Kansans of the Year through the decades (2024)

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

Kansans of the Year through the decades (2024)

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