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JA Evansville Business Hall of Fame Laureates


George Mesker - 2024
Founder and President
George L. Mesker & Co.
 
CEO
Evansville Regional Economic Partnership and immediate past Mayor of the City of Evansville
 
President Emerita
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana
 
James Igleheart - 2023  — (1922-2007)
President and Chairman
International Steel Co.
 
Williard McCurdy - 2023  — (1853-1930)
Owner and Founder
Hercules Buggy Company
 
Retired Co-CEO and President
Evansville Regional Economic Partnership
 
Retired Chairman and CEO
German American Bancorp
 
Thomas Traylor - 2022  — (1940-2013)
President and CEO
Traylor Brothers
 
Consultant and Founder
South Western Communications Inc
 
Douglas Bawel - 2022
President
Jasper Engine and Transmission Exchange
 
A.B Brown - 2022  — (1900-1992)
Chairman and CEO
SIGECO 
 
Retired Agent and Broker
State Farm Insurance

Chief Executive Officer
American Water
 
Walter G. Koch - 2021  — (1904-1970)
Chairman of the Board
International Steel
 
Founding Partner
Lechwe Holdings LLC

Chief Executive Officer
Deaconess Women's Hospital
 
Norman P. Wagner - 2020  — (1923-1998)
Chief Executive Officer
SIGCORP
 
Wendell Dixon - 2020  — (1923-2017)
Chief Executive Officer
Interstate Finance/CrediThrift Financial
 
President Emerita
University of Southern Indiana

Chief Executive Officer
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.
 
Dr. Robert Z. Morris - 2019  — (1914-2001)
Founder
Morris Grain, Imperial Plastics, and The River House Hotel
 
Chief Executive Officer
American Patriot Group, LLC and White Stallion Energy, LLC

Past Chairman (Retired)
Robert M. Kent Automotive
 
William Albert "Bill" Koch Sr. - 2018  — (1915-2001)
Chief Executive Officer
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
 
Attorney at Law and Owner
Wilfred C. Bussing, III, Attorney at Law and Evansville Otters

President and Chief Executive Officer
Wabash Plastics, Inc. and Crescent Plastics, Inc.
 
Richard "Dick" Shymanski - 2017  — (1936-2010)
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Harding, Shymanski and Company, P.S.C.
 
Senior Vice President
Toyota North America

Chairman of the Board
Mid-States Rubber Products, Inc.
 
Charles Braun, Sr. - 2016  — (1910-1998)
Chairman
Industrial Contractors, Inc.
 
Founder
Hafer Associates
 
Guthrie May - 2015  — (1909-1984)
Founder
The Guthrie May Company
 
Wilfred "Bud" Bussing Jr. - 2015  — (1925-2008)
President
Bussing Construction Corp.
 
Past President and Chief Executive Officer
Deaconess Health System
 
Thomas "Tom" Morton, Jr. - 2014  — (1900-1993)
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Hoosier Cardinal Corporation; Fiberfill
 
John Engelbrecht - 2014  — (1951-2020)
Chairman
South Central Incorporated
 
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Old National Bank
 
Dr. David Rice - 2013  — (1929-2020)
President Emeritus
University of Southern Indiana
 
Kenny Kent - 2013  — (1905-1985)
Chairman
Kenny Kent Chevrolet
 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Dunn Hospitality Group

Executive Vice Chairman
Koch Enterprises
 
Francis Reitz - 2012  — (1841-1930)
President
National City Bank
 
Past Director of Values
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

Chief Executive Officer and President
United Companies
 
Benjamin Bosse - 2011  — (1874-1922)
Entrepreneur, Mayor
City of Evansville

President
Holiday Management Foundation
 
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Berry Plastics Corporation
 
President
Crescent Plastics Inc.
 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Industrial Contractors, Inc.
 
Marjorie Soyugenc - 2009  — (1940-2012)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Welborn Baptist Hospital
 
Charles B. "C.B." Enlow - 2009  — (1909-1961)
Chairman and President
National City Bank
 
Chairman of the Board (Retired)
Escalade, Inc.

Chairman of Board of Directors
George Koch Sons, Inc.
 
Joseph "Joe" O'Daniel - 2008  — (1912-2001)
President
O'Daniel-Ranes, Inc.
 
Dan Mitchell - 2008  — (1928-2014)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Old National Bank
 
Past President and Chief Operating Officer
Vectren Corporation
 
Edward Mead Johnson - 2007  — (1852-1934)
President and Founder
Mead Johnson and Company
 
John Schroeder II - 2007  — (1889-1953)
Chairman and Founder
Crescent Plastics, Inc.
 
Robert "Bob" Koch II - 2006
Chairman of the Board
Koch Enterprises, Inc.
 
Niel Ellerbrook - 2006
Past Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Vectren Corporation
 

Related Events

19th Annual JA Evansville Regional Business Hall of Fame

When: Tuesday, 21 May 2024
Where: Old National Events Plaza
Time: 7:30 AM CST

Join us in honoring the best in business to inspire the next in business.

Select a button below to see how you or your organization can get involved with Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana, Inc..

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