historical.
According to Blome, the committee usually has a robust conversation about the nominees each year as they narrow the list to two laureates.
“They are people that are well known in our community, and it seems like every year we all learn something new about things that they did publicly and things that they did privately,” Blome said. “It’s inspiring to be a part of that process and very difficult for everybody to vote.”
Nominees are included in future pools for the selection committee to consider.
In considering nominees, the committee considers not only the success that individuals incurred but how they used their success to better the community.
“It’s so much more than just developing business structure and employing people. What have you done with what you’ve gained in our community,” Committee member Al Mihajlovitz. “Have you given back to the community? Have you made an impact?”
He added that this trait was common among all the laureates that have been inducted since the inception of the Hall of Fame.
Mr. Klem and Mr. Siebert will join the 16 laureates honored at the Dubois County Museum in a special display that includes audio/video vignettes of their achievements and impact on Dubois County. Those active and historical laureates are Doug Bawel, Arnold Habig, Stanley Krempp, Clement Lange, Robert H. “Hank” Menke, Robert “Bob” Menke Sr., Robert Ruckriegel, Alvin C. Ruxer, Mark Schroeder, Gervase Schwenk, Jerry Seger, Gib Verkamp, Brenda Stallings, Emil, E.F. Caldemeyer, Mike Braun, and Raphael Ackerman.
Junior Achievement works with volunteers in the communities it serves to teach business-based classes for children in local schools. In Dubois County, over 300 JA volunteers will take part in classroom activities impacting more than 3,500 children this year, according to Ruth Wilson, Senior Regional Impact Manager for Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana.
U.B. “Butch” Klem: U.B. Klem Furniture Company (Active)
Butch Klem is a perfect representation of the entrepreneurial spirit that has driven both economic growth and quality of life in Dubois County for generations. Mr. Klem is President Emeritus of U.B. Klem Furniture Company, which he founded in 1973. He was the company’s only employee when he started the company in a small machine shed by maxing out his Sears credit card to buy the basic barebones woodworking equipment needed to begin his journey of creating his manufacturing operation.
Like most successful entrepreneurs, Butch took great risk by starting his operation at the age of 22 when he and his spouse, Kathy, were just starting their married life. Still, he had a vision and was confident in his ability to make the operation successful. Butch, along with Kathy, steadily grew the company, over the course of many years, through a combination of long hours of hard work, a never-ending drive focused on both the company’s productivity and the quality of their products, as well as an unwavering belief that they could enhance not only their own quality of life but also that of their employees and their community.
Butch’s lifetime commitment was to do whatever it took to grow the company into the major national provider in restaurant furniture manufacturing.
Butch’s major business accomplishment is obviously the growth of his company, over the course of these past 50 years, from a start-up on a shoestring budget to a company with a national focus comprised of 100 associate employees and $15 million in annual sales. The customer base of U.B. Klem Furniture Co. over the years has included numerous national restaurant franchisors, such as Black-eyed Pea, Bonanza, Cheddar’s, Denny’s, Drake’s, Fazoli’s, Grandy’s, Jerry’s, Kenny Roger’s Roasters, Long John Silver’s, Noble Roman’s, Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse, Red Lobster, and TGI Fridays along with contract work for many other furniture manufacturers. This amazing 50-year overnight success story was recognized with Butch receiving the Indiana Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Manufacturing in 1995, as well as through his active involvement in the National Association of Manufacturers.
Butch has played a pivotal role in the success of German American Bancorp, Inc., another major Dubois County-based company. Butch joined the Board of Directors of German American in 2004 and served as the lead director of the company from 2009 to 2021 when he retired from the board. Butch, who is always a student of how various businesses prosper, dedicated himself to learning what makes banking organizations successful. He was a key contributor to German American’s evolution from a local community bank to a regional financial services provider, which has been recognized as one of the highest-performing community banking organizations in the nation.
Butch and Kathy, who have been life-long residents of Dubois County, are fully committed and dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of life of both present and future citizens of our county. Butch, who strongly believes in the values taught through youth sports, coached numerous youth sports teams for many years. Butch and Kathy have also supported numerous churches and local, non-profit organizations in both their capital campaigns and annual operating needs. In that light, they have established the U. Butch and Kathleen Klem Catholic Faith Endowment at the Dubois County Community Foundation to provide continuing support for churches located throughout the county for many years to come.
Robert (Bob) Siebert: Siebert’s Clothing (Historical)
Bob owned and managed Siebert’s in Jasper, which has existed in the Jasper community for over 98 years. Upon his retirement in March of 1997, Bob sold it to his sons, Jim and John, making the store a part of three generations. Bob was also the owner and president of General Beverage in Jasper.
He was a graduate of Jasper High School and a 1950 graduate of Indiana University, where he earned a B.S. in Marketing. He then attended the Naval Preparatory Academy in Bainbridge, Maryland, and served in the United States Navy during WWII.
Bob had a background of many achievements and awards with associations during his lifetime. He was awarded the Phi Kappa Psi Pledge of the Year at Indiana University, president of the Indiana Men’s Wear Retail Merchants Association, the Outstanding Retailer of the Year for Indiana in 1965, a commissioned Kentucky Colonel, awarded the Jasper Jaycees’ Boss of the Year, Jasper Chamber of Commerce “Excellence Award”, and Jasper High School Distinction Award, was the Grand Marshall in the Jasper Strassenfest Parade and was the recipient of the Good Scout Award at the Dubois County Distinguished Citizens Award Banquet, awarded by the Boy Scouts of America, Lincoln Heritage District.
In addition, he was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper, the past president and board of director of the Jasper Chamber of Commerce, past president and active member of the Greater Downtown Jasper Business Association, charter member of the Jasper Action Team 1975, 12-year member of the Jasper Park Board, 15-year Explorer Scout leader, three-year Cub Scout leader, Jasper Retail Merchants president and director, past director and current member of Haysville Ruritan Club, a charter member of Jasper Memorial Hospital Foundation (Core Group), Jubilee Steering Committee member of Memorial Hospital’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, co-chairman, with Joann Siebert, of the Memory Book Committee for Memorial Hospital, board member of Friends of Southern Hills, and member of Vincennes University Jasper Center’s Foundation (Core Group).
Bob was one of the founding board members of Junior Achievement in Jasper. He was active in the fund drive during his tenure on the board. He often hosted events and activities to encourage other members to make the drive successful. He co-sponsored JA companies made up of high school students and aided Company Program advisors and led the student company.
Bob believed service and giving back meant so much, and in effect, donated a lot of time and treasure to various organizations in the community. In Bob’s words, “I believe that if you have a business and are fairly successful, you should give something back to the community that helped make you a success.”
He served on Fund Drive Committees for the Providence Home (Cathedral Health Care), Southern Hills Counseling Center, Memorial Hospital, the Downtown Jasper Renovation, the Boy Scouts, and the Sisters of St. Benedict.
He was a member of the Jasper Kiwanis Club, Indiana University Varsity Club – Hoosier Hundred, Jasper Knights of Columbus (4th Degree), American Legion Post #147, V.F.W. Post #673, National Eagle Scout Association, Jasper German Club, Ireland Sportsman Club, Fraternal Order of Police, Huntingburg Fraternal Order of Police, Jasper Loyal Order of the Moose #1175, J-Men’s Club Jasper High School Athletic Association, Jasper Country Club, Schnellville Conservation Club, the Jasper Outdoor Recreation Association, and the Jasper Jaycees, of which he was now a lifetime associate member.
