RAY HILLENBRAND
GUARDIAN AND GUIDING LIGHT OF THE COMMUNITY
1934–2019 • CATEGORY PHILANTHROPY
• HOMETOWN
RAPID CITY, SD •
NOMINATED BY DAN TRIBBY
Raymond J. Hillenbrand was born August 28, 1934. He grew up in Batesville, IN where, being the adventurous lad that he was, caused a variety of excitement for the local townsfolk. Ultimately though, Ray had to grow up, and when he did he excelled at education. He graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio with a degree in Mathematics and then went on to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, NY. Immediately following his college days, he joined the Air Force where he achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. Ray proudly served from 1957 to 1960. Upon leaving the Air Force, Ray moved home to Batesville where he became very active with the family business, Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. One of his first jobs was to negotiate labor contracts. It was the early 1960's and things were pretty tough back
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then. Ray had many hair-raising experiences that first year and the labor talks dragged on and on. Ray, who may have been the most premiere negotiator ever, sat with the labor people and listened to the asks. The first year was long and tough. By the end of the next contract, Ray would meet the labor negotiator and they usually had the agreement worked out over breakfast in the local cafe. It remained that way for the entire time he was in that position. Needing to take a break from the family business, Ray and his family moved west to South Dakota in 1976. They purchased the Triple Seven Ranch and tried their hand at raising cattle. That just did not scratch the itch that this adventurous family had so they switched to buffalo, bison for those who know the difference and have been raising the 1,800 animal herd ever since. The Triple Seven Ranch is now one of the premiere
