The League Hall of Fame Award was created to recognize individuals who have provided extraordinary public service to the League and local government. The Hall of Fame has previously been awarded to elected or appointed city officials, business or civic leaders, persons rendering assistance to cities as trainers, consultants, or advisors, and former members of the League staff are eligible for induction. Selection for this award is made on the basis of service rendered to city government generally, including leadership in the League, League-affiliated Boards, or other municipal organizations, service on state or national boards or commissions, providing extraordinary service to cities in training, education and development of local leadership, advocating for cities and good local government, and providing exceptional professional assistance and support to cities.
The League inducts winners into the Hall of Fame at its Annual Conference & Exhibit, though the award is not always given every year. Award nominations are accepted year-round. The League Awards Panel recommends a slate of Hall of Fame inductees for League Executive Board ratification during the August board meeting.
Eligibility
Current or former elected or appointed city officials, business or civic leaders, persons rendering assistance to cities as trainers, consultants, or advisors, and former members of the League staff are eligible for induction. Individuals currently on the League staff or an officer or member of the League Executive Board are not eligible.
Criteria
Selection will be made on the basis of service rendered to city government generally, including service rendered to city government through the League. Special consideration will be made for service that was done as a volunteer leader. Service to cities includes, but is not limited to, leadership in the League, League-affiliated Boards, or other municipal organizations, service on state or national boards or commissions, providing extraordinary service to cities in training, education and development of local leadership, advocating for cities and good local government, and providing exceptional professional assistance and support to cities. Typically extraordinary public service is demonstrated over a considerable period of time, but longevity alone is not intended to be compelling.
Selection
Individuals for induction to the League Hall of Fame are nominated by the League Awards Committee, which consists of the League officers and four current members of the Hall of Fame appointed by the League President. The nominations are submitted to the League Executive Board for ratification.
Hall of Fame Award Winners
Congratulations to all of our award winners.
| Year | Recipient | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Decker Ploehn | City Administrator/City Clerk in Bettendorf |
| 2021 | John Lundell | Mayor in Coralville |
| 2020 | Terry Donahue | League past president, Mayor, North Liberty |
| 2020 | Wanda Hemesath | City Clerk/Treasurer |
| 2019 | David Heiar | Long time city administrator and economic development professional in Bellevue, Manchester and Dubuque. |
| 2019 | James Erb | Former mayor in Charles City, former League Board Member and former President of the Executive Board |
| 2018 | Kelly Hayworth | Long time city administrator in Coralville and member of the IMWCA Board of Trustees |
| 2018 | Ruth Randleman | Former mayor in Carlisle, Former League Board Member and former President of the Executive Board |
| 2017 | Gordon Canfield | Mayor in Grinnell |
| 2016 | Ann Campbell | Mayor of Ames and Former League Board Member |
| 2016 | Milt L. Kramer | Mayor of Manchester |
| 2015 | Bruce Bergman | Former City Attorney in Des Moines, Former Iowa League of Cities General Counsel |
| 2015 | Butch Niebuhr | Former City Administrator in Perry |
| 2015 | Larry Nagle | Former Director of Government Relations for the East Central Intergovernmental Association |
| 2015 | Terry Timmins | Former City Attorney in Sioux City and Council Bluffs, Former Deputy City Attorney in Des Moines, Former Iowa League of Cities General Counsel |
| 2014 | Gerald Clausen | City Manager in Carroll |
| 2013 | Curt Svalstad | Former Risk Services Director for the Iowa League of Cities |
| 2013 | Jim Fausett | League past president and Mayor of Coralville |
| 2013 | Pam Blessman | Former city clerk, finance officer and city administrator & IMFOA officer |
| 2012 | Donna Fisher | Former Deputy City Manager/Finance Office in Spencer, co-founder of Northwest Iowa City Clerks’ Association |
| 2011 | Christine Hensley | Des Moines Council Member |
| 2011 | Jeff Schott | Director, Institute of Public Affairs, University of Iowa |
| 2010 | Tim Hurley | League past president and former mayor, Waterloo |
| 2009 | Andrea “Andi” Stewart | Former League Administrative Manager |
| 2009 | Ken and Val Bilbrey | Iowa Communities Assurance Board leadership |
| 2008 | John Mardis | Former League President and Mayor of Evansdale |
| 2007 | Cindy Kendall | Former city treasurer of Marshalltown, former MFPRSI board member and City Finance Committee member. |
| 2007 | Thomas G. Bredeweg | Former League executive director |
| 2006 | Carol Ann Diekema | Former board member, former City Coordinator and mayor of Monroe |
| 2006 | Ted Tedesco | League past president, former mayor, Ames |
| 2004 | Jack Whitmer | Former director, Iowa Clerks Institute |
| 2004 | Paul Coates | Director, Iowa Clerks Institute |
| 2004 | Richard D. Johnson | League past president, city clerk and former mayor of Sheldahl and former Auditor of State |
| 2003 | David Aldridge | League past president and former mayor of Newton |
| 2003 | O. Gene Maddox | League past president, state representative and former mayor of Clive |
| 2003 | Richard Myers | Former state House minority leader and former council member Coralville |
| 2002 | David Ehler | Former secretary/treasurer of the Northwest Iowa League of Cities and former city clerk, Holstein |
| 2001 | Jody Smith | Chair, Iowa Communities Assurance Pool, former board member of Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust and Deputy City Manager/City Clerk, City of West Des Moines |
| 2001 | Pat Callahan | Former director, Institute of Public Affairs and former city manager in Maquoketa and Anamosa. |
| 2000 | Bob Rasmussen | League past president, League field representative, former board chair of Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust and former mayor of Fairfield |
| 1999 | Erlene Veverka | League past president, former board member of Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust and former mayor of Prairie City. |
| 1999 | Tom Hanafan | League past president, board member of Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust and mayor of Council Bluffs |
| 1998 | John A. Reno | JA Reno and Associates (posthumously) |
| 1998 | Phil Dorweiler | Former municipal bond counsel |
| 1997 | Clayton Ringgenburg | Former director of technical services and former director of the Institute of Public Affairs |
| 1996 | Ed Allen | Former director of technical assistance at the League |
| 1996 | Elaine Szymoniak | Former city council member of Des Moines, former board member and former state senator |
| 1996 | Park Rinard | First executive director of the League |
| 1995 | Betty Snyder | Former board member and former mayor of Clinton |
| 1995 | E.J. Giovannetti | League past president, past board chair of Iowa Municipalities Workers’ Compensation Association and former mayor of Urbandale |
| 1995 | Mary Neuhauser | Former city council member of Iowa City and former state senator |
| 1995 | Robert Josten | Municipal bond counsel and former League executive director |
| 1995 | Tim Shields | Former director, Institute of Public Affairs, University of Iowa |
| 1995 | William F. Sueppel | Former League general counsel |