Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Bob Rohrman, a Lafayette, Indiana, native who built one of the largest auto dealership networks in the Midwest, died Tuesday at age 87.
A cause of death was not disclosed.
Rohrman, who was known for his goofy TV commercials, operated about 30 dealerships, with 15 in Indiana and the others in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Bob Rohrman Auto Group is eighth-largest Indiana private company, according to IBJ research. Rohrman was president and majority owner; the company reported 2019 revenue of $1.2 billion.
The Purdue University Board of Trustees in December approved a measure to name the school’s football field Rohrman Field. Rohrman made a $15 million donation to the university for future improvements to the stadium earlier last year.
Rohrman previously donated $3.5 million to Lafayette Jefferson High School, his alma mater, which it used to found the Rohrman Performing Arts Center.
According to a 2016 interview with IBJ, Rohrman got his start in the auto business in 1955 at Lafayette Ford dealership and opened his own dealership eight years later.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
RIP, Bob. He made many positive contributions to his community.