Lewis and Elizabeth Fidler Scholarship

In Northern Indiana the name Fidler is synonymous with sand, gravel and concrete.  Goshen residents Lewis and Elizabeth Fidler started this successful business in 1946 partly by chance.

Lew and Betty were not always in the sand and gravel business.  After graduating from high school in 1931, Lew owned and operated a filling station.  At 21, in 1934, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Snobarger, and their son, John, was born five years later.

The family followed Lew to San Diego in 1945 when he enlisted in the Navy.  Their stay was short-lived as the German’s surrender, Lew’s status as a father and his age of 33 made him eligible for an early release.

So the Fidlers were back in Goshen by 1946.  Earlier they had bought 42 acres of wooded land on the east side of Goshen with the intention of establishing a housing division.  As they worked at developing the 64 lots for housing they ran into sand and gravel.  The discovery of this natural resource presented an opportunity that Lew was quick to capitalize on.

From the start of the business, Betty worked as bookkeeper.  It was a tough market to get into, but they were quick learners.  In 1954, he purchased his first ready-mix plant.

The company enjoyed steady growth from the beginning.  Fidler, Inc. grew to include nine ready-mix plants (eight in Indiana and one in Wyoming), 2 block plants, and 3 sand and gravel plants.  In 1985 they did $20 million worth of business and employed 165 people.  In 1988 the family sold the company and Lew retired three years later.

Both Betty and Lew have devoted countless volunteer hours to the community, and have been longtime supporters of Goshen College.  Concerned about the well-being of their community, they appreciate the college for its emphasis on providing quality education and for its strong fiscal management.  Lew values a well-run business—after all, his is –and he recognizes the college is run in the same way.

Because they believe in Goshen College and because they want to encourage today’s young people from this community, Betty and Lew chose to establish a scholarship for non-Mennonite students from Elkhart County.

After almost 60 years of marriage, Betty passed away on October 4 of 1993.  Lew lives in Goshen and enjoys spending time with friends and family.