Two prominent Salina businessmen are the newest members of the Salina Business Hall of Fame.

During a luncheon event on Thursday Ward Marshall and Karl Stutterheim were inducted into the 2013 class of the Salina Business Hall of Fame.

Ward Marshall is the founder of Marshall Motor Company. He was inducted from the Historic Category, 1926-1975.

Karl Stutterheim is the retired Chairman of the Board and CEO, Kasa Companies. He was inducted as part of the Contemporary Category, 1976-present.

Salina native Dr. Steven A. Hawley spoke at the event. Hawley is a former NASA Astronaut and current professor of physics and astronomy and Director of the Engineering Physics program at the University of Kansas.

Hawley tells KSAL News that though he doesn’t come from a business background, he likes to come back to his hometown for events like this. He says “I’m not a business expert, but I can talk about what Salina meant to me as a kid growing up and about the connections I maintained over my career with NASA.” Hawley says he’s glad to be back in Kansas because he gets a chance to come to Salina more often.

The Salina Business Hall of Fame was established by the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce in 2005. Its purpose is to recognize and honor Salina business leaders, both past and present, who have made extraordinary contributions to Salina, earned the respect of the local community and called attention to the Free Enterprise system and its value to our country and citizens in shaping Salina’s way of life.

Each inductee is recognized with a commemorative plaque. In addition, plaques honoring each inductee will be displayed at the Chamber office, 120 W. Ash.

Past inductees include: (Pioneer) Henry David Lee, Alexander Campbell, Oscar Seitz and Winfield Watson, Benjamin Aaron Litowich; William R. Geis, William A. Phillips, and Thomas Watson Roach; (Historic) William Henry Graves, John J. Vanier, M.J. Kennedy, Milton Morrison, Charles W. Shaver, C. William “Bill” Exline, Murray Wilson, Ralph E. Reitz, S. Dean Evans, Sr., Whitley Austin, Ben Sellers, George L. Frisbie, and Verla Nesbitt Joscelyn, and (Contemporary) Alfred P.G. Schwan, Charlie Walker, Roy Applequist, Lee Young, Paul E. Junk, Jack Vanier, James R. Allen, Richard E. Brown, and Mike Berkley.