Past honorees

1974: Governor Robert Docking

1975: Ben Craig, Metcalf State Bank, Overland Park

1976: Carl Nordstrom, Topeka

1977: J. Ray Barmby, Economic Development Funding, Olathe

1978: Governor Robert F. Bennett

1980: Bill Little & Jerry Mallott

1982: Howard Loomis, The Peoples Bank, Pratt

1985: Terry Scanlon & David Owen

1986: Governor John Carlin

1987: Frank J. Becker, Becker Investments, Inc., Lawrence

1991: Jim Dahmen, Columbus Telephone Company, Columbus

1992: Stephen Cloud, IBT, Inc., Shawnee Mission

1993: Stephen L. Waite, Waiteco, Inc., El Dorado

1994: Roy Vinyard, Story Contracting Co., Inc., Olathe

1995: Jill Docking, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Wichita

1997: C. William Underkofler, Western Resources Inc., Wichita, and Rod W. Weinmeister, KG&E, A Western Resource Company, Topeka

1998: Governor Bill Graves

1999: Lt. Governor Gary Sherrer

2000: John C. Prather, Groendyke Transport, El Dorado

2001: Cal Roberts, Cal Roberts & Associates, Inc., Overland Park

2004: Donald R. Landoll, Landoll Corporation, Marysville

2005: Kent Heermann, Reg. Dev. Assoc. of East Central Kansas, Emporia

2006: Lavern Squier, Overland Park Chamber of Commerce EDC, Overland Park

2007: Lt. Governor John Moore

2008: Governor Kathleen Sebelius

2010: Governor Mark Parkinson

2013: Senator Pat Roberts

2014: Dr. Edward H. Hammond

2015: Harland E. Priddle

2016: Jerry Moran, United States Senator

2017: Dr. Raffaele DeVito, Chair Emeritus, Kansas International Trade Coordinating Council

2018: Nick Jordan

2019: Lyle Butler, President/CEO, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce