Tom Kishman - 2009
MHS 1967 Graduate
Thomas M. Kishman, Class of 1967, was nominated by Mike Hoopes, Class of 1965, with supporting letters from Linda Unkefer Simms and Mike Simms, both from Class of 1967.
Among his achievements in high school, Kishman served as vice president of his senior class and participated in football all four years. He was selected as a tackle on the Tri-County League's Football All Star First Team. After high school he worked for his father, George Kishman, who opened Kishman's Grocery in 1954. In 1989 Tom and his wife Jan purchased the store at its present location. A few years later they enlarged the store and now employ approximately eighty people.
In his letter of nomination Hoopes wrote, "Tom has distinguished himself as a nationally recognized independent grocer having successfully operated Kishman's IGA for over twenty years. He has been and is a devoted supporter and promoter of everything Minerva. Tom and his wife live on a fifty-acre farm at the edge of Minerva with future hopes of expanding the business. Tom is married to Jan (nee Kiko) and they have three children: Thomas II, Matthew and Kristin."
Kishman's awards are many including: IGA International Retailer of the Year in 1994, Ohio Grocer’s Hall of Fame Inductee in 2005, National IGA Retailer of the Year Finalist in 2009, Minerva Service Clubs' Minerva Man of the Year in 2002 and the YMCA Red Triangle Award.
Kishman has an outstanding record of service to his community. He chaired and directed the first Lost French Gold Festival, he is a past president of the Minerva Chamber of Commerce, past president of Rurit ans, a member of the Lincoln Highway Association, past director of the Ohio Grocer’s Association, and is on the Laurel Grocer’s IGA Advisory Board. He is on the Board of Directors of Consumer’s Bank and has served in service capacities for the YMCA, the Special Olympics, the Salvation Army, the Minerva Boosters Club, and the PTO annual rigatoni dinner.
Hoopes concluded his nomination by writing, "Tom is an outstanding alumnus with a distinguished career and long record of community involvement and has significantly contributed to the support of Minerva. I believe his record of consistent service, successful business operations and love of family reflect his character and is worthy of recognition and proudly place his name in nomination."