2020 Man of the Year
The Kappa Sigma Fraternity has named United States Senator Robert J. Dole its 2020 Man of the Year, making him the first member of the Fraternity to receive the award twice. The announcement took place this past weekend as part of its 73rd Biennial Grand Conclave held in Nashville, Tenn. Brother Dole was initiated into the Gamma-Omicron Chapter of Kappa Sigma at the University of Kansas on October 4th, 1942.
Brother Dole was decorated as the Kappa Sigma Man of the Year in 1970 and was inducted to the Kappa Sigma Hall of Honor in 2009 as the 14th Brother in the history of Kappa Sigma to be decorated with this significant honor. Brother Dole was named the 2020 Kappa Sigma Man of the Year at the 73rd Biennial Grand Conclave in Nashville, Tennessee, becoming the first Brother ever to win the Man of the Year Award twice.
The 2020 award was accepted on Brother Dole’s behalf by fellow Kappa Sigma Man of the Year Martin C. Petersen, former Executive Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and treasurer of Kappa Sigma’s International Board of Directors, who received the award in 2006. The award was also presented to Dole’s home chapter, the Gamma-Omicron Chapter at the University of Kansas.
“Kappa Sigma has always represented responsibility, kindness and service to others – qualities that have shaped my life in nearly eight decades as a Brother,” Senator Dole said in his acceptance letter. “To have been selected as the Kappa Sigma Fraternity Man of the Year on two separate occasions is a significant honor that means a great deal to me.”
“Brother Dole represents one of the greatest statesmen and public servants that the United States and the State of Kansas have ever known,” said Adam J. Merillat, president of Kappa Sigma’s international board of directors. “Brother Dole has accomplished so much since he was first awarded the Kappa Sigma Man of the Year Award in 1970. Kappa Sigma is grateful for his service and privileged to again honor Brother Dole with this award.”
Brother Dole served in the United States Army during World War II and became a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army’s 10th Mountain Division. In April of 1945, Brother Dole was wounded in combat while engaged with the German Army in the hills of Northern Italy. Brother Dole was decorated three times for heroism, receiving two Purple Hearts for his injuries and the Bronze Star with Combat “V” for valor for his attempt to assist a downed radioman.
Brother Dole represented the State of Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was Republican Leader of the United States Senate during the final 11 years of his tenure including three years as Senate Majority Leader. Prior to his service in the Senate, Brother Dole served in the United States House of Representatives from 1961 to 1969. The Robert J. Dole Institute, housed on the University of Kansas Campus in Lawrence, was established to bring bipartisanship back to politics.
President Gerald Ford chose Brother Dole for his running mate as Vice-President in the 1976 election. Brother Dole was also the Republican Nominee for the 1996 presidential election. While on the campaign trail, Brother Dole stopped along the way too many Kappa Sigma Chapter Houses and Chapters to share fellowship and Brotherhood. He was the keynote speaker at the 56th Biennial Grand Conclave of Kappa Sigma in Indianapolis in 1987.
In 2010, Kappa Sigma and the Fisher House Foundation dedicated a Fisher House at the VA Hospital in Washington D.C. in honor of Brother Dole. Brother Dole’s wife, Senator Elizabeth Dole participated and spoke at the groundbreaking and cornerstone dedication ceremony. This was made possible through the hard work and efforts of Chapters of Kappa Sigma Fraternity through the Military Heroes Campaign. This achievement was a most historic moment in the history of the Order and recognized a great patriot and leader in the history of the United States.
Past Kappa Sigma Man of the Year
Recognition Name
Student University
Student Chapter
Award Date Honorable Robert J. Dole University of Kansas Gamma-Omicron 2021-07-12 James W. Stuckert University of Kentucky Beta-Nu 2019-12-22 Chris B. Harrison Oklahoma City University Theta-Psi 2018-12-22 Bert B. Beveridge The University of Texas at Austin Tau 2017-12-22 Michael E. O'Malley University of New Hampshire Beta-Kappa 2016-11-16 Robert D. Burck The University of Texas at Austin Tau 2015-01-01 Craig R. Barrett Stanford University Beta-Zeta 2014-01-01 William E. Gortney, USN Elon University Lambda-Lambda 2013-07-01 William D. Wittliff The University of Texas at Austin Tau 2012-07-01 Brian J. O'Dwyer, Esq. The George Washington University Alpha-Eta 2011-01-01 James T. Morris Indiana University Beta-Theta 2010-01-01 Gary D. Forsee Missouri University of Science and Technology Beta-Chi 2009-01-01 Richard M. Burr Winston-Salem, North Carolina Delta-Omega 2008-01-01 Alan R. Mulally University of Kansas Gamma-Omicron 2007-01-01 Martin C. Petersen Arizona State University Rho 2006-01-01 George E. Perdue University of Georgia Beta-Lambda 2005-01-01 Michael L. Eskew Purdue University Chi 2004-01-01 Todd R. Wagner Indiana University Beta-Theta 2003-01-01 Paul V. Hester University of Mississippi Delta-Xi 2002-01-01 Paul E. Patton University of Kentucky Beta-Nu 2001-01-01 Raymond J. Lane, Jr. West Virginia University Gamma-Phi 2000-01-01 Col. Ronald J. Webb, USAF (Ret.) Indiana University Beta-Theta 1999-01-01 Philip S. Anderson, Jr. University of Arkansas Xi 1998-01-01 Pierson M. Grieve, Jr. Northwestern University Epsilon-Delta 1997-01-01 Richard E. Rainwater The University of Texas at Austin Tau 1996-01-01 Robert D. Krebs Stanford University Beta-Zeta 1995-01-01 Robert J. Eaton University of Kansas Gamma-Omicron 1994-01-01 John F. Smith, Jr. University of Massachusetts Amherst Gamma-Delta 1994-01-01 Jerral W. Jones University of Arkansas Xi 1993-01-01 Samuel Donaldson The University of Texas at El Paso Epsilon-Xi 1992-01-01 Dr. Russel L. Wiener Rhodes College Phi 1991-01-01 Euine F. Jones, Jr. University of Arkansas Xi 1990-01-01 Dante B. Fascell University of Miami Epsilon-Beta 1989-01-01 Addison M. Walker University of Missouri Beta-Gamma 1988-01-01 Robert W. Lundeen Oregon State University Gamma-Sigma 1987-01-01 Paul H. Henson University of Nebraska-Lincoln Alpha-Psi 1986-01-01 Lewis W. Lehr University of Nebraska-Lincoln Alpha-Psi 1985-01-01 Charles L. Massey, Jr. University of Arkansas Xi 1984-01-01 Fred M. Russell Vanderbilt University Kappa 1983-01-01 Larry M. Speakes University of Mississippi Delta-Xi 1982-01-01 John M. Allin, Sr. Sewanee: The University of the South Omega 1981-01-01 David C. Treen Tulane University Sigma 1980-01-01 Lee S. Dreyfus University of Wisconsin-Madison Beta-Epsilon 1979-01-01 William R. Hewlett Stanford University Beta-Zeta 1978-01-01 Richard F. Barry, III University of Miami Epsilon-Beta 1977-01-01 Ardeshir Zahedi Utah State University Epsilon-Kappa 1976-01-01 Dr. John W. Ryan The University of Utah Delta-Sigma 1975-01-01 John B. Kelly, Jr. University of Pennsylvania Alpha-Epsilon 1974-01-01 Joseph D. Waggonner, Jr. Louisiana Tech University Epsilon-Gamma 1973-01-01 Lamar Hunt Southern Methodist University Delta-Pi 1972-01-01 Edgar D. Mitchell Carnegie Mellon University Delta-Alpha 1971-01-01 Honorable Robert J. Dole University of Kansas Gamma-Omicron 1970-01-01 Samuel C. Phillips, USAF University of Wyoming Delta-Gamma 1969-01-01 James H. Binns University of Denver Beta-Omicron 1968-01-01 Benjamin S. Gilmer Auburn University Beta-Eta 1967-01-01 William A. Whitfield Iowa State University Gamma-Lambda 1966-01-01 Reno Odlin University of Washington Beta-Psi 1965-01-01 Denton A. Cooley The University of Texas at Austin Tau 1964-01-01 James B. Fisk Massachusetts Institute of Technology Gamma-Pi 1963-01-01 Paul J. Fannin University of Arizona Gamma-Rho 1962-01-01 John G. Tower Southwestern University Iota 1961-01-01 John M. Olin Cornell University Alpha-Kappa 1960-01-01 Spencer T. Olin Cornell University Alpha-Kappa 1960-01-01 Emmett B. Mc Cracken Indiana University Beta-Theta 1959-01-01 Willard F. Rockwell, Jr. Pennsylvania State University Alpha-Delta 1958-01-01 Francis S. Van Derbur University of Denver Beta-Omicron 1957-01-01 Henry G. Symonds Stanford University Beta-Zeta 1956-01-01 Arnold M. Johnson The University of Chicago Gamma-Beta 1955-01-01 Thomas J. Williams University of Arkansas Xi 1954-01-01 Hoagland H. Carmichael Indiana University Beta-Theta 1953-01-01 Donald R. Mc Laughlin University of California, Los Angeles Delta-Nu 1952-01-01 Carey E. Kefauver The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Lambda 1951-01-01 Fred P. Corson, Ret Dickinson College Beta-Pi 1950-01-01 Cason J. Callaway University of Virginia Zeta 1949-01-01 Edwin P. Hubble The University of Chicago Gamma-Beta 1948-01-01 Beauford H. Jester The University of Texas at Austin Tau 1947-01-01 Ernest W. Goodpasture Vanderbilt University Kappa 1946-01-01 Clinton A. Pierce University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Alpha-Gamma 1945-01-01 Dwight H. Green Wabash College Alpha-Pi 1944-01-01 Roy C. Osgood The George Washington University Alpha-Eta 1943-01-01 Jack E. Manch Hampden-Sydney College Upsilon 1942-01-01 James H. Macia, Jr. University of Arizona Gamma-Rho 1942-01-01 Edward R. Murrow Washington State University Gamma-Mu 1941-01-01 Frederick H. Albee Bowdoin College Alpha-Rho 1940-01-01 Warren R. Austin, Jr. University of Vermont Alpha-Lambda 1939-01-01 Lowell J. Thomas University of Denver Beta-Omicron 1938-01-01 Cyrus R. Smith The University of Texas at Austin Tau 1937-01-01