Kokomo Men in Business – Q&As

Story and Photography Provided

Dirk Webster, Branch Manager, Ruoff Mortgage

Did you grow up in Kokomo?

Yes. I’ve lived in Kokomo my entire life, minus the four years I spent in Bloomington for college.

If so, which school did you graduate from?

Kokomo High School, class of 1989.

What activities did you participate in during school?

I was on the swim team (state runners-up, 1988) and played three years of American Legion Baseball.

Where did you hang out in Kokomo as a teenager?

My core group of friends spent most of our time at my buddy Jared’s house.

Who was a teacher/coach who stood out to you, and how?

Mrs. Kitty Bell was one of my favorite teachers in high school. She expected a lot from her students, which taught me that shortcuts don’t really get you anywhere. The person/coach who had the biggest influence on me was my grandpa, Bob Ronk. He coached Legion baseball in Kokomo for over 30 years, and I was fortunate to play for him for three years. I think of him almost daily and the life lessons he taught me are too numerous to count.

What’s your favorite way to spend time in Kokomo?

Jackrabbits games, hanging out with friends at Sun King, and chilling at home by the fire pit.

If you’re celebrating something like a birthday or anniversary, where do you tend to go in Kokomo?

Marble The Steakhouse is our go-to restaurant for dinner celebrations, and Sun King is our favorite gathering place for birthdays and other special occasions.

What’s your favorite pastime in general?

Concerts. Lots of them. Traveling to see as many Phish shows as possible

What’s your favorite sport and team (local, college or professional)?

Indiana Hoosiers and Chicago Cubs.

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Mayor Tyler Moore

Did you grow up in Kokomo?

Yes, but I was born in Huntington. We moved to Kokomo when I was 1 year old, so Kokomo has been home.

If so, which school did you graduate from?

Kokomo High School, class of 1989.

What activities did you participate in?

I played football and basketball, ran track, performed in swing choir, was a member of student council, Boys Legion, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and was a “mount man” for the cheerleading squad (which led to my time as a Notre Dame cheerleader in college).

Where did you hang out in Kokomo as a teenager?

Spent a lot of time in Foster Park playing volleyball, in Noble Roman’s in Northwest Plaza, and hanging out with friends filming movies for fun.

Who was a teacher/coach who stood out to you, and how?

Ms. Kitty Bell was my eighth-grade English teacher and did an amazing job making sure my grammar and composition skills were top-notch!

What’s your favorite way to spend time in Kokomo?

I love concerts in Foster Park, Jackrabbits games in Municipal Stadium and movies at AMC theater.

If you’re celebrating something like a birthday or anniversary, where do you tend to go in Kokomo?

More times than not, we typically celebrate birthdays and anniversaries at home or at mom’s. Otherwise, we make our way around to a number of restaurants in town. It just depends on the mood we’re in and the food we desire.

What’s your favorite pastime in general?

Movies, hands down. I love going to the theater to catch the latest flicks.

What’s your favorite sport and team (local, college or professional)?

I enjoy watching Notre Dame football, Kokomo High School basketball and Chicago Cubs baseball.

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Les Felton, Owner, Motor Wise of Kokomo

Did you grow up in Kokomo? If so, which school did you graduate from?

Western High School.

Where did you hang out in Kokomo as a teenager?

The strip – Maple Crest.

Finally, who was a teacher/coach who stood out to you, and how?

Duane Keisling for auto shop and Sally Hanscom for choir. They were just great examples. Mr. Keisling is still a wonderful human being.

What’s your favorite way to spend time in Kokomo?

Playing golf, veterans’ reunions, flying with American Huey 369 helicopter units, car shows.

If you’re celebrating something like a birthday or anniversary, where do you tend to go in Kokomo?

Ned’s Corner Pub – it’s a birthday tradition at this point.

What’s your favorite pastime in general?

Artie’s Tenderloin for Breakfast.

What’s your favorite sport and team (local, college or professional)?

Chicago Cubs, Purdue basketball.

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Brian Mast, Owner, Ace Automotive

Did you grow up in Kokomo?

I grew up in Howard county. I have lived here my whole life. I actually live just a half mile from where I grew up.

If so, which school did you graduate from?

I went to, and graduated from, Eastern.

What activities did you participate in during school?

Played baseball and basketball through freshman year. We played a lot of pickup games wherever we found a basketball goal to play on.

Where did you hang out in Kokomo as a teenager?

We cruised the strip a lot (Maple Crest Plaza/Burger King). There again, I spent a lot of time around basketball goals playing pickup games.

Who was a teacher/coach who stood out to you, and how?

I guess the teacher that stood out to me was my algebra teacher, Mrs. Waymire. She taught it well and put up with me never turning in my daily homework. She only graded on the Friday tests, so I never turned in the daily homework. I guess since I aced the tests, she left me alone.

What’s your favorite way to spend time in Kokomo?

That would probably be eating. My wife Jane and I both enjoy sprint-car races, so Kokomo Speedway is probably our favorite place to go. We follow the USAC sprint-car racing and it is hard to beat the racing here in Kokomo.

If you’re celebrating something like a birthday or anniversary, where do you tend to go in Kokomo?

Taku is probably our special-occasion, go-to restaurant.

What’s your favorite pastime in general?

Family time (grandkids), lake time, and the races are my favorite ways to spend time.

What’s your favorite sport and team (local, college or professional)?

I watch a lot of college basketball and my favorite team is the Indiana Hoosiers. I am also a longtime Chicago Bears fan, following the NFL. It has been pretty lean years for both for a while. Hopefully that is soon to change.

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Greg Hochstedler, Owner/Partner, Hochstedler Flooring

Did you grow up in Kokomo? If so, which school did you graduate from?

I grew up in Kokomo until eighth grade when we moved to Michigan. I attended Western until fifth grade and Northwestern for sixth-seventh grade. Temple Baptist for eighth grade.

What activities did you participate in during school?

I played basketball, football and also baseball at Russiaville Little League.

What’s your favorite way to spend time in Kokomo?

I have worked in the Kokomo area since 1988. I enjoy going to my grandchildren’s sporting events. They play for Tipton Youth Soccer Club and Eastern Elementary.

If you’re celebrating something like a birthday or anniversary, where do you tend to go in Kokomo?

My favorite restaurant is Half Moon.

What’s your favorite pastime in general?

I really enjoy grilling and riding my bike.

What’s your favorite sport and team (local, college or professional)?

My favorite sports team is Purdue.

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Jim Rose, Owner, Kokomo Bicycle Garage

Did you grow up in Kokomo?

Yes, near Alto.

What activities did you participate in during school?

Art/industrial arts, football, swimming, weightlifting club.

Where did you hang out in Kokomo as a teenager?

I hung out at Brad Smith’s house and Heather Delrymple’s house. Other than that, I think we cruised the strip. Movies at the dollar theater. I can’t really remember hanging out anywhere in public. We didn’t have money and there wasn’t anywhere to hang out then without money.

Who was a teacher/coach that stood out to you, and how?

Mr. Hoppes and Mrs. Bryan (swim coach).

What’s your favorite way to spend time in Kokomo?

Riding bikes on the new pump track or skate parks with my two daughters, who love our new pump track and the skate parks. We also like going to Foster Park concerts on Saturday nights. We are also big fans of Oscar’s Pizza and the new Kokomo YMCA. We spend a lot of time in the pool there.

If you’re celebrating something like a birthday or anniversary, where do you tend to go in Kokomo?

The Filling Station is my favorite and only bar I go to in Kokomo. I have gained several customers from there (employees and customers).

What’s your favorite pastime in general?

Favorite pastime is snow skiing. Favorite pastime in Kokomo is riding bikes on our trails and/or our bike parks. We are very, very fortunate to have such amenities in our town.

What’s your favorite sport and team (local, college or professional)?

My favorite sports are skiing, mountain biking, climbing and whitewater kayaking. I’m not much of a team-sport kinda guy. My favorite sport to watch on TV is football. I don’t have a favorite team. The NFL is a huge, corrupt greedy entity along with most other professional sports-ball organizations as far as I’m concerned, but I do love the game of football. I don’t really follow any other sports. I have small kids and very limited free time, so watching someone else play sports is not something I choose to do with that time.

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Brad Zeck, Owner, North Central Outdoor Power

Did you grow up in Kokomo?

I grew up in western Howard County, five miles west of Northwestern.

If so, which school did you graduate from?

Northwestern.  

What activities did you participate in?

Band, cross-country and track.

Where did you hang out in Kokomo as a teenager?

The strip.

Who was a teacher/coach that stood out to you, and how?

Coach Barnes, my track and cross-country coach.

What’s your favorite way to spend time in Kokomo?

We like to go out to eat.

If you’re celebrating something like a birthday or anniversary, where do you tend to go in Kokomo?

Texas Roadhouse or Half Moon.

What’s your favorite pastime in general?

We like visiting our lake house. I tractor pull as well.

What’s your favorite sport and team (local, college or professional)?

The Colts.

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Josh Taylor, Owner, Taylored PC’s

Did you grow up in Kokomo?

Yes.

If so, which school did you graduate from?

Kokomo High School.

What activities did you participate in during school?

Baseball and bowling.

Who was a teacher/coach that stood out to you, and how?

Mr. Richardson (German teacher at Kokomo). His teaching was fun and I loved his class. John and Lynda Lucas for coaches – they were very great to be around, and taught us sportsmanship and many other things dealing with bowling.

Where did you hang out in Kokomo as a teenager?

Spring and summer – baseball diamond. Fall and winter – bowling center.

If you’re celebrating something like a birthday or anniversary, where do you tend to go in Kokomo?

Outback Steakhouse or Hacienda.

What’s your favorite pastime in general?

Fishing with one of my grandpas, or watching baseball with the other.

What’s your favorite sport and team (local, college or professional)?

Chicago Cubs.

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Terry Tracy, Owner, All-Pro Plumbing

Were you born in Kokomo? Did you raise a family here? What were they involved in?

I was born and raised in San Bernardino, California, but moved to Kokomo in 1995 with my wife, Kim, because we wanted to start a family. Our two kids, Kristina and Joshua, were born in Kokomo and graduated from Kokomo High School. We had them in all kinds of activities like soccer, flag football, YMCA’s Camp Tycony, Super Explorers camp and the summer classes offered through the parks department, programs offered by the libraries, and got heavily involved in Curtain Call and in some of the kids shows through Kokomo Civic Theatre. There’s a lot going on in Kokomo!

What activities do you enjoy in Kokomo?

We love food, so when Kim and I get out or if we’re celebrating, we tend to check out First Friday events or head to any of the local spots with great food. We like to make our rounds to all of them. If there’s a new pop-up or a small business, we love to get in and give it a try. We know how challenging starting and owning a business can be, and we want to see them succeed. And we love food, so it’s a great reason to try new places. 

How do you like to spend your free time?

When I’m not working at or on All-Pro, I’m usually doing something with Kim, cooking on the grill, gardening, canoeing, hiking, antiquing or checking out new places. We like to travel and try new activities – skydiving, cave tours, anything I haven’t tried before. As our kids are getting older, Kim and I are doing more with just the two of us, but it’s great to have Kristina and Joshua (and usually several of their friends) join when they can, and it’s always fun to head back a second time to share it with the kids!