Hall of Fame Inductees Prior to 2009

Inductees from 2008 to 1998

2008

  • William I. Davis (1939). World War II fighter pilot. (deceased)
  • Norma J. Norman (1963). Educator and business executive.
  • Mark L. Morris (1952). Veterinarian and animal researcher and nutritionist. (deceased)

2007

  • Robert Ebendorf (1957). Artist; a college educator, Mr. Ebendorf specializes in jewelry whose works are found in many prestigious galleries.
  • Glenn V. Elmore (1934). Engineer – scientist; Mr. Elmore invented a fuel cell which was a vital component in the space program and Apollo lunar missions. (deceased)
  • Lutie Lytle. Attorney; a late 19th century T.H.S. student, Miss Lytle was one of the first black women lawyers in the United States. (deceased)

2006

  • Grace Sawyer Jones (1956). Educator and administrator; President of Three Rivers Community College in Connecticut .
  • Carl Johnson (1960). Electrical engineer; he is CEO of II-VI, Inc., which manufactures x-ray instruments, laser, etc.
  • Stanley Wellborn (1962). Journalist; he was Director of Public Affairs at the Brookings Institute and an editor at the “U.S. News & World Report.”

2005

  • Kordula Polenek (1937). Studio executive; headed 20th Century Fox wardrobe dept. (deceased)
  • Peg Shavey Griswold (1961). Businesswoman; CEO Medical Transportation Management.
  • Douglass W. Wallace (1965). Historian; a founder of the Topeka High School Historical Society.

2004

  • Dr. Richard E. Davis (1944). Physician, educator, and entrepreneur; he created the KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce. (deceased)
  • Capt. Thomas F. “Swiftwater” Hahn (1944). Naval officer and archaeologist with National Park Service; he was a principal chief of the Delaware nation. (deceased)
  • David H. Roe (1958). Retired Brig. General U.S. Air Force and corporate executive; Rhodes Scholar and President of Central College, Iowa.

2003

  • The Hon. Charles Curtis. Statesman; Congressman, Senate majority leader, 31st Vice-President of the United States. (deceased)
  • Rebecca Stafford (1954). Educator; research sociologist and college president.
  • Richetta Manager (1971). Operatic singer; performer at U.S. and European festivals and international opera houses. Ms. Manager passed away in January 2024.

2002

  • Henry Bubb (1925). Business executive; CEO of Capitol Federal Savings. (deceased)
  • Richard McConnell (1947). Educator, athletic coach, basketball coach at Arizona Secondary schools. (deceased)
  • Hon. David M. Ebel (1958). Jurist; U.S. Court, Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

2001

  • Dr. Ronald L. Wigington (1949). Technologist, engineer; was engaged in computer research for the National Security Agency and later the American Chemical Society. (deceased)
  • Charles W. Wright, Jr. (1937). Community leader and businessman; served as Topeka mayor, 1965-69, during the time of the disastrous 1966 tornado.
  • Zelma Watson George (1920). Civic leader, singer; in a variety of careers, Mrs. George was an operatic singer, alternate delegate to the U.N., and executive director of the Cleveland Job Corps Center for Women. (deceased)

2000

  • Charles E. Marling (1936). Retail business executive; Community leader. (deceased)
  • Sam A. Crow (1944). Jurist; Senior U.S. District Judge. (deceased)
  • Walter Hatke (1967). Artist; Professor of Fine Arts, Painting & Drawing at Union College, Schenectady, NY.

1999

  • David Nelson (1962). Pediatrician and immunologist; forefront of medical research in serious diseases affecting children.
  • Martha Packard Perske (1954). Artist; illustrator and freelance artist who has designed numerous publications.
  • George Schrader (1949). Public administrator; he is the former city manager of Dallas, Texas. (deceased)

1998

  • Elizabeth Fink Farnsworth (1961). Journalist; chief correspondent and principal substitute for PBS’s “The News Hour.”
  • H. Bernard Fink (1927). Businessman and philanthropist; he was president and chairman of the board of C-G-F Grain Company, later CGF Industries, Inc. (deceased)
  • George E. Walrafen (1947). Scientist; Professor of Chemistry at Howard University. (deceased)

1997

  • John Davis (1934). Optometrist; best recognized as coach for American women’s international track teams. (deceased)
  • James W. Putnam (1932). Attorney; active in Emporia, Kansas community affairs including Camp Alexander, a recreation center for area youth. (deceased)
  • Dr. Douglas W. Wilmore (1956). Surgeon; Professor of Surgery at the Harvard Medical School whose research focused on burn treatment.
  • Barbara King Wilson (1934). Businesswoman; besides her insurance agency, Mrs. Wilson was involved in Manhattan, Kansas civic affairs and a member and chairman of Washburn University Board of Trustees. (deceased)

1996

  • Paul Fink (1948). Educator; served as Topeka High School’s principal, 1973-78. (deceased)
  • Dr. W. Walter Menninger (1949). Psychiatrist and medical executive, he is President and CEO of Menninger’s, the famed clinic and foundation.
  • Carolyn Smith-Meyer (1953). Operatic singer, performed in many of the great operatic houses and festivals in Europe. (deceased)

1995

  • Duane Barney (1946). Senior Engineer with Argonne National Laboratory; author of two books, and four patents and founder and board member of the National Chamber Orchestra. (deceased)
  • James W. Porter (1929). Attorney and civic leader; represented the Topeka School Board and is involved in many local cultural and charitable organizations. (deceased)
  • Larry Reid (1943). Educator; taught and coached at T.H.S. heading the football program, served as T.H.S. assistant principal, retired in 1986 as an Asst. Principal at Topeka West H.S. (deceased)

1994

  • Charles T. Carter (1934). Engineer; President of Sinclair Pipe Line Co. and upon merger with Atlantic Richfield Co. Vice President for Pipeline Transportation. Oversaw work in Alaska, Algeria, and southern United States. (deceased)
  • Denise McCluggage (1943). Journalist and author; editor of Sunday section “This World” of the “San Francisco Chronicle.” Sports writer for Herald Tribune and publisher and editor of “Competition Press” now known as “Auto Week.” (deceased)
  • Dr. Robert H. O’Neil (1938). Physician; served aboard U.S.S. Sabine and in naval hospitals, helped organize Cotton-O’Neil Clinic, PA, serving as Chairman of the Board. (deceased)

1993

  • Ned N. Fleming (1917). Business executive; he helped organize, with his father, the Fleming Co. which became the nation’s largest wholesale food distributor, ranked #1 by “Fortune” magazine. (deceased)
  • Martha J. Herrick (1949). Educator and actress; the 2nd Head Drama Coach in the school’s history, she taught English and Theatre at T.H.S. (deceased)
  • Charles W. Ryder (1910). Maj. Gen. U.S. Army; received the Silver Star in WWI and in WWII commanded the 34th Division which took Algiers in Operation Torch; also served in Occupation of Japan. (deceased)
  • Bruce G. Woolpert (1937). Engineer and businessman; rose to become CEO of the Granite Rock Co. which won the Malcolm Baldridge Award. (deceased)

1992

  • F. Mark Garlinghouse (1932). Attorney and executive; he was Vice President and General Counsel of AT&T, then the nation’s largest utility. (deceased)
  • Miriam Baker Loo (1932). Businesswoman and civic leader; she established Current, Inc., which became a multi-million dollar direct-mail company. (deceased)

1991

  • Aaron Douglas (1917). Artist and educator; hailed “the Father of Black American Art’ and leader of the Harlem Renaissance who later headed the Art Department at Fisk University. (deceased)
  • Dr. William C. Menninger (1917). Psychiatrist and educator; a co-founder of the Menninger Clinic and oversaw mental health programs for the armed forces during WWII. (deceased)
  • Col. Arthur A. Poindexter (1935). Col., U.S. Marine Corps; he was a defender of Wake Island, and was later a military consultant to Pacific rim nations. (deceased)
  • Warren W. Shaw (1926). Attorney and civic leader; served as Staff Judge Advocate of Headquarters Command Allied Expeditionary Forces in WWII and was a community and Washburn leader. (deceased)

1990

  • Dr. Henry S. Blake, Jr. (1929). Physician and surgeon; devised a portable blood refrigerator to ship whole blood that proved valuable during WWII. (deceased)
  • Margaret Irwin Haucke (1923). Business executive; a senior executive with the Santa Fe Railway, at the time highest position attained by a woman in an American railroad. (deceased)
  • Dr. Julia Long Parks (1941). Educator; a Professor of Education at Topeka’s Washburn University and author of numerous articles. (deceased)

1989

  • Dr. Frank W. Hale, Jr. (1944). Educator and author; involved in furthering the education of black and minority students and is a college lecturer and consultant. (deceased)
  • John W. Ripley (1914). Businessman; he managed the family business, Ripley Cleaners, but is best known for editing the local Shawnee County Historical Bulletins and his interest in history. (deceased)
  • Phillip W. Whitcomb (1906). Journalist; Topeka High’s 2nd Rhodes Scholar, reported for numerous American, British, and European papers, and published business journals in Europe. (deceased)

1988

  • Gen. Clarence T. Edwinson (1929). Brig. Gen. U.S. Air Force; “Curly” was a local sports hero and flew 30 combat missions in WWII, a colorful figure on the gridiron and in the air. (deceased)
  • R. Edward Love (1939). Businessman and civic leader; a local realtor and involved in many cultural organizations, including being a founder and first President of the T.H.S. Historical Society. (deceased)
  • Bradbury Thompson (1929). Artist and graphic designer; designed many publications and books including U.S. postage stamps and was responsible for the “Washburn Bible.” (deceased)

1987

  • Pamela Hollie Kluge (1966). Journalist, foundation executive, civil society professor, conservationist, philanthropist; currently a senior fellow, The Prague Institute for Global Urban Development.
  • Kirke Mecham, Jr. (1943). Composer; best known as a composer of operas, including “Tartuffe.”
  • Mike Torrez (1964). Professional athlete; a baseball pitcher who played on both American and National League teams winning two World Series games for the New York Yankees in 1977.

1986

  • Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen (1949). Lt. Gen. U.S. Marine Corps; he served in Korea and Vietnam and at retirement was the ranking Marine advisor. (deceased)
  • Rex Tod Hunter Stout (1903). Novelist; he created the mystery detective Nero Wolfe, and was a co-founder of the Vanguard Press. (deceased)
  • Dr. Ruth Stout Wright (1927). Educator; taught English at Topeka High School, was Dean of Students at Washburn University, and in 1958 served as President of the National Education Assn. (deceased)

1985

  • Maj. Joseph B. Anderson (1961). Business executive; retired as a Major in the U.S. Army with service in Vietnam and now heads a GM Pontiac division.
  • Balfour S. Jeffrey (1924). Attorney and utility executive; he was President and later Chairman of the Board of the Kansas Power and Light Co. (deceased)
  • E. Newton Vickers (1944). Jurist; he served as a judge of the District Court and is a Topeka civic leader. (deceased)

1984

  • Thomas H. Barrett (1948). Business executive; Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in the late 1980s. (deceased)
  • Samuel C. Jackson (1947). Attorney and civil rights leader; an Assistant Secretary in the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Nixon Administration. (deceased)
  • The Hon. Kay McFarland (1953). Jurist; was appointed the first woman to the Kansas State Supreme Court and in 1995 elevated to Chief Justice. (deceased)

1983

  • John Slaughter (1951). Scientist and educator; headed the National Science Foundation in early 1980’s and was later Chancellor of the University of Maryland. (deceased)
  • Dean Smith (1949). University of North Carolina basketball coach; played on KU’s 1952 NCAA championship team and coached UNC to two championships and the 1976 American squad to gold in the Olympics.
  • (deceased)

1982

  • The Hon. Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker (1950). Former U.S. Senator from Kansas.
  • Dr. Karl A. Menninger (1910). Psychiatrist and author; co-founder and later head of the Menninger Clinic and Foundation.
  • (deceased)