Kansas Business Hall of Fame announces 2004 inductees

The founder of an internationally-successful metal works and an aviation pioneer will be inducted into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame in February.

Don Landoll of the Landoll Corporation and William Powell Lear, designer of the Learjet will be honored at the annual Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry Caucus banquet on Feb. 3, 2004, in Topeka.

"The Kansas Business Hall of Fame recognizes business leaders who, through their high standards and ethics, have added to the prestige and growth of the business community in Kansas," said executive director Ken Schallenkamp.

Each year, the Hall of Fame inducts both an historical and a contemporary Kansas business leader. Past recipients of the honor include: Pizza Hut founder Dan and Frank Carney; candy makers Clara and Russell Stover; Phil Anschutz of Qwest Communications; Don Hall of Hallmark Cards; and C.L. Brown, founder of Sprint.

The Kansas Business Hall of Fame is the only program of its kind in the state.

Additional information about the Kansas Business Hall of Fame and its members can be found at www.emporia.edu/kbhf

Don Landoll,
Landoll Corporation

CONTEMPORARY INDUCTEE

Don Landoll has built a successful international metal exports business in rural Kansas. The Landoll Corporation manufactures a diverse product line including aircraft de-icers, tillage equipment, trailers, and truck bodies. It also holds valuable patents, including one for a traveling axle trailer.

The company markets its products to 16 countries, most recently targeting the Caribbean and Middle East. Landoll and his company were awarded the 2001 Kansas Exporter of the Year Award. According to former Governor Bill Graves, the award is given to companies "that are committed to pursuing new business in the international marketplace."

The company was founded in 1963 as Quick Service Welding by 20-year-old Don Landoll and a partner, who left Landoll with sole ownership in 1967. Since then the company has grown to employ over 450 people with an annual payroll in excess of $5 million.

In addition to running a successful company, Mr. Landoll has taken a leadership role in local and statewide business and civic groups. He has been an active member of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association and served as its president from 1990 to 1991. He is a member of Kansas Cavalry, Marysville City Council, Rotary International, and the Board of the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas.

In addition, he has served on the boards of many organizations designed to improve living conditions in Kansas such as the Community Memorial Healthcare Board, the Kansas Health Foundation Board, and the Huck Boyd Institute for Rural America.

William Powell Lear,
Aviation pioneer and inventor

HISTORICAL INDUCTEE

William Powell Lear is best known for designing and building the Learjet, the world's first cheap, fast, mass produced business jet. He is also credited with inventing the car radio, the eight track stereo tape player and cartridges, the autopilot for jet aircraft, the navigational radio, and the radio direction finder for general aviation aircraft. Lear founded and sold a number of different businesses and also held more than 150 patents.

Born on June 26, 1902, in Hannibal, Missouri, Lear was the only child of Reuben Marion and Gertrude Elizabeth (Powell) Lear. Leaving home with an eighth grade education, Lear learned electronics as a World War I Navy radio operator.

Lear began to apply his knowledge of electronics to aviation, designing and producing radio operated direction finders and navigation systems, electronics, automatic controls and fluid handling devices.

He started in business early, establishing Quincy Radio Laboratories in Quincy, Ill. in 1922 and Lear Radio Laboratory in Tulsa, Okla. in 1924.

While working for Grigby Grunrow in Chicago, he redeveloped the "B" battery to get rid of the hum in other B batteries. He joined with Paul Galvin Manufacturing Company in 1930 to create the first working car radio. He later sold his radio and coil company to Paul Galvin, whose company would become known as Motorola.

In 1940, Lear introduced the Learmatic Navigator, an ultra high frequency device enabling pilots to automatically hold a course by tuning in radio broadcasts of any kind. This invention won the prestigious Frank M. Hawks Memorial Award.

From 1949 until 1962, he presided as Chairman of the Board of Lear, Inc. During his term, he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, because the wartime demand for his direction finders, actuators, and other components outpaced the capacity of his earlier plant. In Grand Rapids, Lear developed and tested the F-5 autopilot. This contribution won the prestigious Collier Trophy in 1949.

In 1962, his dream to build a business jet became a reality when he moved his operations to Wichita. On October 7, 1963, the first Lear Jet took off as did his main legacy in aviation history.

In 1967, Bill Lear sold Learjet Industries to the Gates Rubber Company and bought land and buildings adjacent to a deserted air force base in Reno, Nevada. He wanted to produce a pollution free automotive engine. After many months and millions of his own money, he came to the realization that while his engine was operationally successful, it was not as fuel efficient as a conventional engine. He then moved on to his next challenge and began development on a new plane called the Lear Fan.

On May 14, 1978, William Powell Lear succumbed to leukemia in Reno, Nevada. His family later spread his ashes over the Pacific Ocean.

Today, the Lear Foundation is involved in theatre activities, women in aviation, aviation related activities, Corporate Angel Network, and the Kansas Aviation Museum.

 

Last Updated July 2, 2007>