GRAND RAPIDS — From the mining work of the Iron Range, Jerry Hoolihan and his wife, Alice, established a family business that has grown and diversified for more than 70 years.

It was 1942 and an era that was pre-taconite with natural iron ore mines all over northeastern Minnesota. The Iron Range was busy with mining activity from Grand Rapids at Tioga Pit on Pokegama Lake all the way to Ely. And Jerry Hoolihan saw an opportunity to become an important vendor to those mines, selling grease.

“The first office was in my sister’s bedroom,” said Jerry’s son Jim, who, with his wife Kathy, are the second generation to take on the business.

Jim explained that his father was an International truck and tractor machinist prior to starting his business.

“Because he was in the equipment business, he knew the needs.”

The business, Industrial Lubricant, was launched as a full-service lubrication system installation and service company serving the large equipment operators along the Iron Range.......read more