Topeka Capital-Journal
Here are the recipients of the Kansan of the Year and Distinguished Kansans of the Year awards since The Topeka Capital-Journal began the recognition in 1965:
Jim Ryun, Olympic runner
Deborah Bryant, Miss America
Distinguished Kansans:
William Lear, industry
Emory Lindquist, education
Robert Harder, religion
William H. Avery, politics
John McCormally, journalism
Gov. Robert Docking
Distinguished Kansans:
Jim Ryun, sports
R. Charles Clevenger, business
Ronald W. Livers, agriculture
George S. Eckhardt, military
Clark Owens, law
Joseph B. Anderson Jr., Vietnam veteran platoon leader
Distinguished Kansans:
Eugene Pond, law enforcement
Debra Barnes, youth
Carolyn Smith-Meyer, music
James McCain, education
Pepper Rodgers, sports
Sgt. Donald Tanking and the men of the 69th Infantry Brigade, who responded to international crisis
Distinguished Kansans:
Robert Ellsworth, politics
Robert Walters, national spelling bee champion, youth
Bobby Douglas, sports
William L. White, journalism
Clarke Wescoe, education
Gordon Parks, author, composer and photographer
Distinguished Kansans:
Sam Jackson, government
Walt Menninger, human relations
Vince Gibson, sports
Rick Von Ende, KU youth movements, youth
Gen. Lewis W. Walt, who served in Vietnam with the U.S. Marine Corps
Distinguished Kansans:
Gov. Robert Docking and Rep. Bill Roy, politics
Richard L.D. Morse, consumer affairs
Grier Jones, sports
Franklin D. Murphy, business
Earl W. Sutherland Jr., Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine
Distinguished Kansans:
Huaman, Nice and Young, medical research
Ted Owens, sports
Willard Garvey, business
Robert Dole, politics
Warren Kliewer, theater
Melvin E. Neely, education
Ron Evans, astronaut
Distinguished Kansans:
Edward T. Kanemasu, agriculture
Lyle Yost, business
Loren J. Humphrey, medicine
Ray Nichols, education
James C. Wofford, sports
Lt. Gen. Bernard Rogers, military
Wetterson and SASNAI, recreation
Alisa Greer and Gregory Hack, youth
James McCain, president of Kansas State University
Distinguished Kansans:
David Jaynes, sports
Brian Lanker, journalism
Rep. John Rhodes, politics
Edward T. McNally, business
Tom Ostrander Sr., agriculture
Linda Rutledge, youth
Karl Menninger, Kansas emeritus
Gov. Robert Bennett
Distinguished Kansans:
Gary Clarke, recreation
Larry Elliott, sports
Rachel Scott, books
William Arnstein Jr., agriculture
Ted Charveze, arts
Ruth Murphy, public health
Alf Landon, Kansan emeritus
W. Eugene Smith, photojournalist
Distinguished Kansans:
Balfour Jeffrey, energy
Grant Cushinberry, humanitarian
Rex Duwe, finance
Nolan Cromwell, sports
Ruth Patrick, science
Daniel Worcester, agriculture
David Honigs, youth
Frank Carlson, Kansan emeritus
Paul Thayer, business
Gen. Bernard Rogers, NATO Supreme Allied Commander-Europe
Distinguished Kansans:
Margaret Murdoch, sports
William Hoover, research
Joe Greve, humanitarian
Robert Dole, newsmaker
Dan Glickman, politics
Larry Goins, business
Mike Torrez, baseball pitcher/coach
Distinguished Kansans:
Kay McFarland, law
Frank Carney, business
John Throne, research
Edward Asner, acting
Robert Boyer, medicine
Elmer Heyne, agriculture
Sen. Harry Darby, Kansan emeritus
Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum
Distinguished Kansans:
Tinkham Veale II, business
Jim Kramer, agriculture
Eva Jessye, music
Peg McCarthy, youth
Carolyn D. Jones, education
Gov. John Carlin, politics
Bradbury Thompson, art director/designer
Distinguished Kansans:
Keith Fuller, journalism
Diana Putnam, youth
McDill "Huck" Boyd, citizenship
Jackie Engel, education
Don Bachman, fine arts
Gary L. McDaniel, business
Sen. Robert Dole
Distinguished Kansans:
Robert Brock, business
Jim Halsey, entertainment
Elizabeth "Grandma" Layton, art
George Brett, sports
Olive Ann Beech, aviation
Henry Bubb, Kansan emeritus
Col. Joe Engle, astronaut
Distinguished Kansans:
George Amis and Bill McCormick, community service
Richard Volk, energy
Edward J. King, business
Lynette Woodard, sports
Samuel Ramey, music
Charles Hamon, agriculture
Dean Smith, basketball coach
Distinguished Kansans:
John Slaughter, education
Paul Thayer, business
Bill Kurtis and Jim Lehrer, media
Dee Wallace, theater
Gov. John Carlin, politics
Major Jim Latham, military
Gary Adamson, Air Midwest founder
Distinguished Kansans:
Gen. Bernard W. Rogers, world affairs
Kenneth Dam, government
Peggy Greene, journalism
John Riggins, sports
Cynthia Sikes, entertainment
Ned Fleming, Kansas emeritus
Robert and Elizabeth Dole, state super-couple
Distinguished Kansans:
Juan Sepulveda, education
James Dutt, business
Ron Winegar, youth
Steve Mills, entertainment
John L. Green, administration
Steve Hawley and Sally Ride, space research
Joe Snell, director of the Kansas State Historical Society
Distinguished Kansans:
Maj. Gen. Frank E. Petersen, minority affairs
Deanell Tacha, law
Marianna Beach, volunteerism
Takeru Higuchi, science/business
Don Johnson, entertainment
John Ripley, Kansan emeritus
Irene Nunemaker, business/philanthropy
Distinguished Kansans:
Delores Lebbert, humanitarism
Stan Herd, art
Robert D. Ballard, science
Gen. Larry D. Welch, military
Wayne Angell, business
Gov. Mike Hayden, politics
Marlin Fitzwater, Reagan/Bush presidential spokesman
Distinguished Kansans:
Robert M. Gates, government
James W. Gordon, defense
Tom Meier, sports
Ronald Richey, business
Elizabeth "Grandma" Layton, art
Don W. Wilson, public service
Fred Bramlage, philanthropist
Distinguished Kansans:
Tom Barrett, business
Mike Robe, entertainment
Georgia Neese Gray, art
Victor Viola, science
Sam Brownback, agriculture
Danny Manning, sports
Barry Sanders, sports
Ewing Kauffman, philanthropist
Distinguished Kansans:
Harriet Lerner, literature
Jordan Haines, business
Marily Rhudy, medicine
Jerry O'Shaughnessy, sports
Marg Roberts, civic action
Jack Staddon, education
Gov. Joan Finney
Distinguished Kansans:
Col. Mick Baier, military affairs
Ed Seaton, journalism
George Haley, government
Kim Watkins, heroism
Jim Lehrer, broadcasting
Kai-Wai "Ken" Wong, science
Col. Mick Baier, commanded troops and refueling tankers during Operation Desert Storm
Distinguished Kansans:
R.D. Hubbard, sports
Judge Patrick F. Kelly, jurisprudence
Richard Morse, consumer interests
Robert M. Gates, government
Detectives Craig Fox and Danny Hay, law enforcement
Tim Jenison and Paul Montgomery, business
Bill Koch, America's Cup winner
Distinguished Kansans:
Elizabeth "Grandma" Layton, art
Gene A. Budig, education
Ross O. Doyen, government
Dane A. Britton, foreign relations
Donna Sweet, medicine
Janie Wagstaff, sports
John E. Hayes, Western Resources chief
Distinguished Kansans:
John Atkinson, medicine/science
Camilla Cave, humanities
Shirley Palmer, education
Sue Bartley, heroism
Delano Lewis, broadcasting
Dick Lee, law enforcement
Cheryl Brown Henderson, Brown vs. Board National Historic Site
Lynn Hinkle, business
Nancy Landon Kassebaum, government
Deanell Tacha, jurisprudence
Distinguished Kansans:
Terry Bullock, law
Bill Snyder, sports
Jane Mackey, health
Stan Herd, art
Russell W. Meyer Jr., business
Jon Wefald, education
Betty Simecka, community leader
Distinguished Kansans:
Howard Fricke, business
Lou Allen, citizenship
Gov. Bill Graves, government
Elizabeth Farnsworth, professional
Shelley Foster, sports
"Treasure of the Czars" volunteers, volunteerism
Sens. Robert Dole and Nancy Landon Kassebaum
Distinguished Kansans:
Ross and Marianna Beach, philanthropy
Keen Umbehr, law
Albert Guardado, sports
Dale Cushinberry, education
Dick Davidson, business
Kathleen Sebelius, government
Melissa Masoner, Kids Voting Kansas
Wes Adell, environment
Russ Meyer, CEO of Cessna
Distinguished Kansans:
Sue Buchanan, business
The Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, religion
Grace Sawyer Jones, education
Ron Klataske, environment
Dean Smith, sports
Carla Stovall, government
Christopher Wilson, heroism/youth
Carl Bosley, academics
Ben Lerner, communication/youth
Anna Riphahn, entrepreneur/youth
Jon Wefald, president of Kansas State University
Distinguished Kansans:
Greg Brenneman, commerce
Brian Shay, athletics
Lou Falley, philanthropy
David Chavez, culture
Jennifer Knapp, entertainment
Kansas Health Foundation, families
Delano Lewis, U.S. ambassador to South Africa
Distinguished Kansans:
Max Ary, tourism
Lew Ferguson, media
Jim Brothers, arts
Maurice Greene, sports
Alyssa Buecker, youth
Barry Flinchbaugh, agriculture
Martina McBride, music
Eric Rosen, law
Mary Turkington and Pat Hurley, public service
Jack St. Clair Kilby, Nobel Prize in physics
Distinguished Kansans:
Tara Nott, sports
Sen. Sam Brownback, politics
Kris A. Robbins, business
Kalila Dalton, youth
Sherie Renee Scott, arts
John Frieden, government
Joan Wagnon, government
Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Distinguished Kansans:
Stewart Bailey, entertainment
John C. Dicus, business/philanthropy
Jean Folkerts, media/journalism
Michael Ford, education
John Freeman, youth
Matthew Haug, academics
Jackie Stiles, sports
Vernon L. Smith, Nobel Prize winner
Distinguished Kansans:
Judy Bell, sports
Richard “Dick” Dean Bergen, arts
Steven J. Douglass, business
David Nieto, youth
Zach Pahmahmie, leadership
Sara Paretsky, literary arts
Kathleen Sebelius, politics
Pfc. Patrick Miller, former POW in Iraq
Distinguished Kansans:
Clark Balderson, business
Martina McBride, music
Nicole Ohlde, sports
Paul Rudd, entertainment
LaVerne Allen, nursing
Mike O’Toole, military
Chris Wolf Edmonds, visual arts
Chloe Sheridan, youth
Judy Walton and Lynn Heiligenthal-Showalter, citizenship
Cheryl Brown Henderson, president and CEO of Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research
Distinguished Kansans:
Greg Brenneman, business
Jared Huske, youth
Jill Warford, arts
Scott Bloch, politics
Stewart Bailey, entertainment
Sally Buzbee, media
Chuck Broyles, sports
Matt Stinemetze, science
Bill Snyder, Kansas State University football coach
Distinguished Kansans:
Jeff Boerger, business
Jaide Ramirez-Jennings, youth
Neil Dobler, civic involvement
Lt. Ken Landwehr, law enforcement
Judy Showalter, government
Matt Copeland, education
Washburn University women’s basketball team, sports
Strategic Military Planning Commission, military
Patriot Guard, motorcycle group who helps veterans and their families
Distinguished Kansans:
Bennie Young, humanitarian
Alan Mulally, business
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Nancy Boyda, politics
Kannon Shanmugam, judicial
Frank Elliott, education
Jason Sudeikis, entertainment
Mark Turgeon, sports
Greensburg residents, for rebuilding tornado-ravaged town
Distinguished Kansans:
Brenda Dietrich, education
Emma Marten, youth
Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, military
Brian McClendon and James Press, business/technology
Bobby Sharp, entertainment/arts
Mark Mangino and Clint Bowyer, sports
Jon Wefald, retiring Kansas State University president, and Robert Hemenway, chancellor at University of Kansas
Distinguished Kansans:
Sheila Bair, business
Elizabeth Broun, art
Hal Ritter, journalism
Clint Bowyer, sports
Bill Self, sports
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, politics
Carolyn Campbell, education
Rob Riggle, entertainment
Gov. Mark Parkinson, who became governor when Kathleen Sebelius left to join President Barack Obama's cabinet
Distinguished Kansans:
Robert Ballard, science
Dale Dennis, education
The late Pete Goering, journalism
Carey Maynard-Moody, transportation
Alan Mulally, business
Keith Olsen, philantrophy
Matthew Porubsky, arts and entertainment
Tom Watson, sports
Alan Mulally, head of Ford Motor Co.
Distinguished Kansans:
The folks behind Think Big Topeka, business
Eric Stonestreet, arts and entertainment
Colleen McCain Nelson, journalism
Stephen G. Young, medical science
Frank Martin, sports
Jeff Hart. business
Gov. Sam Brownback, politics
Joe Kamer, animal science
Ken Calwell, president of Papa Murphy's International
Distinguished Kansans:
Gary Woodland, sports
Brady Tanner, sports
Deborah Rose, military
Clare Vanderpool, literary arts
Roger Kemp, community service
Bill Kuhn, science
Melissa Miller Ormond, entertainment
John L. Allen, journalism
Juan Manuel Santos, president of the Republic of Colombia
Distinguished Kansans:
Anita Wolgast and John Hunter, business
The Rev. Max Manning, humanitarian
Melissa Jarboe, community service
Trei Dudley, youth
Norm Conard, education
Ajit Paim, government
Bill Snyder and Collin Klein, sport
Brian Schodorf, arts and entertainment
Pete Souza, director of the White House photo office and chief official White House photographer for President Barack Obama
Distinguished Kansans:
Dean Smith, humanitarian
Steve Fisher, agriculture
Charles Boyd, military
David Osborne, arts and entertainment
Kiana Knolland, youth
DeLoss Dodds, sports
Anne Levinson, law
Brad LeDuc, education
Greg, Nathan and Kendal Peterson, who promote agriculture and farm life through videos and public speaking
Distinguished Kansans:
Matt Besler, sports
Marily Harper Rhudy, business
Robert and Adlynn Harte, advocacy
Betty Henrie, education
Bryan Pinkall, performance arts
Bill Shepard, volunteerism
Corine Wegener, arts
Sarah Deer, law
Paul Rudd, actor
Distinguished Kansans of the Year:
Mark Mallouk, arts and entertainment
Lance Feyh, humanitarian
Mark Hittner and Tom Stephan, sports
Retired U.S. Army Col. Guy C. Beougher, military
Vanya and Kavya Shivashankar, youth
Chris Imming, community activism
John Kemp, community service
Wes Jackson, environment/agriculture
Jayne Houdyshell, actress
Distinguished Kansans of the Year:
Harold Jackson, journalism
Nico Herandez, sports ???
Priti Lakhani, medicine/health
Juan Sepulveda, television
Jeff Probst, pop culture
Cindy Lane, education
Nick Long, business
Glen Fountain, science
Patty Jenkins, filmmaker
Distinguished Kansans of the Year:
University of Kansas School of Law Project for Innocence, law enforcement
Frank Mason III, sports
Pittsburg High School journalism students, journalism
Pam McComas, education
John Musgrave, military
Axtell High School, youth
James Iliff, business
Kevin Young, literary arts
Gov. Laura Kelly
Distinguished Kansans of the Year:
Katie Uhlaender, sports
Carl Ice, business
Steve Lacy, mass media
Chad Leat, humanitarian
Wes Jackson, agriculture
Kevin Willmott, arts and entertainment
Washburn Rural High School, education
Mid-State Materials, conservation
Gary Woodland, golfing champion
Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State
Distinguished Kansans of the Year:
Ben Lerner, literary arts
Braxton Moral, academic achievement
Karen Countryman-Roswurm, social justice
Michael Miller, law enforcement
Michael Thompson, agriculture
Tyler N. “Nick” Hague, science
Eva McGhee, medicine/science
Jeanette Siemens, community leadership
Front-line health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic
Distinguished Kansans of the Year:
Noah Lindquist, entertainment
Mark Denison, science/medicine
Residents using technology to produce personal protective equipment, innovation
Meg Heriford, business
Dennis Ruhnke, humanitarian
Rick Bright, whistleblower
Tonja Harrison, community service
Quilters and seamstresses making face masks for others, community service