Distinguished Business Leader Award
| 2023 | Mike Upchurch | Executive Vice President & CFO, Kansas City Southern (Retired) |
| 2022 | Jeff Gates | Managing Partner, Gates Capital Management |
| 2021 | Zane Burke | Chairman & CEO, Quantum Health |
| 2018 | Charlie Chandler | Chairman & CEO, INTRUST Bank |
| 2017 | J.P. Bilbrey | Chairman of the Board, Hershey |
| 2015 | Robert E. (Bob) Campbell | Founder and Owner, Robert E. Campbell Oil and Gas Operations |
| 2014 | Randall Stuewe | Chairman of the Board & CEO, Darling International, Inc. |
| 2013 | Roger Sink | Managing Partner, Sink, Gordon & Associates LLP |
| 2013 | Phil Howe | Kansas State Bank |
| 2012 | Bernie Butler | Owner Pizza Huts of Easter North Carolina, Kansas |
| 2011 | Dave Dreiling | Founder, GTM Sportswear |
| 2010 | Joleen Moden | Senior Vice President (Retired), Internal Auditing, Verizon Communications |
| 2009 | Fred Merrill, Jr. | President, Merrill Companies, LLC |
| 2008 | Jon Wefald | President, Kansas State University |
| 2007 | Jonathan E. Baum | Chairman and CEO, George K. Baum & Company |
| 2006 | John M. Thies | Chairman of the Board, SUNTELL |
| 2005 | Stephen M. Lacy | President and CEO, Meridith Corporation |
| 2004 | Rand Berney | Vice President and Controller, ConocoPhillips |
| 2004 | Paul Edgerley | Managing Director, Bain Capital |
| 2004 | L.W. (Bill) Stolzer | Chairman of the Board, Commerce Bank |
| 2003 | Douglas E. Hill | Senior Partner, Edward Jones |
| 2002 | H. Phillip Howe | CEO, Kansas State Bank of Manhattan |
| 2001 | John R. Graham | Executive in Residence, Kansas State University |
| 2001 | Dennis von Waaden | Vice President, American Century Services |
Recipients
The Distinguished Business Leaders Hall of Fame was established in 2001 to recognize friends of the College of Business Administration at Kansas State University who have distinguished themselves from their peers in their chosen business field and have consistently demonstrated significant personal involvement toward enhancing the life of the college.
Individuals selected to receive this award exemplify the outstanding qualities of business leadership that the College strives to develop in its students. These leaders purposefully invest their time, treasure, and talent to advance the goals and objectives of the college and K-State.
Selection
Recipients are selected based on career success, individual accomplishments and demonstration of friendship and support for the college, faculty, staff, and students. Distinguished Business Leader Award recipients are simultaneously inducted into the College of Business Administration Business Leaders Hall of Fame.