Kansas business community honored during Kansas Cavalry Encampment

2007 Business Hall of Fame inductees recognized and Governor's Exporter of the Year named

President Michael R. Lane, 2007 KBHF inductee Fran Jabara and Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson at the Kansas Cavalry Encampment in Junction City.

President Michael R. Lane, Lisa Ingram, great-grandaugter of the late E.W. “Billy” Ingram and Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson at the Kansas Cavalry Encampment in Junction City.

GOVERNOR'S EXPORTER OF THE YEAR

David Cox, Chief Operating Officer of the Bradbury Group-Moundridge, Ryan Durst, Senior Manager - Sales and Marketing of The Bradbury Co., Inc. and Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson.

Past and present leaders in the Kansas business community were honored and inducted into the Kansas Business Hall Fame (KBHF) at the annual induction ceremony held during the Kansas Cavalry Encampment in Junction City.

The late E.W. “Billy” Ingram and the late Walter Anderson were the historical inductees and Fran Jabara was the contemporary inductee making up the latest class of the Kansas Business Hall of Fame. The KBHF Board oversees the Hall of Fame, which is housed at Emporia State University's School of Business.

Ingram, was a local real estate and insurance agent, and Anderson, was a professional cook who founded White Castle® System, Inc., a popular hamburger chain, in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921.

A recognized national leader in entrepreneurship, Jabara served as a professor at Wichita State University (WSU) for 40 years and is known today for founding one of the finest and most comprehensive entrepreneurship programs of its kind in the nation.

Each year a ceremony is held to recognize and honor Kansas business leaders who have added to the prestige and growth of the business community. Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson and Emporia State University President Michael R. Lane presented the KBHF awards to Jabara and to Lisa Ingram, great-granddaughter of the late E.W. “Billy” Ingram.

Business leaders who are selected for the Hall of Fame are widely known for their contributions to Kansas and are recognized as role models. Recognition is given to historical contributors and present day leaders who have made private enterprise work exceeding well in Kansas and throughout the country. Previous inductees include such prominent Kansans as Pizza Hut founders Dan and Frank Carney, Clara and Russell Stover of Russell Stover Candies, Don Hall of Hallmark Cards, Clyde Cessna of Cessna Aircraft Co., Walter Chrysler founder of the Chrysler Corp., and William Allen White entrepreneur and editor of the Emporia Gazette. The Kansas Business Hall of Fame is the only program of its kind in the state of Kansas and serves as a chapter of the American National Business Hall of Fame.

The Governor's Exporter of the Year Award was presented to the Bradbury Co., Inc of Moundridge. Each year, the Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award is presented to a Kansas company for exceptional international marketing success. This award encourages the growth of the state’s international commerce by showcasing successful exporters as role models to the Kansas business community. The recipients are good examples of how exporting is a significant catalyst for company growth and diversification.

Last Updated February 5, 2008>