World Golf Hall of Fame member and 1977 PGA Champion Brother Jerry Lanston “Lanny” Wadkins Named 2022 Kappa Sigma Man of the Year!
Kappa Sigma Fraternity has announced that World Golf Hall of Fame member and 1977 PGA Champion Brother Jerry Lanston “Lanny” Wadkins (Delta-Omega, Wake Forest University, ‘70) has been named 2022 Kappa Sigma Man of the Year. Brother Wadkins has been a professional golfer since his time as an Undergraduate and was ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking for 86 weeks from the ranking’s debut in 1986.
Lanny Wadkins is a 1970 initiate of the Delta-Omega Chapter at Wake Forest University. He turned professional in 1971 and went on to compete in 692 career PGA Tour events. Over his career, he won 33 Majors, including 21 on the PGA Tour, and finished in the top-ten 139 times. The winner of the 1977 PGA Championship, Brother Wadkins became the first-ever player to win a Major through a sudden-death playoff.
Brother Wadkins appeared in eight Ryder Cups and captained the 1995 US team. He shares the record for the most such appearances by an American. Over the span of these eight appearances, Brother Wadkins ranks second with 34 matches played, third with 21.5 points earned, and is tied for first with 15 foursome matches played among many other records.
Transitioning to a second career in the Broadcast booth, Brother Wadkins has been a fixture on the CBS network and Golf Channel’s coverage of professional golf since 2002. In 2009, Brother Wadkins was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Wadkins is a man of honor who represents service to others many aspects of his professional and personal life. His efforts are shown in his partnership alongside other extraordinary athletes at the The American Legends Golf Tournament raising $56.6 Million in donations for the Mountain Mission School Endowment Fund.
“The Kappa Sigma Man of the Year Award honors those who have reached the top of their professions. It is hard to find a better example of success and leadership as an athlete and on television than Brother Wadkins. I am ecstatic that this notable Kappa Sigma will be our 2022 Kappa Sigma Man of the Year!” said Worthy Grand Master Adam Merillat.
Brother Wadkins will be honored at an event to be held in the spring of 2023 at Kappa Sigma International Headquarters in Charlottesville, Va.
The Kappa Sigma Man of the Year Award has been awarded annually since 1939. The award recognizes a Brother who has set an example which some may equal but none excel in his personal and professional life. The achievement of such success by Kappa Sigmas brings glory to the Order and demonstrates the enduring impact of the Kappa Sigma experience. Recipients of the Man of the Year award and their Chapters each receive a special plaque and are recognized at Kappa Sigma International Headquarters.
Past Kappa Sigma Man of the Year
Recognition Name Student University Student Chapter Award Date
Lloyd H. Carr, Jr.
University of Missouri
Beta-Gamma
2021-07-12
James F. DeBerry
Wofford College
Alpha-Nu
2021-07-12
Honorable Robert J. Dole
University of Kansas
Gamma-Omicron
2020-07-12
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
John F. Smith, Jr.
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Gamma-Delta
1994-01-01
Robert J. Eaton
University of Kansas
Gamma-Omicron
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
Spencer T. Olin
Cornell University
Alpha-Kappa
1960-01-01
John M. 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