LINCOLN — The founder of a Beatrice Manufacturing firm who died in 2013 will be one of five new inductees into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

A pioneer in the lawn mower industry, Wilfred "Dick" Tegtmeier turned sketches drawn in his basement into two successful businesses, eventually employing more than 600 Nebraskans and giving Beatrice the unofficial title of “Lawn Mower Capital of the World”.

Tegtmeier designed his first line of lawn mowers at F.D. Kees Manufacturing in the 1970s before starting Exmark Manufacturing with partners in 1983 and launching a new line. In 1988, he formed a new mower company, Encore Manufacturing. Encore was later sold to China-based World Lawn Power Equipment on the condition that the facility continue operating in Beatrice.

Tegtmeier was active in St. Paul Lutheran Church, Beatrice Optimists, Gage County Economic Development and Nebraska Diplomats, in addition to representing Nebraska on several trade missions.

The Nebraska Chamber and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business also said 2023 inductees include:

The late Mildred “Millie” Brown, Omaha Star
Jim Clifton & Jane Miller, Gallup of Omaha;
Ralph & Beverly Holzfaster Family, Agribusiness / Community Development of Paxton;
Anthony “Tony” Messineo, Jr., Valentino’s of Lincoln

The leaders will officially be inducted at the NE Chamber Annual Meeting and Nebraska Business Hall of Fame Banquet Thursday, February 2nd, at a banquet held at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel.