"If you like something, if you like someone, you stand up for it," emphasized Werner Blank in his acceptance speech at the award ceremony for the Federal Cross of Merit. He received this on 4th March 2020 during a ceremony in the conference room of the city hall in Riedlingen for his many years of outstanding commitment. The invited guests included family and friends as well as representatives from politics and society, banks, schools, clubs and associations. Minister of Justice Guido Wolf MdL presented the award and honoured in his laudation the work of our shareholder.
The Federal Cross of Merit is awarded to citizens who have made a special contribution in the political, economic or social field. The city of Riedlingen submitted the application for the award already in 2013, emphasizing the merits of the prizewinner. Beside his many years as an entrepreneur in the family business, during which he shaped the corporate culture in particular by introducing employee participation and establishing a foundation for gifted pupils, students and young professionals, Blank was involved as a member of the Riedlingen municipal council from 1984 to 2016. In addition, he was chairman of the “Freie Wähler” (Free Voters' Group) from 1989 and deputy mayor from 1989 to 2014. "You have made special efforts for our society, our community," said Wolf in his speech. And Mayor Schafft also underlined Werner Blank's extraordinary commitment. Blank donated several sculptures for the city and was committed to the partnership with Pöchlarn. In 2014 he also became the first chairman of the Conrad-Graf-Musikschule (Conrad-Graf-Music-School) in Riedlingen. Even after his retirement in 2013 Werner Blank remained active, renovating the restaurant “Rosengarten” in Riedlingen and subsequently building the hotel “Gudrun”.
Award winner Werner Blank was overwhelmed by the words of the speakers and in his acceptance speech he declared that his commitment to the city and the community had always been a matter of course for him, because if you like something, you stand up for it.
Hubert Deutsch, the current managing director of the BLANK Group, was also among the guests: "It is impressive what Werner Blank has achieved in the many years of his work. Especially the commitment to his employees was always close to his heart, you can still feel that today", he emphasized. "We are proud to have such a personality as a formative companion of our company for decades, and we always want to see these virtues as a role model.” An ensemble of the Conrad-Graf-Musikschule framed the event festively with classical and modern melodies. After the award ceremony the town of Riedlingen invited to a small snack.
As a further highlight Werner Blank was able to celebrate his 75th birthday with his guests at midnight. Hubert Deutsch congratulated the prize winner and jubilarian on behalf of the entire company on both occasions: "We wish Mr. Blank many more active years in the future, during which he can dedicate himself to the people and institutions that are close to his heart.”
(Extract from the Schwäbische Zeitung Riedlingen from 06.02.2020)
Photo: Marion Buck, Schwäbische Zeitung Riedlingen
