Meet the 2026 Honorees
Historical - Robert L. "Bob" Brock
Contemporary - Kathleen "Kathy" Dodd
Contemporary - Kathleen "Kathy" Dodd
Robert L. “Bob” Brock was a pioneering Kansas entrepreneur who transformed the American hospitality and entertainment industries. Born December 27, 1924, in Pawnee Rock, Kansas, Brock served in the U.S. Naval Air Corps before earning both his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Kansas. Alongside his fraternity brother and lifelong business partner Edwin Linquist, Brock began his entrepreneurial career with a small driving range in Topeka — a humble start that would grow into one of the nation’s most successful hospitality empires.
In 1956, Brock and Linquist opened their first Holiday Inn franchise in North Topeka, launching what would become the Brock Hotel Corporation. Under Brock’s leadership, the company expanded to own or manage 75 Holiday Inns across 21 states, employing more than 7,000 people. The Wall Street Journal dubbed him “the guru of the hotel industry.” Brock’s innovations included the Holidome concept combining lodging with indoor recreation, and new ventures such as the Residence Inn, Park Inn, and Park Plaza hotel chains. He also founded ShowBiz Pizza Place, which later merged with Chuck E. Cheese to create one of America’s most recognizable family entertainment brands.
Beyond business, Brock was deeply engaged in civic and political life, serving on numerous Kansas boards, including Kansas Power & Light, Fidelity State Bank, and the Menninger Foundation. Honored as Kansan of the Year in 1973, he also received the KU Distinguished Service Citation and Fred Ellsworth Medallion for his contributions to the university and state. Brock’s vision and innovation left an enduring mark on Kansas entrepreneurship and the hospitality industry nationwide.
Contemporary - Kathleen "Kathy" Dodd
Contemporary - Kathleen "Kathy" Dodd
Contemporary - Kathleen "Kathy" Dodd
Kathleen “Kathy” Dodd is a nationally recognized leader in home health care and one of the industry’s most accomplished executives. She founded The Corridor Group (TCG) in 1989 and, over more than two decades, grew it into a multi-million-dollar enterprise that shaped best practices in consulting, executive search, eLearning, and health care management. Following the sale of TCG to Health Edge Investment Partners in 2013, Dodd became Chairman Emeritus and Principal of The Corridor Group Holdings, LLC.
Throughout her career, Dodd has navigated the home care industry through regulatory challenges and economic shifts while maintaining a focus on “doing the right things right.” Her work extended internationally through Corridor International, which revolutionized home care delivery in Turkey and advised health organizations in the UAE. She has held leadership roles on numerous national boards, including the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, the Community Health Accreditation Program, and Park University’s Board of Trustees. A dedicated philanthropist, she founded Katy’s Place, a nonprofit supporting women and families affected by HIV, later merging it with the Truman Medical Center Charitable Foundation to enhance care. Dodd continues to mentor emerging leaders and provide strategic guidance to health and business organizations worldwide.
Contemporary - Lee Borck
Contemporary - Kathleen "Kathy" Dodd
Contemporary - Lee Borck
Lee Borck is a Kansas agricultural leader whose vision and innovation helped modernize the cattle feeding and beef marketing industries. A lifelong Kansan, Borck earned his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University, where he later served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the K-State Foundation and led both its Executive and Investment Committees. His career reflects a deep commitment to advancing Kansas agriculture, rural enterprise, and education.
As Chairman of Innovative Livestock Services, Inc. and the Beef Marketing Group Cooperative, Borck pioneered new approaches to aligning cattle producers with retail markets, improving efficiency and product consistency from feedyard to consumer. A founding shareholder and Chairman of American State Bank in Great Bend, he also brought business acumen to the financial sector, supporting the economic vitality of rural Kansas communities. His leadership extended nationally as President of Cattle-Fax and the Kansas Livestock Association, and as a member of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Board.
Honored as a Kansas State University Alumni Fellow and named to Ingram’s “50 Kansans You Should Know,” Borck was also inducted into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame in recognition of his decades of service and innovation in animal agriculture. Though now retired, his impact on Kansas agribusiness, education, and community leadership continues to resonate across the state and industry.
2025 Essay Contest Winners
Hana Cole, senior, Olpe High School, inductee Joseph McCoy
Miranda Houston, senior, Madison High School, inductee Georgia Neese Gray
Ming "Jane" Ma, sophomore, Bishop Seabury, inductee Clara & Russell Stover
Bridget Simmons, sophomore, Olathe Northwest, inductee Mary McCann