Nebraska’s Friend Award
2023 – Virginia Cattle 1921-2023, The Cattle Family, The Cattle Bank and Trust
2022 – Douglas Bereuter, Former Congressman and Native Seward County “Favorite Son”
2021 – Hughes Family Members – Descendants of the original Hughes Brothers, Inc.
2020 – Laurie Richards, State Director – Nebraska Film Office
2019 – Dr. Laurie Friedrich, longtime educator and Dr. Brian Friedrich, President of Concordia University
2018 – Kevin Sjuts, Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year
2017 – Clark Kolterman, Mr. Fourth of July
2016 – General Daryl Bohac, Nebraska National Guard
2015 – Boyd Heyen, Marvin (Pee Wee) Schulz, LeRoy Dittmar, Harry Hoffman, Ivan Tyrrell, and Milo Navratil – WWII Veterans
2014 – Chuck and Julie Wisehart, Rivoli Theater
2013 – Tom Ash, Cornhusker State Games
2012 – Loren and Gloria Wissmann
2011 – Bill and Evonne Williams, Chairman of World War II Vet Trip
2010 – Dr. Van Vahle, Nebraska Family Physician of the Year
2009 – Eric Brown, Radio Broadcasting
2008 – Sam Koch, Professional Football Player
2007 – Denny Brauer, Nationally Recognized Fisherman
2006 – Ted Kooser, National Poet Laureate
2005 – Joe Spellerberg, Musician
2004 – Dr. Orville Walz, Educator
2003 – Bobby Layne, Musician
2002 – Nebraska Task Force 1 Urban Search And Rescue Team
2001 – Clayton Anderson, US Astronaut
2000 – Bob Dowding, World War II POW
1999 – Ron Brown, Nebraska Football Coach
1998 – Irma Ourecky, Wilber Czechs/Volunteer
1997 – Frank Morrison, Governor
1996 – Roger Welsch, Writer/Humorist
1995 – J. Burton Amgwert, Pearl Harbor Survivor
1994 – Dr. Martin J. Maehr, Educator
1993 – Les Vilda, Historian
1992 – Paul Fell, Cartoonist
1991 – Lucy J. Nevels, Nebraska Mother of the Year
1990 – General Stanley Heng, Nebraska National Guard
1989 – Charlie Evans, North Platte Buffalo Bill
1988 – Henry Brandt, Director of the State Fair
1987 – Carl Curtis, US Senator – Retired
1986 – Rose Blumkin, Successful Business Woman, Immigrant
1985 – Jim Hartung, US Olympian, Gymnist
1984 – D.B. “Woody” Varner, Educator
1983 – Carol Schrader, Television Reporter
1982 – Dale Holt, Pastor
1981 – Hugo & Mildred Wandel, Foster Parents
1980 – Margaret Hasebroock, Volunteer
1979 – Glenn Kreuscher, Secretary of Agriculture
1978 – Leta Powell Drake, Volunteer
1977 – Jack Snider, Director of University of Nebraska Bands
1976 – Tom Allan, Newspaper Reporter
1975 – Robert Manley, Historian
1974 – Reinhold Marxhausen, Art Education
1973 – Wendell Rivers, POW
1972 – Lloyd Cardwell, Decorated Veteran
1971 – General Lyle Welch, Nebraska National Guard
1970 – Mel Steen, Nebraska Game and Parks
1969 – George Thomas, Former Mayor
1968 – Joe Dowding, Vietnam Veteran, US Navy
1967 – Ed Goehner, Founding Family
