1971-1980
- 1980 • Governor Robert D. Orr, for his long-standing record of accomplishments, both in his home community where his many successful business activities have made this a better community in which to live and work; while at the same time in the greater community, he has also given generously of himself in public service to the continuing benefit of us all. His high personal and ethical standards, in both private and public works, personify in himself the Rotary motto “Service Above Self.”
- 1979 • Gregory E. Kempf and Jack F. Rogers II, for a forward looking vision of the growth of the City of Evansville through development of various real estate projects which have enhanced this city’s stature as a major commercial entity, and more particularly for the planning and implementation of the Riverview Commerce Centre.
- 1978 • D.W. Vaughn, for his long positive involvement in various and diverse civic organizations and affairs which have benefited the citizens of the community of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, his example of high personal and moral integrity in the conduct and use of corporate responsibility and as a business leader in this community, his long standing, quiet, unassuming, effective leadership, personally and corporately, his concern for his fellow employees and fellow citizens of this community, and his positive example in the faith which he has in the future growth of this community.
- 1977 • Dr. Wallace B. Graves, for his strength in guiding the University and community following the Dec. 13th tragedy, for leading the university to “new levels of academic recognition,” for bringing the school national and international attention for its quality and innovations and for bringing the school’s Harlaxton Study Center in England to European recognition. He envisioned a significant leap forward for U of E athletics and led the move to Division I basketball. After the Dec. 13th tragedy he took immediate and significant steps…to teach us as persons and as a community how to deal with the misfortunes for which we are never prepared and that we assume can never happen to us.
1976 • Dr. Charles E. Rochelle, for untiring and unselfish effort to achieve excellence in the education of all youth in the City of Evansville, for devoted and dedicated efforts to improve the quality of education in this community and the State of Indiana, for leadership in quiet, efficient and effective integration of the public schools in this city and a living example of the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.”
- 1975 • Alan Brentano, for setting a shining example for our civic leaders of the present and of the future, in his inspiring record of successful leadership in widely diversified activities too numerous to mention, whether of a civic, political, governmental, educational, religious or humanitarian nature and for his generous sharing of his God-given talents for the benefit of the entire community.
- 1974 • Robert E. Green, for his single minded purpose in providing the finest motel hotel complex in Evansville, his dedication to the improvement of downtown Evansville, his promotion of Evansville as a convention center, and for bringing to Evansville the national convention of The American Academy of Achievement.
- 1973 • Beulah M. Evans, for her lasting impact for good upon her community, who has consistently applied the ideal of service to personal and community life, who is a living example of “Service Above Self ”, and more particularly for her outstanding leadership of the United Fund Campaign for 1973.
1972 • Mr. Henry B. Struby, for the honor he has brought to our city by reason of the fact that one of our citizens was chosen Imperial Potentate of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobels of the Mystic Shrine, leader of the more than 900,000 Shriners of North America; and second, because he discharged the duties of this high office with such great honor to the Shrine, himself, this city, and to all of us who claim him as a friend and fellow citizen.
- 1971 • Mr. Harold O. McCutchan, for his efforts in making our community a truly great center of higher education and his outstanding leadership in the organization and development of Southern Indiana Higher Education, Inc.