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Cargill executive, philanthropist James Haymaker to receive honorary degree from K-State

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MANHATTAN — A longtime Cargill executive and Kansas State University alumnus will receive the university’s highest honor, an honorary doctorate, in May.

James “Jim” Haymaker-photo courtesy KSU

James “Jim” Haymaker will receive the honor at the Graduate School commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. Friday, May 17, in Bramlage Coliseum. He also will serve as the commencement speaker.

The university’s request to recognize Haymaker with the degree was approved by the Kansas Board of Regents at its Feb. 20 meeting.

Haymaker earned bachelor’s degrees in economics and French from Kansas State University in 1969, studying abroad at Paris-Sorbonne University during his junior year. He received an MBA in finance and international business from the University of Chicago in 1971 and a master’s degree in applied economics from Belgium’s University of Louvain in 1972.

“It is fitting that Kansas State University recognize James Haymaker with this high honor,” said Charles Taber, university provost and executive vice president. “He exemplifies how higher education can truly make a difference, using his K-State degrees to have a successful lifetime career with Cargill both domestically and internationally. He also has been an active supporter of his alma mater, serving on several advisory boards and funding numerous scholarships in academics and research and for first-generation students that are helping K-State students in their quests for their own successful careers.”

Haymaker joined Cargill, a provider of food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world, in 1973 as a financial analyst and retired in 2011 as its corporate vice president of strategy and business development, a position he held for 11 years. Haymaker’s Cargill career also included serving as project manager in its consumer marketing department from 1976-1978 and then working overseas as associate manager and then general manager of Cargill’s DuFruit Food and BMBH & Co. in Mannheim, West Germany, from 1978-1980 and as executive supervisor/director of swine operations for Cargill’s Piensos Hens S.A. in Barcelona, Spain, from 1981-1987. He returned to the U.S. to be the global corporation’s vice president/general manager of Sunny Fresh Foods from 1987-1988 and as vice president/manager of Cargill’s financial services department from 1988-2000 before being elected to the corporate vice president position.

With his wife, Kathy, Haymaker has established several scholarships at Kansas State University that support students in economics and students conducting cancer research through the university’s Johnson Cancer Research Center. The Haymakers also have supported funds for faculty support and a new scholarship fund, the Raghunath Chakrabarti Dare to Dream Scholarship, for first-generation students.

Haymaker’s service to the university includes being a member of the KSU Foundation board of trustees and the Department of Economics Advisory Council since 2012 and the Johnson Cancer Research Center and Education Advisory Council since 2015.

Recognized by the College of Business Administration as its 2005 Outstanding Financial Executive of the Year, Haymaker also received the 2011 Merit Award for Entrepreneurship from the College of Arts and Sciences; was named the 2013 College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Fellow, which is selected by the Dean’s Council, President’s Office and K-State Alumni Association; and was the economics department’s 2015 Distinguished Economics Alumnus.

Since retiring, Haymaker has devoted his time to his family, philanthropy and angel investing, which is early-stage funding of new company startups.

Junction City Commission helps the Open Door

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The Junction City Commission this week voted 4-1 to provide $2,500 to the Open Door Community House to help that operation while they apply for a grant. The facility serves as a shelter for the homeless.

Commissioner Tim Brown noted the Open Door provides a vital service in the community.

During their time at the Open Door can receive shelter, food and can begin the process to search for a job.

Three local ballfields due for an upgrade

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The Junction City Commission has awarded a bid of $22,705 to a company called “Game Time Athletics” to upgrade three local ballfields.

Ed Lazear, City Parks and Recreation Director, said they include Sertoma, South Park two, and South Park Three fields. “These fields have been neglected for quite some time and we just feel we’re at a good point where we can  bring these up to at least the level of a practice field, So a lot of our ball teams have a good practice facility to go to.”

The City also plans to contribute a supply of ag lime and top soil at a cost estimate of an additional $3,700. The work should be completed by May.

Recognition for outstanding public servants

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Junction City police detective Al Babcock and Fire Marshall David Nelson were honored at this week’s Junction City Commission meeting by the Veterans of Foreign Wars 8773 and state leaders.

Babcock received a certificate of appreciation, was named the Kansas VFW State Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, and was honored with a VFW national law enforcement award.

Nelson was recognized with a certificate of appreciation by VFW 8773.

( center ) Al Babcock speaking and holding one of the awards.
David Nelson accepting an award from VFW 8773

JCHS-Seaman basketball games re-scheduled

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The Junction City High School girl’s and boy’s basketball games with Seaman High postponed last night due to hazardous winter weather have been rescheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) night, according to JCHS Athletic Director Matt Westerhaus.

Only the varsity games were rescheduled with the girl’s game tipping off at 6:30 p.m. and the boy’s game at 8 p.m.  Senior Night will be observed as part of the game festivities.

Both teams will turn around quickly making a road trip Friday night to play Emporia High School with the regular 6 p.m. girl’s start and the boy’s game following.

Manhattan woman dies after SUV slides on ice into a ravine

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POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 7a.m. Wednesday in Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Chevy Blazer driven by Ann Marie Lochner, 67, Manhattan, was southbound on Elbo Ridge Drive.

Due to snow and ice, the vehicle left the road at the intersection of Elbo Ridge View landed on its top in a ravine.

Lochner was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kan. man hospitalized in Junction City after semi overturns on I-70

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GEARY COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 7:30a.m. Wednesday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Peterbilt semi driven by Derek James Towery, 29, Salina, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of the U.S. 77 Junction.

The semi lost traction causing the trailer to jackknife. It slid off the highway into south ditch and overturned.

Towery was transported to the hospital in Junction City. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Candidates for principal at Manhattan High School

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USD 383 officials have released a list of candidates for the Manhattan High School principal’s job. There will be a public meet and greet session for each of the candidates running from 3:15 – 4:30 p.m. on their respective dates.

The candidates and the date of their meet and greet are:

–Dr. Michael Norris, Assistant Principal at Lawrence High School, Monday, February 25th. He has 17 years of education experience.

–David Holloway, Assistant Principal at Manhattan High School with 28 years of education experience. Tuesday, February 26th.

–Michael Dorst, Assistant Principal at Manhattan High School with 23 years of education experience. Wednesday, February 27th.

–Benjamin Jimenez, Principal at Decatur Community Schools High School and Middle School in Oberlin, Kansas. He has 18 years of education experience. Thursday, February 28th.

–Martin Straub, Principal at Hays High School. he has 35 years of education experience. Friday, March 1st.

School board discusses possibility of moving ninth grade students to Career Academy Campus

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By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

The Geary USD 475 Board of Education talked this week with staff about the possibility next school year of moving the ninth graders who attend school at the Freshman Success Academy back to the Career Academy Campus where 10th through 12th graders attend classes.

BOE President Tom Brungardt said it would allow the district to get a jump on moving the freshmen back into the main ( high school ) building for the 2018-19 school year, “rather than waiting for a new building to open. ” No final decisions have been made by the Board, but the topic will be on their March 4th meeting agenda.

Brungardt explained staff feel there is enough room in the main building for the students, but he is concerned about having enough space for teachers. “The way I calculate it we have enough room for the students. We don’t have enough room for the teachers. The teachers would be sharing classrooms, there’d be roaming teachers. Have to find a place for teachers to settle sort of an office area for teachers.”

Several years ago the freshmen did attend classes at the main building, but due to high enrollment at the time the former city middle school building was converted into a facility to serve the freshman. There is less enrollment in the high school today. On moving them back now Brungardt said there is a list generated by the staff at the high school that contains both pros and cons. “Some of the reasons they want to do it now, is it opens up scheduling options for the freshmen that they don’t have when they’re in a separate building, having them all together is good to give the sense that you’re one high school, it reduces the cost of traveling. “He noted that right now the district is spending a lot of money busing students back and forth between the two buildings, and teachers travel back and forth between the building so there is a cost there as well.

When the new high school opens in 2021 the plan is to have all four classes housed in one facility.

 

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