The nomination deadline is the end of this month for the Bell Tower of Fame Award.
Committee Chair Carole Custer says the award is given to someone who has state, national or international achievements in their professional or personal endeavors and through those accomplishments have brought recognition to Greene County.
Along with garnering state, national or international achievements, the nominee must have been a Greene County resident during his or her life and if the individual is no longer a resident, they must have some on-going connection with the county. Former Bell Tower Festival Chairs make up the selection committee and Custer adds that if someone was nominated for the award in the past, but they have received more accolades, than the nomination can be updated and re-submitted.
Forms are available at the Greene County Chamber office in Jefferson or by clicking the link below. Nominations are due to the Chamber office by Monday, February 29th.
The recipient will be honored during the opening ceremonies at this year’s festival on June 10th.
Past recipients are listed below:
1980 – Dr. George Gallup – internationally known public opinion pollster – Jefferson; 1980 – Major Loren Shriver – U.S. astronaut- Paton
1981 – Delmar Van Horn – Iowa Development Commission director – Jefferson
1982 – Doreen Wilbur – Olympic Games gold medalist in archery – Jefferson
1983 – Judge William C. Hanson –Federal judge – Jefferson
1984 – Dr. J.K. Johnson – economic development promoter – Jefferson
1985 – Jack Oatts – high school jazz band pioneer – Jefferson
1986 – Fred Morain – master newspaper publisher – Jefferson
1987 – Eldon Juhl – agribusiness leader – Dana
1987 – Bill Sorenson –gymnastics products entrepreneur – Jefferson
1988 – Judge David Harris – Iowa Supreme Court justice – Jefferson
1989 – Lumund Wilcox – state political leader – Jefferson
1990 – Robert Carman – Iowa Farm Bureau fundraiser – Jefferson
1990 – Dr. Clair Terrill – international livestock research leader – Rippey
1991 – Francis Cudahy – Mahanay expert – Jefferson
1992 – William Greiner – executive vice president, Soil Conservation Society of America – Jefferson
1993 – Leonard C. Jacques – maritime law pioneer – Willow Township
1993 – USAF Capt. Darrell Lindsey –Medal of Honor recipient – Jefferson
1994 – Jackie Fie – international women’s gymnastics leader – Jefferson
1994 – Larry Fie – president – American Athletic Inc. – Jefferson
1995 – Rita Finnegan – international leader in medical records management – Jefferson
1996 – Bryce Paup – NFL premier left back – Scranton
1997 – Mary Garst – agricultural finance business leader – Jefferson
1998 – James Doran –NFL champion and MVP – Paton
1998 – Dr. G. Sherwood Smith – vp of research, Magnavox Corp. – Churdan/Jefferson
1999 – Clarence Juhl –NATO deputy defense advisor to the U.S. mission – Dana
2000 – David Ecklund – international transportation logistics expert – Jefferson
2000 – Nada June Estes – creator of alcoholism curriculum for university nursing students – Paton
2001 – Dr. John Canady – international expert in cleft palate surgery- Jefferson
2002 – Ronald Smith – health care systems leader -Paton
2002 – Rt. Rev. Msgr. Kevin McCoy –Institute leader, Pontifical North American College – Jefferson
2003 – Gordon Elliott – creator of Ranger Rick magazine – Jefferson
2003 – Larry Thomsen –national agricultural stewardship leader – Jefferson
2004 – David Yepsen – chief political columnist, Des Moines Register – Jefferson
2005 – Dr. Robert Glidden – president, Ohio University – Grand Junction
2005 – Frederick “Rick” Morain – regional economic development leader – Jefferson
2006 – Dick Oatts –international jazz performer and recording artist – Jefferson
2007 – Dr. Alfred Blackmer – nitrogen fertilizer expert – Jefferson
2007 – Dr. Helen Holz Raikes – international expert in early childhood development – Grand Junction
2008 – James O. Andrew, Jr – agricultural conservationist – Jefferson
2008 – Stephen L. DeWitt – award-winning farm publication publisher – Jefferson
2009 – Dr. Harrie Buswell – energy products inventor and entrepreneur -Churdan
2010 – Dr. John Smith – dairy operations expert – Jefferson
2011 –Lt. General Gary Mears – logistics director for U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff-Grand Junction
2012- Jane Sorenson-international travel director with humanitarian service– Jefferson
2013 – Dr. John Faaborg-national leader in studying and protecting bird populations-Jefferson
2014 – Dr. Jim Hanson, international leader in pediatrics, medical genetics, and birth defects -Jefferson
2015 – Roy Bardole, international marketer of soybeans – Rippey