Financial Executive Hall of Fame

Greg Case was recognized as the 2006-2007 Outstanding Financial Executive of the Year. Mr. case is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aon Corporation, a world leader in insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital management and specialty underwriting services.  He is also a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Leading the efforts of more than 46,000 colleagues in 120 countries, Case has outlined a three-part strategy for building Aon.  His vision centers on delivering distinctive value for clients, attracting the best talent and achieving operational excellence.  Under Case’s leadership, Aon has strengthened its position as a global organization offering integrated business solutions for its clients.  Case has said Aon’s goal is to be recognized as the leading and most distinctive risk advisor in the world, not the biggest. Case has nearly two decades of experience in the insurance and financial services industries.  Before joining Aon, he served on the Governing Shareholder Council and headed the Global Insurance and Financial Services Practice at McKinsey & Company, a leading international management consultant.  Prior to McKinsey, he worked for the investment banking firm of Piper, Jaffray and Hopwood as well as the Federal Reserve Bank. Case holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.  He graduated summa cum laude from Kansas State University.  He holds many professional memberships including the Executive Club of Chicago and serves on the boards of the International Insurance Society, Inc., the Financial Services Roundtable, the Economic Club of Chicago and St. John’s University School of Risk Management.

John Allen was honored as the 2005-2006 Outstanding Financial Executive of the Year. Mr. Allen earned his bachelor's degree at Kansas State University. He began his baseball career in 1990 as an intern with the Columbus Clippers, the Class AAA minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees while earning a master's degree in sport management at The Ohio State University.  He was subsequently named the club's director of business operations, a position he held for five years.  He joined the Cincinnati Reds in 1995 as controller, in August 1996, he was named managing executive and in 1999, he was named chief operating officer.   John was involved in all aspects of the development and construction of Great American Ball Park.  Under Mr. Allen's tutelage, special efforts recognizing the organization's rich history culminated in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum with memorabilia dating back to the team's origin in 1869.  He currently serves on the Finance Advisory Board at KSU, is a member of the KSU Foundation Presidents Club and in 2005 provided a gift to equip and furnish the John L. Allen strength center at Tointon Family Stadium.  Mr. Allen has been honored with the Certificate of Friendship from the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission and the Community Service Award from the Talbert House. Cincinnati Magazine also has honored him in its annual "Best of Cincinnati" issue.   He is a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans organizations.  He serves on the board of directors of the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund, The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, MLB Enterprises, Inc. and is on the Kid Glove Committee.  He also serves on the advisory board for the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.  John and his wife, Anna, reside in Newport, Ky.Back to Top.

Jim Haymaker was recognized as the 2004-2005 Outstanding Financial Executive of the Year. Mr. Haymaker was elected Corporate Vice President of Strategy and Business Development in January 2000. He is a member of Cargill’s Corporate Center and participates in all Corporate Leadership Team discussion on corporate and business unit strategy. He also supervises the corporate development activity that coordinates significant mergers, divestures, and acquisitions. He is a director of AGRI Grain Marketing (AGM), a grain handling and marketing joint venture between Cargill and AGRI Industries, an Iowa farm-owned cooperative. Mr. Haymaker joined Cargill as a financial analyst in 1973 and in 1976 joined the Consumer Marketing Department as a project manager. He transferred to Monheim, West Germany, in 1978 as associate manager of DuFrit Food BMBH & Co., a producer of potato products, and was named general manager in 1980. In 1981 Haymaker was named executive supervisor of swine operations and a director for Pienosos Hens, S.A., a producer of animal nutrition products, in Barcelona, Spain. He returned to Minneapolis in early 1985 as worldwide poultry administrative manager and later that year was appointed assistant vice president of the Poultry Products Division. Haymaker was named vice president and general manager of the division’s Sunny Fresh Foods in 1987, a national producer and marketer of shell eggs. He was appointed vice president and manager of Cargill’s Financial Information Services Department in 1988. The department’s name was changed to Strategy and Business Development in January 1997. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1969 after studying at the Sorbonne University of Paris with a bachelor’s degree in French and a bachelor’s degree in economics. He earned an MBA in Finance/International Business from the University of Chicago in 1971 and obtained an advanced degree in Applied Economics from the University of Louvain in Belgium in 1972. Back to Top.

Willie Davis was recognized as the 2003-2004 Outstanding Financial Executive of the Year. Mr. Davis received his B.S. from Grambling State University in 1956 where he captained the football team for 2 seasons and his M.B.A. in 1968 from the University of Chicago. Willie spent 12 years in the National Football League; 10 years with the Green Bay Packers and two years with the Cleveland Browns. He spent 27 years in the beer/wine beverage distribution business, including 18 years as owner and president of West Coast Beverage Company. Mr. Willie Davis is President and owner of All Pro Broadcasting Inc. which owns radio stations in Riverside/San Bernardino, California and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1981, the Green Bay Packer’s Hall of Fame in 1975 and was selected to the NFL All Pro Team for six seasons. He is the recipient of numerous football awards and never missed a game in 10 seasons. He was the West Coast Father’s Council Father of the Year in 1990, University of Southern California Entrepreneur’s Program Entrepreneur of the Year in 1988 and received the March of Dimes Lifetime Achievement Award in Broadcasting. Mr. Davis served as Director of Kauffman Foundations; Director of 1984 Olympic Committee; was elected to Boards of Trustees at the University of Chicago, Marquette University, Occidental College, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Winston-Salem University; was appointed by President Reagan to the President’s Commission of Executive Exchange; appointed to the Los Angeles County Special Task Force; served as Chairman and Director of Los Angeles Festival in Black Bicentennial Black Achievement Exhibit; was on the Board of Directors National Association of Broadcasters; NCAA Select Committee Director Foundation for People; and served on the Advisory Board, Daniel Freeman Hospital. Willie was drafted into the army in 1956 and spent two years in Missiles and Special Service with an honorable discharge in 1958. Back to Top.

Richard R. Pivirotto was honored as the 2002-2003 Outstanding Financial Executive of the Year. After an outstanding career in varsity football, basketball and baseball he graduated from Shady Side Academy in 1948 and entered Princeton University where he majored in economics. Upon graduation, Dick turned down an offer to play professional football and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1954. He joined Joseph Horne Company as an executive trainee and worked his way up to the presidency in 1961 where he served until 1970. In 1970 he joined the corporate staff of Associated Dry Good Corporation in New York as Vice Chairman, moved to President in 1973 and to Chairman in 1976. In 1981 Dick took an early retirement and organized his own company, Richard R. Pivirotto Co., Inc., to engage in corporate directorships and consulting. He currently serves on the boards of Gillette Company, New York Life Insurance Company, General American Investors Co., Inc., the Greenwich Bank and Trust Co. and Immunomedics, Inc. He was a director of CBS and Infinity Broadcasting Co. until its merger with Viacom. He was a former director of the Bowery Savings Bank from 1972–83, Turner Equity Investors, Inc. from 1966-86 and Chemical Bank from 1975-85. He was a Charter Trustee of Princeton University from 1971-89 and is currently Trustee Emeritus. He has been a Trustee of Greenwich Hospital since 1971 and served as Vice Chairman from 1983–85 and Chairman from 1985-88 and 1991-93. He is a Trustee of the General Theological Seminary since 1989. Back to Top.

Douglas E. Hill is the recipient of the 2001-2002 Outstanding Financial Executive Award. He has spent his entire professional career with Edward Jones. He joined the firm in 1968 and began working in the Trading department. Later that year, Hill moved to Kansas, where he established the firm's Dodge City office, which became a top-producing branch in 1974, Hill was named a principal in the firm and became a regional leader. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing the activities of the firm's investment representatives in Kansas and Oklahoma, in addition to continuing to serve investors in Dodge City. Hill moved to St. Louis in December 1978 to help develop and implement a formalized training program for Edward Jones investment representatives. In 1981, he was called upon to establish the firm's Marketing department, and he headed the firm's Sales and Marketing division for the next 16 years. In 1998, Hill became Chief Operating Officer (COO) with responsibility for achieving the firm's aggressive growth objectives. In this capacity, he also is responsible for the firm's entire sales force and for all the firm's products and services. A graduate of Kansas State University, Hill received his bachelor's degree in 1968. He also is a 1984 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School's Securities Industry Institute. Hill serves on the Business Advisory Council for Bradley University in Peoria, IL, is a member of the board of directors of Webster University in St. Louis and is the chair of Webster's Governance Committee. He sits on the advisory board for the college of Business Administration at Kansas State University and belongs to the Kansas State University Alumni Association. In addition, Hill is a board member for Missouri Goodwill Industries, Central Institute for the Deaf and the Saint Louis Zoo. Hill is a past member of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Marketing Committee. He is serving for the second term on the board of directors of the Securities Industry Association and served in the past on the SIA's Sales and Marketing Committee. Back to Top.

Ronald Lutz was recognized as the 2000-2001 Outstanding Financial Executive. After graduating from KSU with a BS in Business Administration in 1960, Ron began his career in banking at the Kansas State Bank in Holton, Kansas. Ron's experience touring and speaking to Rotarian clubs after being selected as a member of a Rotary International Young Businessmen's Exchange Tour to South Africa in 1972 was instrumental in his decision to pursue ownership in his own business upon his return to Kansas. Ron and his wife, Joyce, purchased controlling interest in the Peoples State Bank in Rossville, Kansas in 1973. Assets grew from about seven million dollars to about one hundred million dollars under Ron's able leadership. Eventually Ron moved the bank charter to Topeka, Kansas leaving a branch in Rossville, purchased two branches of Peoples Heritage Savings and Loan and opened a third branch in North Topeka. In 1995 Peoples State Bank merged with Mercantile Bank of Topeka which later merged with Mercantile Bank of St. Louis, Missouri which merged with Firstar Bank of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1984 Ron and Joyce purchased Citizens State Bank of Osage City, Kansas. After growing the assets of that bank from twenty million to thirty-five million dollars the bank was sold to a group of local investors. Currently the couple owns a business holding company in Topeka that has major financial interest in five companies. Ron and Joyce spend winters in Palm Desert, California and summers in Beaver Creek, Colorado with the remainder of their time spent in Topeka. Back to Top.

William A. Barbe was named the Outstanding Financial Executive for 1999-2000. Mr. Barbe graduated from Kansas State University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. After graduation he spent two years working in the Treasury department of Phillips Petroleum before entering Columbia Business School where he earned an MBA with honors in 1983. In 1984, he joined Mellon Bank as Assistant Vice President in the Corporate Finance group. He joined Drexel Burnham Lambert, Inc. in 1987 as an Associate and was later promoted to Vice President. After Drexel he moved to Smith Barney & Co. as Vice President in the Corporate Finance department, working on restructuring for clients such as Wang Laboratories and Triangle Pacific. In 1992 Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, lured him away from Smith Barney and made him a Partner in 1994. He continues to work there today. He served on the board of WESCO Distribution from 1994 to 1998 and has been a director of Kinko's, Inc. since 1996 and Schulte since 1998. Mr. Barbe serves on the Advisory Board of Kansas State University Foundation. He is a chalice bearer and Sunday school teacher at his church and for the last five years has coached entry-level soccer teams. Mr. Barbe passed away on October 27, 2001. Back to Top.

Jonathan E. Baum was awarded the distinction of being selected to KSU's "Financial Executive Hall of Fame" for 1998-1999. Mr. Baum received his B.S. in Finance from Kansas State University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Jon began his career with Salomon Brothers Inc. in New York where he served as a Vice President in the Merger and Acquisitions Department before returning to Kansas City to join George K. Baum & Company in 1991 as a Vice President in the Investment Banking Division. He later took on responsibilities as Executive Vice President of the firm and assumed the responsibilities of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1994. Jon serves on the board of directors for several Kansas City based companies and also serves on the board of directors for many civic organizations. He is a trustee of the Kansas State University Foundation and a member of the Business Advisory Council of the KSU College of Business Administration. Back to Top.

John R. Graham is the 1997-1998 Outstanding Financial Executive. Dr. Graham is Executive Vice-president of Kansas Farm Bureau and its Affiliated Companies. He completed his B.S. degree in accounting at Kansas State University and continued his graduate work in accounting, finance and management at the University of Arkansas receiving his Ph.D. in 1971. Returning to Kansas State University, he served as a professor in the College of Business Administration until 1975 when he was named Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Students. In 1978 he was promoted to Full Professor of business Administration. In 1979, he joined the Kansas Farm Bureau and its affiliated companies. Dr. Graham has written over 30 professional papers and publications, including a book. He has participated in a variety of public service activities, serves on the boards of directors of several businesses, professional, and charitable organizations and currently represents Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of the National Association of Independent Insurers. Back to Top.

Bill R. Sanford was honored as the 1996-1997 Outstanding Financial Executive. Mr. Sanford is Chairman, President, and CEO of STERIS Corporation, a leading provider of infection prevention, contamination control, and surgical support systems, products, services, and technologies to health care, scientific, research, and industrial customers around the world. He holds a degree in biological sciences from Kansas State University and has devoted his business career to the successful commercialization of advances in health care and scientific industries. He has served as senior executive in major multinational corporations and has been instrumental in starting numerous businesses. Mr. Sanford is a business and technology development consultant to major health care companies, venture capital organizations, early stage ventures, hospitals, and universities throughout the United States. He participates in numerous programs and initiatives to promote technology transfer for profitable commercialization and job creation. He serves as a Board member and Advisor to numerous for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Back to Top.

Frank A. Lowman was selected as the Outstanding Financial Executive for 1995-1996. Mr. Lowman is President of Federal Home Loan Bank, Topeka, Kansas. Before joining the Bank in 1989, Mr. Lowman was president and chief operating officer of Fourth Financial Corp., a holding company, and its flagship bank, Bank IV, in Wichita, Kansas. He also served as president and chief executive officer of Heritage Savings Association in Hays, Kansas. He is a graduate of Kansas State University. He is a member of the Governor's Task Force on vision of Kansas and Chairman of the Kansas Legislature's Health Care Stabilization Oversight Committee. Mr. Lowman serves as director for Mercy Housing, Inc., Kansas Chamber of Commerce, Hadley Foundation and Kansas Health Institute. He is past Chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents and currently serves as trustee for the Kansas State University Foundation. Some of Mr. Lowman's past memberships include the Governor's Commission on State Investment Practices, Kansas Consumer Credit Commission, Governor's Task Force on Capital Formation and the Governor's Housing Task Force. He is also a past member and chairman of the Kansas Health Care Cost Commission. Back to Top.

Wendell J. Gardner was selected as the Outstanding Financial Executive for 1994-1995. Mr. Gardner is a Kansas native who graduated from KSU in 1961 with a B.S. in Accounting and Finance. In 1969 he joined COBE Laboratories, Inc. and has been a leader in its tremendous growth ever since. When he first joined the team, they had sales of $2.4 million and 100 employees. They now have sales of over $500 million and 3500 employees. He has served COBE in many different positions, but he currently serves in the position of Corporate Senior Vice President. Back to Top.

James E. Stowers, Jr. was recently recognized as KSU's Outstanding Financial Executive for 1993-1994. Mr. Stowers is Chairman and Founder of Twentieth Century Mutual Funds, a family of no-load mutual funds located in Kansas City. He started the company in an apartment in 1958, and today Twentieth Century's staff of 1900 manages more than $26 billion in assets for 1.5 million shareholders. He is known throughout the industry as a man in the corner of the small investor. Stowers pioneered the use of computers in investment management. He designed the comprehensive portfolio analysis system and wrote the software programs used today by Twentieth Century's investment managers to track the earnings progress of more than 11,000 companies worldwide. Stowers holds two degrees from the University of Missouri. Back to Top.

C. Q. (Chuck) Chandler was awarded the distinction of being selected to KSU's "Financial Executive Hall of Fame" for 1992-1993. Mr. Chandler is the Chairman of the Board of INTRUST Bank, formerly called First National Bank of Wichita, and a 1949 graduate of KSU. He is also a graduate of the Wisconsin School of Banking and the Harvard Senior Bank Officers Seminar. Mr. Chandler is involved with many business affiliations and participates in numerous civic activities. The Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce has honored Mr. Chandler as an Uncommon citizen of the Year; its most prestigious award, given to citizens who are recognized not only for their role in business, but also for their participation in cultural, civic, social and philanthropic activities. Mr. Chandler has contributed to the University in many ways and has been recognized as an Alumni Fellow. Back to Top.

Lynn Markel was honored as the Outstanding Financial Executive for 1991-1992. Mr. Markel graduated from K-State in 1962 with a B.S. in Business Administration and from Wichita State in 1969 with a Masters degree in Accounting. He is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Koch Industries. Koch is the second largest privately held company in the U.S. Mr. Markel has been with Koch since 1976, when he began as an Assistant Controller. Due to the efforts of Mr. Markel, Koch Industries is considered an industry leader in cash management and credit systems. The university has benefited substantially from both Mr. Markel's personal contributions and numerous corporate contributions from Koch Industries. Back to Top.

Gary L. Millenbruch , Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and a Director of Bethlehem Steel Corp., was named KSU's Outstanding Financial Executive for 1990-1991. He joined Bethlehem Steel in 1959 after graduating from KSU with a B.S. in accounting. In 1983 he completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. Mr. Millenbruch continued to be involved with K-State. He was elected by the Finance Department faculty to serve as the first President of the Finance Advisory Board and at its inaugural meeting, the Board elected him as its President for a second term. Back to Top.

R. E. (Gene) Bonnell was named K-State's first Outstanding Financial Executive of the Year for 1989-1990. Mr. Bonnell received his B.S. in Business Administration from K-State in 1956. He graduated from the Stanford Executive Program in 1974. He served as Senior Vice President and CFO for Phillips Petroleum Company until his retirement. He was largely responsible for Phillips' success in fending off the takeover threats by I. Boone Pickens and Carl Icahn, and the financial restructuring which contributed to our program in many, many ways. He has been extremely generous with his time, financial contributions, advice and help. Back to Top.