KUCIMAT Lifetime Achievement Award
This award recognizes individuals who have, through cumulative career achievements and successes furthered the purpose of the KUCIMAT organization.
2025 Winner
Phillip Smith-Hanes
(MPA 1998)
"Phil is a trusted colleague and mentor to many. He is direct, empathetic and incredibly smart. I have relied on his professional advice for over 25 years."
Past Winners
| Year | Name | Title/Retired | City/Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Phillip Smith-Hanes | County Manager | Saline County, KS |
| 2024 | Dave Collinsworth | Managing Partner | Management Advisory Group |
| 2023 | Mike Letcher | Retired | Bridge Group, LLC. |
| 2022 | Vicki Charlesworth | Deputy City Manager, Retired | City of Shawnee, Kansas |
| 2022 | Steve Lutz | City Manager, Retired | Powell, Ohio |
| 2021 | Joe Hoefgen | City Manager | Redondo Beach, CA |
| 2021 | Ed Zuercher | City Manager | Phoenix, AZ |
| 2020 | Karen Davis | Executive Director | Local Government Hispanic Network |
| 2019 | Kevin Frazell | Retired | League of Minnesota Cities |
| 2018 | Craig Weinhaug | Douglas County, KS | |
| 2017 | Mark Watson | Oak Ridge, TN | |
| 2015 | Alan Sims | former City Manager | Cedar Hill, TX |
| 2014 | Dennis Hays | former County Administrator | Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS |
| 2013 | Jan Perkins | Management Partners, Inc. | |
| 2012 | Bob Livingston | City Manager | University Park, TX |
| 2011 | Bob Herchert | President/CEO of Freese and Nichols | Fort Worth, TX |
| 2010 | Ray Hummert | KU School of Public Affairs & Administration | |
| 2009 | Bill Ramsey | former Director Municipal Services | Olathe, KS |
| 2008 | Fred Siems | Retired City Administrator | City of Blue Springs, MO |
| 2007 | Chuck Anderson | Waters Group | |
| 2006 | Tom Muelenbeck | City Manager | Plano, TX |
| 2005 | Al Thelan | Management Consultant | |
| 2004 | Alan Morris | former County Administrator | Miami County, KS |
| 2003 | Lou Fox | City Manager | Lubbock, TX |
| 2002 | Richard Chesney | former Dep. Co. Administrator | Johnson Co, KS |
| 2001 | Marion Goodell | Administrative Director | KU Stene Program |
| 2000 | Gene Denton | former Administrator | Johnson County, KS |
| 2000 | Gerald Fox | former Administrator | Mecklenburg County, NC |
| 1996 | George R. Schrader | former City Manager | Dallas, TX |
| 1996 | Richard D. Thomas | former City Manager | Santa Barbara, CA |
| 1995 | Robert A. Kipp | former City Manager | Kansas City, MO |
| 1994 | Donald E. Pipes | City Manager | Overland Park, KS |
| 1993 | Leland Nelson | former City Manager | University Park, TX |