Kansas Native Sons and Daughters to honor six individuals

For nearly 100 years, Kansas Native Sons and Daughters have been meeting to recognize and preserve Kansas History and celebrate Kansas Traditions.  Today (Friday), the organization is honoring these six amazing individuals. 

 

KANSAN OF THE YEAR Dayton Moore, General Manager, Kansas City Royals: The fruits of Moore's labor in 10 years with the Royals were realized in 2014 as the club stormed to 89 victories and qualified for the postseason for the first time in 29 years, as a Wild Card participant.

 

DISTINGUISHED KANSAN Harry Walter Colmery, Principal Architect of G. I. Bill (posthumous): A member of the American Legion's national legislative committee before, during and after WWII, he worked to change regulations to allow veterans to be treated at Veteran's Hospitals for non-service related illnesses. Colmery is credited with writing the draft of what became the Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 1944, more popularly known as the G. I. Bill of Rights. 

 

DISTINGUISHED KANSAN Juan Sepulveda, PBS Senior Vice-President, Station Services: Juan represents the perspective of PBS' independent member stations in the ongoing management and strategic direction of PBS to ensure that PBS programs, products and services support each station's connection to its community and audience.

 

CITATION FOR DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY SERVICE Susan Sutton, Educator and Community Volunteer: Susan was the first licensed female jockey in Kansas, a published playwright and a member of the Cloud County Community College faculty for 39 years. 

 

CITATION FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Wichita State University: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the admission of Wichita State University (WSU) to the Regents' system of higher education in Kansas. The university with a 119 year history now has seven colleges; an enrollment of 15,003, employing 2,598 faculty staff members on 330 beautifully landscaped acres.

 

CITATION FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Amelia Rose Earhart, Founder of the Fly with Amelia Foundation: Amelia has spent the last eight years working in television and radio. After successfully recreating her namesake's famous last flight, she started the Fly with Amelia Foundation (501c3) to grant flight-training scholarships to girls, ages 16 to 18, and foster aviation and aerospace opportunities for people off all ages.

 

Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas is an organization for all Kansans formed to preserve Kansas history, show loyalty to Kansas traditions, join in honoring our pioneer ancestors, encourage instilling the ideals of patriotism in youth and honor outstanding citizens of Kansas.