U.B. Klem

President Emeritus
U.B. Klem Furniture Company

Laureate 2024

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 companys 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 own manufacturing operation.
Like most successful entrepreneurs, Butch took great risk by starting his own operation at the age of 22
when he and his spouse, Kathy, were just starting their married life, but 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 companys 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.

Butchs lifetime commitment was to do whatever it took to grow the company into the major national provider in restaurant
furniture manufacturing.
Butchs 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, Cheddars, Dennys, Drakes, Fazolis, Grandy's, Jerry's, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Long John Silvers, 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 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 Americans 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.