“Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.”
~Zig Ziglar~
Success is often the goal that drives the American dream. However one wishes to define the word many of us strive to have a lasting effect in some small way on the world around us or perhaps just within ourselves believing that this country of ours offers that possibility.
Americans love to celebrate successes. We recognize the deeds of others in many fields of interest touting these triumphs in museums, schools and notably "halls of fame."
The list below covers many of the halls of fame in Kansas. Within our state we have places that honor individuals and groups who have stood out within a profession, area of interest or activity at the state or national level. We also have halls of fame which promote animals and plantlife!
We've shied away from local and individual school halls of fame in this list knowing that that list is much longer than the space we've set out for these blogs. If we've missed a hall of fame in Kansas that you're aware of contact us and let us know via the comment box at the bottom of this blog. Don't forget to include an address and possible website! We'll determine what to include and add more halls of fame to the list.
NATIONAL HALLS OF FAMEAgricultural Hall of Fame Bonner Springs
http://www.aghalloffame.com/(Educates society on the historical and present value of American agriculture and honors leadership in Agri-Business and Academia by providing education, information, experience and recognition)
Greyhound Hall of Fame Abilene
http://www.kansastravel.org/greyhoundhalloffame.htm(Devoted to greyhound breeding, racing, and the history of the sport)
Highbanks Hall of Fame
http://highbanks-museum.org/(Celebrates national midget auto racing and auto racing drivers)
Teachers Hall of Fame Emporia
http://www.nthf.org/(Recognizes and honors exceptional career teachers, encourages excellence in teaching, and preserves the rich heritage of the teaching profession in the United States)
They Also Ran Gallery Norton
http://www.theyalsoran.com/(Honors presidential candidates who were defeated but not forgotten)
STATEKansas Aviation Hall of Fame Wichita
http://www.kansasaviationmuseum.org/hall.php(Created to preserve the memory of outstanding aviation contributions by citizens of the State of Kansas)
Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame Wichita
http://www.wichitahof.com/Baseball_Main.htm(Honors baseball greats from Kansas)
Kansas Broadcasting Hall of Fame http://www.kab.net/KABAdditionalInformation/AwardsDL1/Downloads_GetFile.aspx?id=34694(Honors those who have worked in the broadcasting business recognizing substantial contributions to broadcasting in the state/nation. Individual broadcasters may be Kansas natives and have made contributions in other states or at the national level. Individuals who are not Kansas natives who have worked in Kansas broadcasting are also recognized)
Kansas Business Hall of Fame Emporia
http://www.emporia.edu/business/kbhfhome.php(recognizes business leaders, who through their high standards of ethics, have added to the prestige and growth of Kansas. By identifying outstanding examples of business leadership, the Hall of Fame shares with high school and college students and adults these stories of success and innovation through representative displays. The Hall of Fame creates an awareness of appreciation of Kansas' rich heritage of business leadership)
Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame Dodge City
http://boothill.org/cowboy-hof/(Preserves and honors the life of the Kansas cowboy. The five inductees each year are honored for their outstanding contribution to the western heritage lifestyle, past and present, and to the preservation of the cowboy culture. The five categories are Rancher/Cattleman, Cowboy Entertainer, Cowboy Historian, Working cowboy, and Rodeo Cowboy)
Kansas Golf Hall of Fame http://www.kansasgolf.org/foundation/hall-of-fame/(Honors Kansas men and women, amateurs and professionals, who have made outstanding contributions to the game of golf)
Kansas Music Hall of Fame http://www.ksmusichalloffame.org/(Recognizes and honors performers and others who have made significant contributions to the musical history of the state of Kansas and the greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The Hall of Fame endeavors to promote public interest in the musicians of the past and encourage those of the present and future)
Kansas National Guard Hall of Famehttp://www.kansasguardmuseum.org/hof.php(Commemorates and recognizes individuals who have served in the Kansas National Guard or it's predecessor, Kansas State Militia, who have made a significant contribution to the National Guard achievements, tradition, or history)
Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame http://www.kspress.com/img/hof05.pdf(An honor roll of journalists who have made outstanding contributions to the profession and to Kansas)
Kansas Oil Gallery El Dorado (Museum)
http://www.kansasoilmuseum.org/inductees.cfm?bio=criteria(Honors those men and women who have made contributions to Kansas’ oil heritage)
Kansas Poker Hall of Fame http://www.kansaspokerhalloffame.com/(Meet the legends of Kansas poker history)
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Wichita
http://www.kshof.org/(Honors Kansans who have excelled in athletics)
Kansas State High School Activities Assn Hall of Fame Topeka
http://www.kshsaa.org/HOF/HOF-front.html(Recognizes individuals who have contributed their time and talent to their school, community and/or state through secondary school activities)
Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame Dodge City
http://www.visitdodgecity.org/index.aspx?NID=86(Dedicated to the early and present day teachers who have devoted their lives to the profession of teaching)
Kansas Wheat Hall of Famehttp://www.k-state.org/wgrc/Germplasm/kansastop10.html(The Kansas Wheat Hall of Fame is composed of the State's most popular wheat varieties. These varieties have demonstrated good staying power, having been grown on more than 1 % of the State's acreage at least 20 years. They also have contributed greatly to the Kansas economy and to the farm communities where they were grown)
Article by: Bill Sowers
(My thanks to Rhonda Machlan for suggesting this topic and supplying the links!)
Please use the "Comments" link below for questions and comments.
"It cannot be tamed, curbed or confined...you cannot bar its path with an obstruction which it will not tear down, dance over and laugh at. The Mississippi River will always have its own way, no engineering skill can persuade it to do otherwise...” -Mark Twain
