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SOUTH BEND--Success stories seemed to be what the judges of the 1992 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards were looking for in their Indiana candidates. A true success story is what they found in their selection of Midland Engineering's president, Charlie Frazier.
As one of three construction-category finalists honored in Indianapolis last month for the annual awards sponsored by Ernst & Young, Inc. Magazine, Merrill Lynch and PSI Energy, Frazier indeed had a story to tell --a story of climbing the ladder, the hard way.
It was 1959 when 17-year-old Frazier signed up at Midland to be a sheet metal apprentice. By 1983, when he was promoted to vice president-operations, Frazier had moved from apprentice to journeyman, from supervisor to foreman, and had managed every department at Midland at one time or another.
Three years ago, as options to buy into the closely held family business were made available to only a few, Frazier was made president.
It was the "College of Hard Knocks" he went to, and yes, it was tough. He made his way up the ranks without any of the shortcuts. He attributes his success to the people he has worked for and those he has worked with, some natural ability and a lot of pride in the company.
"I always had a lot of pride. It has got to be right for the...