Dubois County Residents Recognized, Remembered at JA Business Hall of Fame Breakfast

By: Corbin Lingenfelter, News Director

Huntingburg- Business professionals and members of the Dubois County Community joined together to recognize and remember the accomplished individuals in Dubois County.

The Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Breakfast, held this morning at the Huntingburg Event Center, honored Dubois County business leaders Senator Mike Braun and the late Raphael Ackerman. Braun was the Active inductee and Ackerman served as the Legacy inductee.

Ackerman purchased and ran the Ackerman Oil Company and Southern Indiana Propane based in Jasper, IN. His wife, Phyllis, told the crowd in a video that Raphael was given one night to decide to sell his farm and purchase his father-in-law’s, Edwin Knies, distributing business. After agreeing to the purchase after a night of crunching numbers, Ackerman purchased the business that had two pickup trucks, a squirt truck, and two employees. First year struggles and Ackerman’s willingness to push on with the company showed the determination and hard work he had to succeed, according to Phyllis. 

“He (Raphael) loved to work,” said Phyllis.

After taking leadership classes taught by Dale Carnegie, the business grew into the Ackerman Oil Company.

Eventually the company began branching out to not only fuel, but service stations, tires and exhaust systems as well. Ackerman would own two distribution centers in Dubois County, Sunoco and Phillips 66. 

Of all of his accomplishments in life and business, one of the greatest was seeing his grandson, Logan Grammer, take over the family business as CEO. Logan’s mother, Laura Grammer, shared in the video tribute it was one of the few times she had ever seen her father tear up when Logan signed the paperwork to become the fourth generation of Ackerman family owners. 

“It’s a proud moment,” said Grammer, “I don’t think I had ever heard that story before.”

Raphael Ackerman passed away at the age of 86 in 2021.

Honored as the active recipient of the award was Former Meyer Trucking and Equipment CEO and current Indiana Senator Mike Braun. Braun started Meyer, an international company featuring distribution centers in 48 U.S. states and Canada, after leaving Aristokraft in 1981 and working for Meyer Body Company. Financial struggles caused by the farming crisis led the company to start a used truck and equipment business. During this time, Braun started a delivery business, a predecessor to the current Meyer Distributing. 

“My office was in Haysville in a used mobile home next to a really old building,” said Braun, “I always used that as a learning experience.”

The company would move to a 25,000 square foot warehouse in Jasper in 1998. A second location would come later in North Carolina. 

In 2014, Braun made the decision to run for Indiana’s 63rd District seat. He would serve there until 2017, when he chose to run against Hoosier Senator Joe Donelly. According to Braun, being an entrepreneur helped him in his political aspirations.

“If you are going to be a successful politician, there are a lot of common traits in being an entrepreneur.” Said the Senator, “When you took on two sitting congressmen and a sitting senator, most people said you need to have your head examined. I sized up to the market and said it looks like the political markets are ready for someone who does not look like a career politician.”

Meyer Trucking and Equipment is still run by the Braun family, with his oldest son Jason taking over as acting CEO and CFO. Braun’s wife, Maureen, is also an entrepreneur, owning Finishing Touches in Jasper.

Pictured: Ackerman and Grammer Family (Top) and Braun Family (Bottom) posing with awards from their Inductions