Salina Chamber accepting nominations for 2023 Salina Business Hall of Fame
The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Business Hall of Fame, an annual award that recognizes prominent business leaders in the Salina area.
Businesses were first recognized through this award in 2005, when the BHOF was established to appreciate leaders of the past and present who have made significant contributions to Salina. Past winners were identified to have earned the respect of the Salina community and exemplified the free enterprise system.
An official call for nominations was made this week. Chamber members and the general public alike can nominate those who they feel have made a lasting impact and deserve the recognition.
“The Business Hall of Fame honors the achievements of Salinans who have made outstanding contributions to the development and enhancement of Salina’s business climate and economic development, as well as have created a lasting impact to the Salina community overall,” said Renee Duxler, president and CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s our way of recognizing and maintaining the stories of the individuals who have helped make Salina the community it is today.”
How does the nomination process work?
A special task force will determine the inductees. Those nominated will be considered on several criteria including business excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, courageous thinking and actions, inspiring leadership, community impact, positive role model, enduring accomplishments and local influence.
Categories for nominations include:
Pioneer award (years 1858-1945)
Historic award (years 1946-1999)
Contemporary award (years 2000-present)
Individuals nominated in former years who did not receive the award will be considered again this year.
Nomination forms are available at the Chamber office at 120 W. Ash St. in Salina or can be downloaded by clicking on the Hall of Fame quick link on the Chamber’s homepage.
The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. July 31.
Inductees will be honored at a special luncheon this fall. A portrait of each inductee will be displayed in the Business Hall of Fame room, located at the Chamber office.
Plans are underway to digitize the stories and photographs of all Business Hall of Fame inductees and to house a kiosk along with the plaques in a place with more public access.
Past Salina Business Hall of Fame awardees
2005: H.D. Lee, William Graves, JJ Vanier, Al Schwan and Charlie Walker
2006: Alexander Campbell, M.J. Kennedy, Milton Morrison, Charles W. Shaver and Roy Applequist
2007: Oscar Seitz, Ralph Reitz, William Exline, Murray Wilson and Lee Young
2008: Dean Evans and Paul Junk
2009: W.W Watson, Whitley Austin, Verla Nesbitt Joscelyn, and Jack Vanier
2010: Benjamin Aaron Litowich, Thomas Watson Roach and Mike Berkley
2011: James R. Allen, William R. Geis and Ben A. Sellers
2012: William Phillips, Dick Brown, and George Frisbie
2013: Ward Marshall and Karl Stutterheim
2014: Charles R. Underwood and Charles E. Stevens. Jr
2015: Frank Hageman, Baalis Kyger Smoot and Tom Pestinger
2016: Herman H. Sudendorf, Robert J. Laubengayer and Sidney A. Reitz
2017: Arthur M. Claflin, Dan Bolen and Tim Rogers
2018: Milton Stiefel, and Melvin and Marge Bergkamp
2019: Earl Bane, Marshall Stanton, and Eugene and Margaret Logan
2021: August (AJ) Holmquist, Frank Norton and Steve Ryan.
2022: Mel Jarvis, Mabel Shelton and Larry Triplett
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina Area Chamber of Commerce seeks entries for Business Hall of Fame
