CHURUBUSCO, Ind. — According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, Co-founder of Mike’s Carwash Edward Dahm died in a car crash on Thursday, Dec. 22nd at the age of 86.
Multiple reports claim that Dahm’s SUV crossed the center line on U.S. 33 and collided with an oncoming charter bus traveling from Chicago to Columbus, Ohio, killing Dahm and his dog, who was traveling with him, instantly, the article stated.
No other fatalities occurred, the article reported, but 17 others were injured.
“With great sadness and on behalf of my father, Joe Dahm, brother, Bill Dahm, and cousin, Jerry Dahm, I want to recognize the tragic death of our uncle, brother, father and co-founder of Mike’s Carwash, Ed Dahm. He was a great leader not only for our business but the entire automatic carwash industry and was an integral part of our success,” Mike Dahm, president of Mike’s Carwash, said. “Ed’s great personality brought out the best in our associates and customers. He was a very positive person and brought our business his fun energy that everyone enjoyed.”
Ed Dahm and his brother, Joe, opened their first business and Indiana’s first automated carwash, Mike’s Minit Man, in 1950, according to the article; in 1993, they passed ownership of the business to their sons, Jerry and Mike.
The Mike’s Carwash motto that Ed and Joe established, the article continued, which the company continues to follow to this day, is: “Treat everyone the way you would like to be treated.”
Ed also served as president of the International Carwash Association, the article noted.
In addition, he was entered into the Carwash Hall of Fame as well as the Greater Fort Wayne Business Hall of Fame, the article stated.
Furthermore, he was not only Notre Dame Man of the Year, Xavier University Man of the Year and Father Thomas A. Brandon Knights of Columbus Council #4048 Man of the Year, but he also earned the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award from Junior Achievement in 1999 and the Donald Wolf Award in 2014, the article stated.
Ed Dahm’s funeral was held on Dec. 28 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Fort Wayne, according to the article.
Read the original article here.
