Junior Achievement - Lawrence Business Hall of Fame

Honoring Outstanding Lawrence Business Leaders

The 2023 Hall of Fame Class

Ralph D. Gage, Jr.

The purpose and intent of the Lawrence Business Hall of Fame event is to recognize prominent business leaders who have made extraordinary contributions to Lawrence, earned the respect of the local community, and called attention to the Free Enterprise System and its value to our country and citizens in shaping our local way of life. Individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame have demonstrated business excellence, have vision and are courageous thinkers, innovative and inspiring leaders and community minded. They have worked to lead our community to a better, higher level.

ABOUT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT

Junior Achievement ensures that every child in America has a fundamental understanding of the free enterprise system by providing economic education programs to students in kindergarten through twelfth grade classrooms. By participating in these types of programs, students are able to develop the desire to stay in school, have a positive attitude toward work and appreciate lifelong learning, and become prepared for a future of success and leadership. Volunteers from local businesses bring JA’s real world economic lessons into classrooms, serve as role models, share their working lives, and help students gain a new sense of self-esteem, respect for others and understanding of how to turn challenges into opportunities. During the 2022-23 academic year, Junior Achievement of Kansas will have worked with more than 20,000 children including nearly 4,500 children in the Lawrence area.

Tom Dobski

Tom Dobski McDonald’s

“When I think of Tom, the words that come to mind to describe him are genuine, generous, humble and hard working. I think Tom is successful because he walks the talk.”

DEBBIE VIGNATELLI KONZEM, AT&T (RETIRED)

The 2023 Hall of Fame Class

Tom Dobski was born in Chicago, Illinois and has 2 older brothers, Tony and Bob. He and his brothers all went to DePaul University and Tom graduated in 1972.

Tom was in the grocery business in Chicago with his dad and two brothers. At one time they owned and operated 3 grocery stores on the Northwest side of Chicago. The competitive environment and the shrinking margins in the grocery business caused them to seek out another business.

Tom and Marilyn have 3 children, Michael, Kevin, and Brian and 5 grandchildren, Kendall, Hadley, Easton, Dominic, and Chloe.

Tom’s brother Tony decided to become a McDonald’s franchisee and purchased his first restaurant in Covington, Tennessee in 1980. Tom and Marilyn applied for a McDonald’s franchise in 1981 and were offered their first restaurant in Leavenworth, Kansas in November of 1981, 41 years ago.

Over 41 years, Tom and Marilyn have built or purchased a number of McDonald’s restaurants. They currently have 12 restaurants; their son Michael owns 4 restaurants in the Kansas City area and Kevin owns 3 restaurants in Topeka for a total of 19 restaurants.

Tom has worked on numerous McDonald’s committees

Q&A with Tom

What do you consider to be the most important attributes of a successful businessman/woman?

Vision, realistic goals, patience, hard work and great listening skills

So many businesses/careers struggle early on. What tips can you provide future business people to help them get through those early struggles?

If you believe in what you are doing and enjoy it you will persevere. Destiny will take care of you one way or another especially when you surround yourself with great people that believe in you and your vision as well.

including the Purchasing committee for almost 40 years, the National Operators Advisory Board, the McDonald’s Heart of America Executive Board, and has Co-Chaired numerous campaigns for Corpus Christi Catholic School to raise money for Capital Campaigns for the School and Church here in Lawrence. Tom has also served on the Lawrence Police Foundation Board. Tom was instrumental in working with the Heartland Community Health Center Board to develop the new Federally Qualified Health Center located at 6th & Michigan. Tom is currently Treasurer of the McDonald’s National Owner’s Association. Tom started a fund-raising campaign with the NOA to raise funds for the Polish Ronald McDonald House to benefit the refugees of the Ukraine. $280,000 was donated with $20,000 raised at the Mr. D’s Car Wash to benefit these efforts. Tom and Marilyn recently funded the total renovation of the Topeka Ronald McDonald House kitchen named Josephine and Jane’s kitchen in honor of their mothers.

Tom and Marilyn have been honored by McDonald’s Corporation receiving the Ronald Award, and the Golden Arch Award. They also received the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Restauranteur of the Year award and in 2018 the Kansas Restaurant Hall of Fame Award.

“The way that he thinks encompasses the community that he lives in. I see the things that he does for KU, for the schools here in town, for Just Food, for Heartland Community Health Center. I don’t see anything happening here that’s important that he’s not willing at some point to get involved in. The community that surrounds him in Lawrence is just an extension of his family.”

FR. MICK MULVANY, HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH, PRIEST

Ralph Dana “Bud” Gage, Jr., 80, was a longtime newspaper executive with the Lawrence JournalWorld and a member of the Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame. The Gage family lost Ralph Gage suddenly on Jan. 30, 2022.

Ralph Gage was born Sept. 9, 1941, in Ottawa, Kan. He was a 1959 graduate of Ottawa High School. He and Martha Ann Senter were married in Ottawa on Nov. 23, 1963. Ralph and Martha have two children, Susan and Paul and two grandchildren Samuel and Abigail.

Gage was inducted into Ottawa High School’s Wall of Honor in 2006. Ten years later he became a member of the Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame; he received the Kansas Press Association’s “Outstanding Mentor Award” in 2009.

He was a 1964 graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism. After graduating from KU, Gage worked at the Salina Journal in Salina, Kan., as district editor and Sunday editor, and then moved to the MetroEast Journal in East St. Louis, Ill. He joined the staff at the Lawrence Journal-World in 1969, and during a 43-year career with the Journal-World and its parent company, The World Company, Gage served in multiple roles including managing editor, general manager, chief operating officer and director of special projects. He retired in 2013 and remained on the company’s board of directors until 2016, when the company sold its media assets.

Q&A with Martha

Wife of Ralph D. Gage, Jr.

“Ralph was authentic. You could trust Ralph. He had a spirit about him. He had a strong loyalty to his family and to his work. He had grit. He found ways to get things done and done right. He was fun, he knew how to engage people through laughter.”

JOE

Gage served on the board of directors of the NewsGazette in Champaign, Ill., until October 2020 and had been a trustee of the William Allen White Foundation. He was a member of the board of directors of Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County, serving as secretary, and he and his wife co-chaired the New Generation Society of Lawrence in 2020-2021.

Gage was a graduate of Leadership Kansas (1983) and was active in community, professional and business organizations as well as First Baptist Church, where he twice served as Moderator and co-led fund-raising efforts with Martha. He was a member of the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin Advisory Committee and served several terms on the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Before they were renamed, he was a board leader of the United Fund in Lawrence and the Boys Club of Lawrence. He had been a board member of Van Go Inc., and a board member of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America.

He was a lifelong member of the KU Alumni Association, Sigma Delta Chi, and the Kansas Press Association, and he was an avid supporter of Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, the Lied Center of Kansas, the Kansas Sheriff’s Association, Spencer Museum of Art, KU Natural History Museum, Sister Cities-Eutin, Germany program, the Dole Center, and the Williams Fund.

What do you think Ralph considered to be the most important attributes of a successful businessman/woman?

STRONG WORK ETHIC

He worked hard to ensure the job was done right. He valued hard work in others.

ACCOUNTABILITY

He was a perfectionist and had high standards, and he appreciated that quality in others, but he also appreciated people who were honest and were accountable when things did not go right.

BUSINESS ACUMEN

Business is about not only the day-to-day work but also about using your intelligence, understanding best business practices and having common sense. He enjoyed smart and dedicated people with curiosity and insight who could think on their feet and solve problems.

What tips would Ralph provide future business people to help them get through those early struggles?

• Don’t give up too early. Seek expertise and mentors; ask a lot of questions.

• Learn the ins and outs of a business or breadth of any operation.

• Understand the value of relationships.

• Know and appreciate your customers and the people who work for you.

• Write a note, email, phone or tell anyone who helps you-thank you.

• Advertise, advertise, advertise.

“He wanted things to be excellent and he put a lot of effort into them being that way. He would push you sometimes and ask the hard questions, but it was because he wanted to see excellence and he knew that you were capable of that.”

ELIZA DARMON, VAN-GO INC., CO-DIRECTOR

Ralph D. Gage, Jr.

The 2023 Hall of Fame Class

Gary grew up on a family farm near Adrian, Missouri. He benefitted from loving parents and grandparents as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins living in the same area with almost weekly get-togethers. He began helping with farm work in the summer, on a tractor at age 11. He participated in all the team sports in high school and graduated in 1967.

Gary enrolled at Baker University supported by a football scholarship. Football only lasted one year but he really enjoyed life at Baker. He joined Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and met his future wife Connie. He received his degree in business administration in 1971.

Following graduation Gary joined the Hartford Insurance Group and held underwriting and marketing positions. In 1977 he joined a 14-person independent agency in Lawrence which eventually grew to one of the largest independent agencies in Kansas, Charlton-Manley Insurance. Gary served as President and CEO and focused on client development (also known as sales).

Gary was active in the insurance industry, earning his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation and Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI)

Q&A with Gary

What do you consider to be the most important attributes of a successful businessman/woman?

I believe the most important attributes for a successful business person are a strong desire to succeed, persistence and the ability to connect with and help build a successful team.

So many businesses/careers struggle early on. What tips can you provide future business people to help them get through those early struggles?

The early years for a business person are difficult. It’s important to learn how to be resilient and learn from your mistakes and failures. Keeping a positive attitude isn’t always easy but it is essential to getting through the tough times. I’d often remind myself even the best hitters in baseball fail seven times out of ten.

designation. He is past president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Kansas, Past State National Director for Kansas to the Independent Insurance Agents of America and past chairman of the Kansas Insurance Education Foundation. He’s the recipient of the IIAK Outstanding Agent Award and Kansas Insurance Association Agent of Merit and received the President’s Award from the Independent Insurance Agents of America.

An active community member, Gary has served for 20 years as a member of the Baker University Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, President of the Board of Cottonwood Foundation, Chairman of the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Board, and Chairman of the Bert Nash Endowment Board. He was a founding member of the Board of University National Bank. Gary and Connie co-chaired the 2000-2001 Douglas County United Way Campaign.

Gary and Connie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in September. They are blessed with son Drew and his wife Tina and their children Julia and Freddy and daughter Allison and her husband John Thompson and their children Johnny and Lainey. Both families close by in the Kansas City area.

“A town can’t have too many good leaders like Gary, because he is honest and has integrity. He does want to do what’s best for the community. It just makes you feel good to know that somebody like Gary is in a position of leadership, because you know whatever the cause or group is, it’s going to turn out all right.”

KELVIN HECK HECK LAND COMPANY, OWNER

“Between Connie and Gary, I really don’t believe that there was an organization or not-for-profit, that hasn’t benefited from their, either physical involvement or their contributions over the years.” GENE

Wint is a 4th generation resident of Lawrence, Kansas. His wife Mary is a former math and religion teacher at St. John grade school. They have three daughters and eight grandchildren. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1975 where he was a varsity football letterman and he graduated 4th in his class from KU Law School in 1978.

He has been a partner in the Lawrence law firm of Stevens & Brand since 1978 and was managing partner for three years. His law practice was varied and included business and personal injury litigation, real estate development law, bankruptcy, divorce law and estate planning.

From 1982 to 1992 Wint served in the Kansas Senate where he was vice-chairman of the Ways & Means Committee and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He also was Chairman of the Economic Development Committee for the National Conference of State Legislators. In 1986, he was named by KS Magazine as one of the Top Ten Legislators in Kansas.

While in the Senate, Wint led the effort to enact a criminal sentencing guidelines system, wrote the first law since 1972 which restricted some abortions in Kansas, successfully led the fight against enactment of the death penalty, introduced the “Sexual Predator” Bill and gained a reputation as an advocate for neglected and abused children. In 1990, he received the Annual Leadership Award for Outstanding Contributions to Children from the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. In 1994

Q&A with Wint

he ran as the favorite in the Republican primary for Kansas Attorney General and lost.

He served as Douglas County Counselor from 1998 –2000. He was a member of the Kansas State Banking Board from 2005-2011 by appointment of Governor Kathleen Sebelius. Wint currently serves as a Member of the Kansas Board of Regents having been appointed by Governor Laura Kelly in 2021 and confirmed by the Kansas State Senate in 2022.

In 2000, Wint became EVP and General Counsel of Peoples, Inc., the Winter family bank holding company, with 25 branches in Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico. In 2002, he became President and CEO of Peoples Bank in Kansas and led the merger of two banks in Kansas and one in New Mexico. When Peoples, Inc. was sold on January 1, 2018, it had nearly 40 branches in 11 states with nearly $1 billion in assets and just less than 1,000 employees. Wint is involved with many charitable organizations. He was a member of the St. John Parish Counsel and has served in roles as diverse as Chairman of the Sexual Abuse Review Board of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of Mid-America and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Kansas Banking Commission. He also served as Chairman of Save Kansas Coalition, Inc., a non-profit political education group that advanced Centrist policies and helped reverse radical tax policies in Kansas.

After selling the family business, Wint has returned to part-time law practice in Lawrence and serves on a number of non-profit boards.

What do you consider to be the most important attributes of a successful businessman/woman?

The most important values or attributes of a successful business person are:

• Clarity of purpose or knowledge of “the Why”…why the business exists. For example, we said that we are not in business to “make a profit” but rather we are in business to help our guests (customers) achieve financial success. If we do that, then profits will follow.

• Excellence in execution of the Why.

• Empathy with the challenges of your customers and of your employees.

• Transparency and honesty with employees about the financial strengths and challenges of the business.

• Fun in the day-to-day work of the business and for the employees.

• Humility of leadership in interactions with all stakeholders of the business.

What tips can you provide future business people to help them get through those early struggles?

For future businesspeople to help get them through early struggles “Face challenges head on and without wearing ‘rose colored glasses’. Use humility to ask for help and advice from others, especially from your employees. If you are having struggles, know that others have faced the same struggles and seek them out and study how they overcame those problems. Remember the old saying…’Roadblocks make the best gravel!’”

“Wint truly loves people and uses that love to be of service to people. He focuses on trying to make people’s lives just a little bit better.”

CINDY MAUDE CALLAHAN CREEK CEO (RETIRED)

“I actually think that the name ‘Wint’ ought to be a verb in the dictionary. The guy is full of nonstop action. He is very busy. He’s competitive. He’s truthful. He’s a servant leader. He’s honest. He likes to work hard and play hard, but he’s constantly in motion and two steps ahead of everybody else.”

Billy Mills Middle School

Broken Arrow Elementary School

Cordley Elementary School

Corpus Christi Catholic School

Deerfield Elementary School

Free State High School

Hillcrest Elementary School

Langston Hughes Elementary School

Lawrence High School

Lawrence Virtual School

Liberty Memorial Central Middle School

New York Elementary School

Pinckney Elementary School

Quail Run Elementary School

Schwegler Elementary School

Southwest Middle School

Sunflower Elementary School

Sunset Hill Elementary School

West Middle School

Woodlawn Elementary School

Junior Achievement expresses our appreciation to the sponsors, companies and individuals who supported the 2023 Lawrence Business Hall of Fame. Junior Achievement is proud to present this tradition in Lawrence.

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