Awards

Partners in Philanthropy (2018)

Family Legacy Award

About David Gant Elmore Family

For three generations, the Elmore family name has been synonymous with entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity. At Indiana University and the Maurer School of Law, the name has stood for a legacy of generosity.

The Elmore story began in 1958 when David G. Elmore earned his law degree from Maurer School of Law. After graduation, he joined the Chicago firm of McBride, Baker, Wienke & Schlosser, now Holland & Knight. Dave left the firm in 1968 to become president of a public company, and by the mid-1970s, he was ready to create his own company. He acquired a small life insurance company, which led to other ventures in real estate, including investments in a small ski town called Vail, Colorado. Other businesses followed, including acquisitions of hotels and travel companies. Dave's business ventures took a dramatic turn in 1981 when he bought his first minor league baseball team, inspired by a client, Charlie Comiskey, owner of the Chicago White Sox. Beginning with the Hawaiian Islanders, now the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Elmore Sports Group owns six baseball teams, along with a hockey team and a soccer club.

The Elmore entrepreneurial spirit clearly runs in the family. Son, DG earned his J.D./M.B.A. in 1984 and started on the path of building and acquiring companies early in his career, beginning with a struggling corporate travel agency in 1984. Elmore Companies, Inc., now owning 15 businesses spanning diverse industries, has an emphasis on long-term value creation - they are rarely ever sold. The father of six, DG persuaded two of his children to attend the Maurer School of Law. Lauren, J.D./M.B.A. 2014, and David G. (Gant), J.D./M.B.A. 2016, own three companies together. Upon graduation from law school, the sister and brother team acquired Firmatek, LLC, which provides drone solutions for stockpile measurement and inventory management to the mining and solid waste industries. In addition, Lauren and Gant own a logging company and mining company.

The Elmores' generous spirit is truly felt throughout Indiana University, from Dave's longtime service on the IU Foundation Board of Directors to DG's dedicated mentorship at Maurer School of Law. In 2007 the Elmores established the Elmore Family Scholarship, which has benefited 76 law students with financial support and kickstarted the very successful Matching the Promise campaign for Maurer School of Law. In recognition of their support, the Elmore Entrepreneurship Law Clinic has been named in their honor, a fitting tribute to this remarkable family's spirit of innovation. The Elmore family's support of students in the J.D./M.B.A. program, and those working in the Elmore Entrepreneurship Clinic, has made a real-life difference in those students' lives, not only by reducing the cost of education, but also by Dave and DG serving as role models and mentors. It is with the generosity of alumni like the Elmores that have brought the J.D./M.B.A. program to national recognition.