Kansas Hall of Fame 2012 The Kansas Hall of Fame 2012 Ceremonial Induction Gala Great Overland Station Museum, Topeka KS 15 Jun 2012 Photos by Danl Blackwood
The Kansas Hall of Fame 2012 Induction Ceremony was held at the Great Overland Station Museum, Topeka KS. Here is a retouched shot from the Kansas Ave Bridge taken on my way to the event.
The Great Overland Station Museum, Topeka KS. A link to a full scrapbook of this great old building and museum is available in this album's info panel.
Ready for a gala event!
The Awards were designed by Warehouse 414.
It was an honor to meet inductee Ed Asner before the festivities.
He was quite a character, as you could imagine.
Deb Bisel's new book "The Civil War in Kansas: Ten Years of Turmoil" was available for purchase.
LOVE this painting which was the artwork for the invitation. It's a pastel called "Capital Storm And Sunflowers" by Michael Duane. A native Kansan and graduate of the University of Kansas, Michael creates his art from his studio in Overland Park. He is represented by The Southwind Gallery in Topeka.
A view from the Mezzanine.
very nice job decorating.
Dr. Gilbert L. Rochon, President, Tuskegee University, chats during the Press Conference with Deb Bisel. He was there to accept the KHOF Award on behalf of George Washington Carver.
the event poster
another event poster
Deb and one of her team.
(l. to r.) Ric Barron, Danl Blackwood, and Gary Bisel jammin' for the cocktail hour.
Gary Bisel
Ric and Danl performed together in the 80s in the Scatband and the Scatcatz.
I am trying to tell Doug Jones (back to camera) in between songs that I'd love to get involved with the Jayhawk Theatre renovation project, of which he was president and the time.
Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker seems to be thinking, "Let's get this party started!"
and dinner is served!
after dinner and before the ceremony, Ric Barron shared his soulful rendition of the Star Bangled Banner.
and the crowd was amazed... as they always are when Ric sings.
"So hears the plan..." Gary is distracting Senator Roberts' wife while Deb fills him in on all the new changes to make. :-)
Deb opens the ceremony with KHoF teammate Beth Fager to her right, and Master of Ceremonies Jim Lehrer (news anchor for PBS NewsHour and Wichita native) to her left.
Senator Pat Roberts addressing the crowd which filled the main floor to capacity ...
...with more guests in the Mezzanine.
Jim Lehrer begins the induction awards.
The poster for Governor Alfred M. Landon's induction on display in the Mezzanine at the Great Overland Station Museum.
there was a video short for each honoree, this one for Alf Landon.
The poster for Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker's induction on display in the Mezzanine at the Great Overland Station Museum.
Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker receiving awards on behalf of herself and father, Governor Alf Landon.
Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker poses for pics flanked by KHoF hostess Suzie Gilbert to her left, and Jim Lehrer on her right.
Lotta history there, and she was very gracious.
The poster for Cyrus K. Holliday's induction on display in the Mezzanine at the Great Overland Station Museum.
The poster for the induction of The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway on display in the Mezzanine at the Great Overland Station Museum.
Carl Ice, president and COO of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, accepted awards for Cyrus K Holiday and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad.
The poster for George Washington Carver's induction on display in the Mezzanine at the Great Overland Station Museum.
Gilbert Rochon, president of Tuskegee University, accepted the award for George Washington Carver.
The poster for Ed Asner's induction on display in the Mezzanine at the Great Overland Station Museum.
Ed Asner accepts his award...
...and shared a few stories of growing up in Kansas.
Monique Pittman, Spirit Productions LLC, visits with Asner after his acceptance.
The poster for William Allen White's induction on display in the Mezzanine at the Great Overland Station Museum.
Table flowers were by Serendipity.
The Sandquist Family Quartet played "Home On The Range" to close out the evening. One of my old high school buddies David Metzenthin's sister Carolyn, her husband Art and their two sons, Peter and Patrick are the players.
... and everybody sang... A perfect ending to an awesome event.
I had the honor of being invited to perfrom during the cocktail hour for this event. Featuring over 150 years of combined musical history, Gary Bisel, Ric Barron, and myself provided the music ... with some R&B thrown in!
The cocktail hour followed by dinner was held in a really great, Great Room. The Great Overland Station Museum was prepared for the ceremony by Monique Pittman and her crew at Spirit Productions LLC. Also producing was Deb Bisel and her Kansas Hall of Fame crew. See the link below for a scrapbook of many more pics of this great old building and museum.
The main event was a stately Induction Ceremony. The inductees for 2012 were: Governor Alfred M. Landon Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker (Attending) Cyrus K. Holliday The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Edward Asner (Attending) George Washington Carver William Allen White
See the link below for more info on these inductees.