Fred S. Klipsch: A Legacy in Education

Explore the Klipsch Legacy Timeline

1991–2019 | Education Leadership

• Chronology of Fred Klipsch journey in education (1991-2019) - Read More
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  Chronology of Fred Klipsch Education Leadership (1991-2019)

  1991

  • Educational Choice Charitable Trust (ECCT) was founded/incorporated

  1997

  • Klipsch joined the ECCT Board of Directors

  1999

  • Klipsch became Chairman of the ECCT Board

  2001

  • Klipsch is a founding member of the Phoenix Group (August)

  2002-2008

  • Klipsch becomes Chief Operating Officer of the Phoenix Group (served with Brian McGrath, VP, Ext. Relations, EdChoice)

  2005

  • Klipsch becomes Chairman of School Choice Indiana, Inc. (2005 - 2015)

  2007

  • Klipsch becomes Chairman of Hoosiers for Economic Growth (HEG)

  2011

  • Klipsch joins EdChoice Board of Directors

  2014

  • Hoosiers for Economic Growth Network (HEGN) renamed Hoosiers for Quality Education (HQE) (in May)
  • Klipsch becomes Chairman of the Hoosiers for Quality Education Network
  • Klipsch becomes Chairman of the Hoosiers for Quality Education
  • Klipsch becomes Chairman of the Indiana Quality Education (IQE). School Choice Indiana and The Educational Choice Charitable Trust merged.

  2015

  • Completed Chairmanship of the Indiana Quality Education (IQE)

  2017

  • Marian University's Educators College renamed to Fred S. Klipsch Educators College

  2017-2019

  • Klipsch becomes Vice Chair at EdChoice

  2019

  • Klipsch becomes Vice Chairman, EdChoice
  • Klipsch becomes Chairman of EdChoice

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• A few words from Attorney Bob Grand - Read More
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  A few words from attorney Bob Grand

  When I think about Fred Klipsch, I think about a man who is quiet, confident, and absolutely driven. Fred’s leadership style is direct, professional, and organized—he has high expectations, but he also brings solutions. He’s a business management guru. If you give Fred a goal, he doesn’t just talk about it—he executes.

  I remember when Fred first presented me with his education strategy. We were at a restaurant on Michigan Road, and he laid it all out on a yellow legal pad. The plan was straightforward but bold: fundraising, recruiting candidates favorable to school choice, and taking on organizations that had long dominated Indiana politics. Once we refined the strategy, Fred and I went to the Governor, and to Representative Robert Behning on the education committee. Together, we built momentum.

  Fred never wavered. He wasn’t against teachers or public education—he was for kids. He said it repeatedly: the fight was against the status quo, not the people in classrooms. Under Mitch Daniels, and later Mike Pence and Eric Holcomb, we raised significant dollars, assembled races, and even challenged those who stood in the way. The result was a shift in Indiana politics.

  Today, I admire his continued work with Marian University. Fred’s vision ensures we are training teachers with a clear mission—focused, as always, on kids and their education.

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• A few words from Representative Robert Behning - Read More
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  Representative, Robert Behning

  I’ve had the privilege of knowing Fred Klipsch for many years, mostly through public policy work. Back in the 1990s, Indiana was a conservative state, yet we faced the frustration of being locked in the minority. Despite Hoosiers voting for Republican House members, redistricting meant Democrats controlled the governor’s office and the House, while Republicans held the Senate. That gridlock led to efforts by leaders like Mike McDaniel and Rex Early to change the trajectory. Out of that came the Phoenix Group—men like Jim Kittle, Bob Grand, and Fred Klipsch’who were determined to chart a new path for Republicans in Indiana. Their work, along with others such as Al Hubbard, eventually led to a majority in 2006 with Mitch Daniels as governor.

  Fred was central to this movement. I remember meeting in his office to discuss Aiming Higher, the PAC that helped recruit and support Republican leadership in the House. His vision extended to education policy, where he helped form Hoosiers for Economic Growth and IQE, groups that stood up to the powerful teachers’ union and pushed for school choice. Fred always believed in creating conditions where both Republicans and Democrats could vote for what was best for kids.

  That same bold vision carried into higher education. When Marian University sought to reinvent teacher preparation, Fred saw the bigger picture. He not only invested but challenged us to think about outreach and building A-rated schools. His multi-million dollar commitment helped launch Marian University’s Klipsch Educators College and a new model for Indiana’s future.

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News and Recognition

Klipsch Business Life: News Media Clips - Watch Video

Ernst & Young 2000 Entrepreneur of the Year - Watch Video

2016-2021 News Media - Read More

2022 to Current Day News Media - Read More

Fred S. Klipsch in His Own Words