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mishawaka
business
association
business
association
2009 Mishawaka Person of the Year
Award presented at the MBA Annual Meeting & Dinner
along with Business of the Year
Mishawaka, IN, February 26, 2009 – The Mishawaka Business Association (MBA) board of directors
today announced the selection of George Fobe as the 2009 Mishawaka Person of the Year. The
award was presented at the 2009 MBA Annual Meeting and Dinner at The Riverside Terrace in
Mishawaka.
The award was presented by Jeff Rea, Mayor of Mishawaka, on behalf of the MBA Board of Directors.
George is the owner of the West End Bakery which has been around since 1928. He has donated to
the Hope Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, Center for the Homeless, Youth Service Bureau, Kids safe
house, Food pantries, St. Bavo's, St. Joseph’s, American Legion, Mishawaka High School Sports,
Marian High School , Police, Fire, EMS , Hospital Emergency Rooms and many more we did not
mention. Some of these organizations see George on a daily basis. As you can tell, there hasn't been
a worthwhile cause that George has denied.
Nancy Hellyer, President and CEO of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center presented the evening’s
keynote address. Ms. Hellyer presented the highlights of the new hospital currently being built. It will
be a state-of-the-art facility that will incorporate the most recent advances in medical technology. The
hospital has also been built to be the most energy efficient. The new St. Joseph Regional Medical
Center will begin accepting new patients in December of this year. The hospital will be dedicated on
December 6, 2009.
BACKGROUND: George Fobe
George is the proprietor of the West End Bakery. He says that he is retired but I'll have to call it semi-
retired at the least. The West End Bakery was founded in 1928 by his parents Adolf & Mary Fobe. The
bakery was first located where the St. Bavo's parish office is now. In the early days, George and his
family actually lived and worked in the bakery. The original bakery was moved from the corner of 7th
and west (now the location of St. Bavo's parish office) to -the corner of 7the and Logan were it still sits
today. George worked in the bakery all through the time he attended South Bend Central Catholic
High School where he graduated in 1945. He then joined the Navy. After boot camp, he served on-
board the USS Iowa. He served one year then went back to the bakery and has been there ever since.
The Bakery has helped him raise his family with his first wife Celina who he married in 1954. They
have two children a son Greg who has taken over day to day operations of the bakery and his wife
Mary Ellen and a daughter Christine and her husband Tom Eberhardt. On July 5, 1985 he married
Odette Barcus. She is sometimes called the mayor of the west end by her friends as she always
knows someone when you go out with her. She has three children a son James and his wife Tammy
Barcus, who nominated George for this award and joins him tonight. She also has two daughters
Karla Forsythe and Kathy Davis and her husband Ron. Together George and Odette have 14
grandchildren. George tried to retire at the age of 75 in 2002 after working about 57 years, but you will
still see him making deliveries of wedding cakes, pies, doughnuts, baking during the holidays, and
still closing the bakery a few days a week. Just ask any of his employees.
What really got our attention is what George does to help his community. What was common with his
parents is now an everyday occurrence for George too. When there is a special event or charity,
George does not let his community down. He has donated to the Hope Rescue Mission, Salvation
Army, Center for the Homeless, Youth Service Bureau, Kids safe house, Food pantries, St. Bavo's, St.
Joseph’s, American Legion, Mishawaka High School Sports, Marian High School , Police, Fire, EMS ,
Hospital Emergency Rooms and many more we did not mention. Some of these organizations see
George on a daily basis. As you can tell, there hasn't been a worthwhile cause that George has
denied.
2009 MBA Business of the Year: Martin's Supermarkets
The MBA Board of Directors has named Martin's Supermarkets of Mishawaka, IN the 2009 MBA
Mishawaka Business of the Year. The award was presented at the MBA Annual Meeting & Dinner.
The selection of Martin's Supermarkets as the MBA Business of the Year came after much
consideration by the nomination committee. From the twelve outstanding nominations, Martin's
Supermarkets stood out for its continued commitment to Mishawaka during it's many years of serving
the community.
Background: Martin's Supermarkets
In the fall of 1947, Jane and Martin Tarnow opened the first Martin's Super Market as an 800-square-
foot store in the 1500 block of Portage Avenue in South Bend , Indiana .
The Tarnows made their small store a success through hard work, determination and innovative
ideas. Although these qualities are always important, it's customer service that is the top priority at
every Martin's Super Markets. Each Martin's employee is trained to meet customers’ needs, while
providing the best quality products and greatest value for the dollar.
Community service and involvement are also high on the list of priorities at Martin's Super Markets. In
November 1989, Martin's initiated the Heat for Homes program, an annual campaign to raise funds to
keep the heat turned on for families in need during the winter months. Heat for Homes has resulted in
more than $1.3 million in heating assistance for families in St. Joseph , Elkhart , Marshall and Cass
counties in Indiana .
To meet the needs of area schools, Martin's established the Advantages for Education program which
helps schools earn much-needed educational equipment through customers' use of their Martin's
Advantage Cards. Martin's has donated $2.3 million in cash and computer equipment to area schools
since 1989. Martin's also sponsors several other programs that give back to the community, including
Stuff a Bus (food drive) and Roofsit (prevent child abuse). Visit our community involvement page and
our Make a Difference Michiana Portal Page to find out more about our community efforts.
Still a family-owned and operated business, Rob Bartels is currently the president and CEO of
Martin's Super Markets; Bob Bartels is chairman.
Award presented at the MBA Annual Meeting & Dinner
along with Business of the Year
Mishawaka, IN, February 26, 2009 – The Mishawaka Business Association (MBA) board of directors
today announced the selection of George Fobe as the 2009 Mishawaka Person of the Year. The
award was presented at the 2009 MBA Annual Meeting and Dinner at The Riverside Terrace in
Mishawaka.
The award was presented by Jeff Rea, Mayor of Mishawaka, on behalf of the MBA Board of Directors.
George is the owner of the West End Bakery which has been around since 1928. He has donated to
the Hope Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, Center for the Homeless, Youth Service Bureau, Kids safe
house, Food pantries, St. Bavo's, St. Joseph’s, American Legion, Mishawaka High School Sports,
Marian High School , Police, Fire, EMS , Hospital Emergency Rooms and many more we did not
mention. Some of these organizations see George on a daily basis. As you can tell, there hasn't been
a worthwhile cause that George has denied.
Nancy Hellyer, President and CEO of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center presented the evening’s
keynote address. Ms. Hellyer presented the highlights of the new hospital currently being built. It will
be a state-of-the-art facility that will incorporate the most recent advances in medical technology. The
hospital has also been built to be the most energy efficient. The new St. Joseph Regional Medical
Center will begin accepting new patients in December of this year. The hospital will be dedicated on
December 6, 2009.
BACKGROUND: George Fobe
George is the proprietor of the West End Bakery. He says that he is retired but I'll have to call it semi-
retired at the least. The West End Bakery was founded in 1928 by his parents Adolf & Mary Fobe. The
bakery was first located where the St. Bavo's parish office is now. In the early days, George and his
family actually lived and worked in the bakery. The original bakery was moved from the corner of 7th
and west (now the location of St. Bavo's parish office) to -the corner of 7the and Logan were it still sits
today. George worked in the bakery all through the time he attended South Bend Central Catholic
High School where he graduated in 1945. He then joined the Navy. After boot camp, he served on-
board the USS Iowa. He served one year then went back to the bakery and has been there ever since.
The Bakery has helped him raise his family with his first wife Celina who he married in 1954. They
have two children a son Greg who has taken over day to day operations of the bakery and his wife
Mary Ellen and a daughter Christine and her husband Tom Eberhardt. On July 5, 1985 he married
Odette Barcus. She is sometimes called the mayor of the west end by her friends as she always
knows someone when you go out with her. She has three children a son James and his wife Tammy
Barcus, who nominated George for this award and joins him tonight. She also has two daughters
Karla Forsythe and Kathy Davis and her husband Ron. Together George and Odette have 14
grandchildren. George tried to retire at the age of 75 in 2002 after working about 57 years, but you will
still see him making deliveries of wedding cakes, pies, doughnuts, baking during the holidays, and
still closing the bakery a few days a week. Just ask any of his employees.
What really got our attention is what George does to help his community. What was common with his
parents is now an everyday occurrence for George too. When there is a special event or charity,
George does not let his community down. He has donated to the Hope Rescue Mission, Salvation
Army, Center for the Homeless, Youth Service Bureau, Kids safe house, Food pantries, St. Bavo's, St.
Joseph’s, American Legion, Mishawaka High School Sports, Marian High School , Police, Fire, EMS ,
Hospital Emergency Rooms and many more we did not mention. Some of these organizations see
George on a daily basis. As you can tell, there hasn't been a worthwhile cause that George has
denied.
2009 MBA Business of the Year: Martin's Supermarkets
The MBA Board of Directors has named Martin's Supermarkets of Mishawaka, IN the 2009 MBA
Mishawaka Business of the Year. The award was presented at the MBA Annual Meeting & Dinner.
The selection of Martin's Supermarkets as the MBA Business of the Year came after much
consideration by the nomination committee. From the twelve outstanding nominations, Martin's
Supermarkets stood out for its continued commitment to Mishawaka during it's many years of serving
the community.
Background: Martin's Supermarkets
In the fall of 1947, Jane and Martin Tarnow opened the first Martin's Super Market as an 800-square-
foot store in the 1500 block of Portage Avenue in South Bend , Indiana .
The Tarnows made their small store a success through hard work, determination and innovative
ideas. Although these qualities are always important, it's customer service that is the top priority at
every Martin's Super Markets. Each Martin's employee is trained to meet customers’ needs, while
providing the best quality products and greatest value for the dollar.
Community service and involvement are also high on the list of priorities at Martin's Super Markets. In
November 1989, Martin's initiated the Heat for Homes program, an annual campaign to raise funds to
keep the heat turned on for families in need during the winter months. Heat for Homes has resulted in
more than $1.3 million in heating assistance for families in St. Joseph , Elkhart , Marshall and Cass
counties in Indiana .
To meet the needs of area schools, Martin's established the Advantages for Education program which
helps schools earn much-needed educational equipment through customers' use of their Martin's
Advantage Cards. Martin's has donated $2.3 million in cash and computer equipment to area schools
since 1989. Martin's also sponsors several other programs that give back to the community, including
Stuff a Bus (food drive) and Roofsit (prevent child abuse). Visit our community involvement page and
our Make a Difference Michiana Portal Page to find out more about our community efforts.
Still a family-owned and operated business, Rob Bartels is currently the president and CEO of
Martin's Super Markets; Bob Bartels is chairman.
MBA Latest News
| Mishawaka Business Association 320 West Fourth Street Post Office Box 1999 Mishawaka, Indiana 46546 Tel: 574.259.1833 Fax: 574.259.6313 E-Mail: director@mishawakabusiness.org |
| Bill Killilea, Executive Director |
George Fobe, West End Bakery & Martin's
Supermarkets Take Top Honors
Supermarkets Take Top Honors