Business Ethics & Social Involvement Award History
History
The inspiration for the BESI awards was the creation of the Business Enterprise Trust* during the 1980’s and the presentation by the Trust of national awards to recognize and publicize outstanding ethical conduct and social involvement by business. Dr. Ted Ivarie, former Dean of the Lumpkin College of Business & Applied Sciences at Eastern Illinois University, recognized that the concept of these national awards was applicable to the local east central Illinois area. With the permission of the Business Enterprise Trust, the College initiated the Business Ethics and Social Involvement, or BESI, Awards, and they were first presented in 1991.
Funding in support of these awards comes from the Bertrand P. Holley Distinguished Professorship and Business Ethics and Social Responsibility Fund. Bert Holley was a Professor of Business for over 40 years at Eastern (1946-1987), and in his teaching he espoused the ethical conduct of business and commitment to community service that the BESI Award celebrates.
In 1993, Lake Land College and ECIDC joined EIU in what has been a great partnership to jointly sponsor these BESI awards to area individuals and businesses.
(*Web research indicated Business Enterprise Trust established in 1989, but “ceased operations” in 2000)
(Provided by Dr. Martha S. Brown, Associate Dean, Lumpkin College of Business & Applied Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, May 2006.)
Past Recipients
N.W. (Bud) Althoff
E.C. Bauer
James and Robert Bitzer
CHI Overhead Doors
Citizens National Bank of Paris
Noreen Connolly, OCE Imaging Supply
Consolidated Communications
Max Cougill
Doehring Winders & Co. LLP
First Mid Illinois Bank and Trust
The First National Bank in Toledo
The First National Bank of Pana
Gerald Forsythe
Sara Holmes
William Hopper, First Trust Bank
Imperial Bondware
John Inyart
Edward H. "Ned" Jension
The Journal Gazette/Times-Courier
Frank Kabbes
Kingery Printing Company
Kitchen Seed Company
Carl Koerner, Koerner Distributors, Inc.
Leach-Wilson Chevrolet-Buick
Lenders Bagels and Employees
Melvin C. Lockard
Joyce A. Madigan
Marathon Pipe Line Company
Newlin Martin, Martin's IGA
Jim McDaniel, Effingham Truck Sales
Dr. George Mitchell
The Monahan Family, The Monahan Company/First National Bank in Arcola
Jerry Moon
Mooney Motors, Inc.
Delbert D. Mundt
Old School Esshaus
Petro/Iron Skillet Restaurant
Don Portugal, S & K
Jerry J. Ray, Schrock Cabinet Co.
R.R. Donnelley and Sons
Roger Roberson, Roberson Corporation
Rowe Foundry and Machine Co. and Employees
Jim Ryan
John M. (Jack) Schultz
Jim Short
Siemer Milling Company
Simonton Windows
State Bank of Arthur
U.S. Soy
Victor Products (Dana Corporation)
Ken Vogt
Dr. Robert D. Webb
Bob Willenborg
Dr. Rick Workman
Wright's Furniture
Don Yost