JA Evansville Business Hall of Fame Laureates

George Mesker - 2024

Founder and President

George L. Mesker & Co.

 

Lloyd Winnecke - 2024

CEO

Evansville Regional Economic Partnership and immediate past Mayor of the City of Evansville

 

Leah Curry - 2024

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

 

Greg Wathen - 2023

Retired Co-CEO and President

Evansville Regional Economic Partnership

 

Mark Schroeder - 2023

Retired Chairman and CEO

German American Bancorp

 

Thomas Traylor - 2022  — (1940-2013)

President and CEO

Traylor Brothers

 

Randy Miller - 2022

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 

 

Harold Calloway - 2021

Retired Agent and Broker

State Farm Insurance

Susan Hardwick - 2021

Chief Executive Officer

American Water

 

Walter G. Koch - 2021  — (1904-1970)

Chairman of the Board

International Steel

 

Daniel S. Hermann - 2020

Founding Partner

Lechwe Holdings LLC

Christina Ryan - 2020

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

 

Dr. Linda L.M. Bennett - 2019

President Emerita

University of Southern Indiana

William C. Stone - 2019

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

 

Steven E. Chancellor - 2018

Chief Executive Officer

American Patriot Group, LLC and White Stallion Energy, LLC

Robert M. Kent Sr. - 2018

Past Chairman (Retired)

Robert M. Kent Automotive

 

William Albert "Bill" Koch Sr. - 2018  — (1915-2001)

Chief Executive Officer

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

 

Wilfred "Bill" Bussing III - 2017

Attorney at Law and Owner

Wilfred C. Bussing, III, Attorney at Law and Evansville Otters

John Schroeder - 2017

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.

 

Norman "Norm" Bafunno - 2016

Senior Vice President

Toyota North America

G. Richard "Dick" Eykamp - 2016

Chairman of the Board

Mid-States Rubber Products, Inc.

 

Charles Braun, Sr. - 2016  — (1910-1998)

Chairman

Industrial Contractors, Inc.

 

Edmund Hafer, Jr. - 2015

Founder

Hafer Associates

 

Guthrie May - 2015  — (1909-1984)

Founder

The Guthrie May Company

 

Wilfred "Bud" Bussing Jr. - 2015  — (1925-2008)

President

Bussing Construction Corp.

 

Linda White - 2014

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

 

Robert "Bob" Jones - 2013

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

 

John Dunn - 2012

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Dunn Hospitality Group

James "Jim" Muehlbauer - 2012

Executive Vice Chairman

Koch Enterprises

 

Francis Reitz - 2012  — (1841-1930)

President

National City Bank

 

Patricia Koch - 2011

Past Director of Values

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

Ronald "Ron" Romain - 2011

Chief Executive Officer and President

United Companies

 

Benjamin Bosse - 2011  — (1874-1922)

Entrepreneur, Mayor

City of Evansville

Larry Dunigan - 2010

President

Holiday Management Foundation

 

Ira Boots - 2010

Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Berry Plastics Corporation

 

J. Henry Schroeder - 2010

President

Crescent Plastics Inc.

 

Alan Braun - 2009

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

 

Robert "Bob" Griffin - 2008

Chairman of the Board (Retired)

Escalade, Inc.

Robert Koch Sr. - 2008

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

 

Andrew "Andy" Goebel - 2007

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

20th Annual JA Evansville Regional Business Hall of Fame

When: Wednesday, 14 May 2025

Where: Old National Events Plaza

Time: 7:30 AM CST

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