Links:

• Realtor / Affiliate of the Year Nomination Form.pdf

2011 Membership Recognition

2011 REALTOR® of the Year - Wilbur Klopfenstein
Prudential One Realty

The REALTOR? of the Year award stands for the highest principals in real estate practice. The REALTOR? of the Year is selected for their professionalism, Community Service and Board activity both past and present. The REALTOR? of the Year award recognizes one special volunteer whose qualities embody the REALTOR? spirit and whose contributions keep the Board moving forward on the road to excellence.

Wilbur joined the Board in 1986 after 20 years of service on the Goshen Fire Department. He began working for Bill Long & Associates, a real estate office located in downtown Goshen.

Wilbur volunteered on many committees including RPAC and the Education Committee. He is a past member of the Multi-Million Dollar Club and a life time supporter of RPAC. . Wilbur served on the MLS Board of Directors from 1991-1998 including President in 1997. He is a loyal supporter of local Board events and has attended many state meetings and conventions and represented ECBOR at several NAR conventions. Wilbur was a consistent member of the State Honor Society through-out the duration of the program.

Wilbur is certainly well-known and well liked among other REALTORS® and members of his community. His success comes from always being “on the job”, never knowing a stranger and his world famous sense of humor! Wilbur met his wife Doris at a grade school football game and began dating after high school. They have been married 54 years and have 2 children and 5 grandchildren. Born on a kitchen table in Beaver Creek Nebraska, the baby of the family with 10 older siblings….Wilbur Klopfenstein – 2011 REALTOR® of the Year!

2011 Affiliate of the Year – Denny Davis
Horizon Bank

The 2011 Affiliate of the Year has been a member of the Board since 1993 and is a Loan Originator for Horizon Bank. Denny excels in his job and also as a volunteer for ECBOR and other community organizations.

Denny lends a hand whenever the Board needs help. He works hard each year helping the auctioneers at the annual holiday auction and shows his craftsmanship by making an item to be auctioned off. He supports our Continuing Education Program and participates in the Vendor Show.

Denny is an active member of Sugar Grove Church and serves on their Hospitality Committee. Denny also dedicates a lot of his personal time in support of the Window in Goshen. Each year he plants a huge garden and provides the Window and other local organization with fresh fruit and vegetables throughout the summer and fall.

He is currently one of Horizon’s top Government Originators and a member of the Horizon’s Elkhart County “Dream Team”. Denny has served over 2,000 clients and wrote over 2 million in mortgages. Denny is on the Board of Directors of the Shipshewana Community Lake Improvement and Watershed Task Force. He is a member of the Business Network International. Denny has been married to his wife Vicky for 14 years and have five children and we grandchildren. Denny loves fishing, gardening, and 4 wheeling. We are thrilled to call Denny Davis ECBOR’s 2011 Affiliate of the Year!

2010 Life Member- Larry Bontrager
Bontrager Hardies Realty

Larry Bontrager, who passed away November 28, 2009, was awarded a Life Membership at the 2010 Installation Banquet. Life Memberships are given to members who have given a life-time of service to the Board and real estate industry. Larry joined the Board in April of 1978 at the age of 28. He immediately began his lifetime of volunteer service as a member of the Education Committee. Through out his career he served on over 40 committees. In 2009 he served on the Board’s nominating committee and as a RPAC Trustee. He was named Realtor of the Year in 1991 and was President of the Board in 1992-93. He was a State Director for many years and served as Chairman of the Indiana Association of Realtors Governmental Affairs Committee. He received the Dick Snyder award from the Indiana Association of Realtors in recognition of his outstanding service to the real estate profession. Larry was an RPAC Life Member, held a CRS, GRI and CCIM designation and was the first REALTOR® in Indiana to be receive the Master GRI designation. Larry was married through out his adult life to his wife Norma and has two daughters Natalie and Janelle.

REALTOR® Emeritus - Charles A. Nye

The REALTOR® Emeritus status is available to any person who has held membership in the National Association of REALTORS® as a REALTOR® for a cumulative period of 40 years. Upon certification of application and approval by the NAR Board of Directors, the member no longer has to pay NAR dues and will be considered a NAR Life Member.

Charley Nye joined the Board in 1966 as an agent with Koehler Realty. He also worked for Indiana Realty and Fairchild & Associates as an Independent Appraiser. He was part of the first GRI class in Indiana that began in 1968 and graduated in 1970. He served on virtually every Board committee and on the MLS Board of Directors for many years in the late 1970's and early 80's.

Charley is a Life Member of RPAC, named REALTOR® of the Year in 1994 and given Life Member status in 2002 by the Elkhart County Board of REALTORS® , and now Life Member of NAR in 2009.

REALTOR® Emeritus - Richard Gaddis

Richard Gaddis joined the Board in 1963 as an agent with Yeoman Realty. Several years later he became part owner and the name changed to Yeoman & Gaddis. After Bill Yeoman retired in the 1980's, Dick changed the name to Gaddis & Associates and moved from residential brokerage to Appraising. He has had an amazing career and holds an Indiana Real Estate Brokers License, an Indiana Appraisers License, a Michigan Brokers License, a Michigan Appraisers License, and a Florida Salesperson License. Dick holds GRI, CRS, and CRB designations.

Dick has held positions of Past President of the Elkhart Board of REALTORS®, REALTOR® of the Year of the Elkhart Board, Life Member of RPAC, and Life Member of ECBOR 2001, and now Life Member of NAR in 2009.