2017 Boone County Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

The Endowment Trust Board of the Boone County Historical Society is pleased to announce this year’s inductees into the Boone County Hall of Fame. Since 1995, the Endowment Trust Board has honored enshrinees in three categories: a business or organization, posthumous recognition, and a living individual.

The Business or Organization honoree is the University of Missouri-Columbia.

In 1839, about 900 Boone County residents donated cash or land to bring the University of Missouri to Columbia. Almost half of them, 429, were for $25 or less. Those founding families provided the seeds of what would become a $2.2 billion world-class institution for teaching, medicine, athletics, research and entrepreneurship. The University of Missouri-Columbia was the first public university west of the Mississippi River and the first in Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase Territory. Some of the benefits that UMC delivers to Boone County and the state of Missouri include: MU Extension’s Business Development Program helped clients increase sales by $439 million, create 17,436 jobs, attract $419.6 million in new financing and win $1.4 billion in government contracts (FY2013-15). Mizzou educates a tremendous workforce, granting a record 8,792 degrees in 2015-16. More than 40 percent or 3,682, were in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medical fields. Athletic events had a $326.8 million economic impact in Columbia in FY2015, MU’s third year in the Southeastern Conference. In FY2015, MU’s $511 million in campus construction projects created jobs. The University of Missouri System is integral to Missouri’s economy. For example, a 2016 economic impact study found that the state’s economic growth rate is 25 percent higher thanks to the University. (source – economicdevelopment.missouri.edu) The University of Missouri is a community of 35,000 students, more than 13,000 full-time faculty and staff members, and more than 305,000 alumni worldwide.

Posthumous recognition in 2016 goes to the late Edwin W. (E.W.) Stephens (1849 – 1931).

It would be difficult to argue against E.W. Stephens being the single, most influential person in the history of Boone County. He was a journalist, publisher, and civic leader. After learning the newspaper business from William Switzler, he founded the Columbia Herald, which became famous as “America’s model weekly.” He also founded the E.W. Stephens Publishing Company, served as president of the board of curators for both the University of Missouri and Stephens College, became president of the Missouri Press Association, the first president of the State Historical Society (1898) and the first president of the Boone County Historical Society (1924). Over his lifetime, he would be president or chairman of the more than forty organizations including the National Editorial Association, the Missouri Capitol Commission that designed and rebuilt the state Capitol when it burned in the early 20th century, the Old Trails Road Association, the influential Columbia Commercial Club, the MU Alumni Association and the Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Society. Interestingly, one of Stephens’ former employees, Walter Williams, would go on to create the world’s first school of journalism.

This year’s living recipient is a married couple, former Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman and his wife Axie Hindman.

Darwin Hindman served 15 years (five terms) as Columbia’s mayor, which was twice as long as any of his predecessors. Hindman and his wife repeatedly made personal sacrifices for the public good during that time and continue to do so today. Darwin Hindman received degrees in political science and law from the University of Missouri after flying bombers and transport planes during two tours of active duty in the United States Air Force. Before entering public life, he was a practicing attorney in Columbia for many years. Elected to mayor for the first time in 1995, his leadership would result in Columbia becoming one of only three U.S. cities to receive $25 million in federal funding to run a pilot project promoting bicycling and walking as alternatives to driving. He could be called the “Father of the Katy Trail State Park.” It was his idea and his initiative that caused the state to consider the plan that would eventually bring about the much beloved trail and park that exists today. Under his leadership, Columbia acquired and developed Stephens Lake Park and he organized and inspired a committee of 37 people who successfully gained voter approval to build the enormously successful Area Recreation Center (ARC).

The list of accolades for Darwin Hindman is long and includes the following:
• 2009 Leadership of Healthy Communities Award (along with mayors Michael Bloomberg of New York City and Gavin Newsom of San Francisco)
• Outstanding Citizen of the Year – Columbia Chamber of Commerce
• Outstanding Citizen of the Year – League of Women Voters, Columbia Chapter
• Mizzou Faculty – Alumni Award

As a team, the Hindmans brought long-lasting and important change to our community. Although Darwin got the headlines as mayor, Axie had her shoulder to the grindstone all the while and helped him create successes. Axie’s personal achievements have also served the community well. She was co-chair of the successful capital campaign committee that funded renovation of the rapidly deteriorating, historic Missouri Theatre. Among many other services for the community, Axie was also instrumental in helping Columbia’s popular “One Read” program get off the ground and thrive.

Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony

The 2017 Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony is a benefit fundraiser for the Historical Society’s Endowment Trust and will be held on Wednesday, October 4th, 2017 at the Reynolds Alumni Center on the University of Missouri campus. The evening includes hors d’oeuvres, wines, beers, a live auction, and video tributes to the enshrinees. Tickets will be available August 7 on a first-come, first served basis through the Boone County Historical Society.

BCHS Hall of Fame (1995 – 2017)