Awards and Honors
There are three prestigious awards that the College bestows onto worthy recipients. Carthage awards honorary degrees, the Flame Award, and the New Town Award.
An honorary degree is one of Carthage College’s most significant accolades. Carthage College awards honorary degrees on a selective basis to distinguished individuals who merit special recognition for achievement and distinction in a field or activity consonant with the mission of the College.
Previous Recipients
Carthage is proud to have conferred an honorary degree upon the following individuals:
2024
Aldo Madrigrano, D.P.S.
2023
Captain Amy Bauernschmidt, D.P.S.
2022
Nicholas Pinchuk, L.L.D.
2019
Dam Bich Thuy, D.C.L.
2014
Rev. Darrell Jodock, D.D.
2013
Rev. Ross Larson, D.D.
2012
Rev. Jeff Barrow, D.Div.
Rev. Wayne N. Miller, D.Div.
2011
Rev. John Nunes, D.Min.
2010
Rev. Carl Nelson, D.D.
Rev. Timothy Wengert, D.D.
2009
Rev. Erno Dahl, Ed.D.
Rev. David Rhoads, D.D.
2008
Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, SJ, D.P.S.
Weston Noble, D.F.A.
2007
Rev. William B. Downey (posthumously, to his wife, Gladys), D.D.
Rev. Robert Wilch, D.D.
2006
Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan, D. Div.
The Hon. Paul Ryan, D. Laws
H.E. Oscar Andrés Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga
2005
Joseph T. Mangi, D.P.S.
Moeen Qureshi, L.L.D.
Rev. Bernard L. Richardson, D.D.
2004
Rev. Lloyd Ogilvie, D.D.
Paul Volcker, L.L.D.
2003
Rev. William Lazareth, D.D.
Julie McCarthy, D.H.L.
RADM Ann E. Rondeau, D.P.S.
2002
Leon Kass, D.H.L.
Rev. John J. Piderit, S.J., D.P.S.
James H. Billington, D.P.S.
2001
Michael E. DeBakey, M.D., Dr. of Science
George W. Pollard, D.F.A.
Rev. Harvard W. Stephens, Jr., D.D.
2000
Jean Bethke Elshtain, D.H.L.
Rev. Robert Paul Roth, D.D.
Daniel J. Travanti, D.F.A.
1999
John D. Callaway, D.H.L.
George Connolly, D.P.S.
Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Echols, D.D
Dr. David Uber, Music ’44
1998
Dr. Patricia Gober, D.S.
Dan Jansen, L.L.D.
John E. Koenitzer, D.P.S. ’51
1997
Rev. H. George Anderson, D.D.
Rev. James M. Gustafson, D.HL.
Eugene Potente, Jr., D.F.A.
Pat Tarble, L.L.D.
1996
William H. McNeill, D.H.L.
Mary Nelson, D.P.S.
Rev. William L. Perry, D.D. ’62
Dr. Sylvester Sterioff, D.P.S.
1995
Phil H. Sander, D.P.S.
Benno C. Schmidt, Jr., D.H.L.
Rev. David L. Tiede, D.D.
Rev. Donald E. Wagner, D.D.
1994
Sister Rose Marie Cepress, Social Work
Bob Love, D.H.L.
Rev. Dudley Riggle, D.D.
Betty J. Thompson, D.P.S.
John William Vessey, Jr, L.L.D.
1993
Rev. Donald M. Hallberg, D.D.
Thelma Orr, Social Work
Jim Palmer, Education
David A. Straz, Jr., D.P.S.
1992
Mortimer J. Adler, D.H.L.
Rev. Jon. S. Enslin, D.D.
Greta Hansen, D. SW. ’71
1991
Joseph F. Andrea, LL.D.
Fr. Avery Dulles, D.D.
Imogene P. Johnson, D.H.L.
Prof. Jaroslav Pelikan, D.H.L.
Rev. Robert A.K. Runcie, D.D.
1990
Rev. Ellsworth E. Freyer, D.D. ’58
Rev. Ronald K. Hasley, D.D
Masato Mizuno, L.L.D. ’70
Joy Moy, D.H.L.
Gov. Tommy G. Thompson, D.L
1989
Rev. Lowell G. Almen, D.D.
Roland Olson, L.L.D.
Wally Phillips, L.L.D.
1988
Alan R. Anderson, L.L.D. ’50
Sherman G. Hicks, D.D.
Elmer W. Johnson, D.H.L.
Rev. John P. Kaitschuk, D.D.
Lowell H. Mays, D.D.
W. Robert Sorensen, D.D.
1987
Harold H. Lentz, D. Humanites
Richard Marconi, D.B.A.
Rev. Peter Rogness, D.D.
James L. Sundquist, D.S.S.
1986
Gerda Weissmann Klein, D.H.L.
Rev. June Nilssen, D.D.
Martin Staunt, D.H.L.
1985
Ness Flores, D.Law
Rev. Ronald Lavin, D.D.
Erna Rueggeberg, D.H.L.
Dr. James M. Unglaube, D.C.E. ’63
1984
Lois Dekker, D.C.E.
Rev. Joseph Ellwanger, D.D.
Merton E. Knisely, D.H.L.
Rogers Palmer, D.H.L.
1983
Matthias Kern, D.M.
Russell M. Rutter, D.H.L.
Rev. John H. Tietjen, D.D.
Frank P. Ziedler, D.H.L.
1982
Rev. William H. Kohn, D.D.
Dr. Gottfried Krodel, D.H.L.
Mr Reginald P. Merridew, D.H.L.
Rev. William H. Truby, D.D.
1981
William K. Eastham, D.H.L.
Rev. Frederick A. Marks, D.D.
Ruth Youngdahl Nelson, H.L
1980
Les Aspin, LL. D.
Donald E. Behrens, D.H.L.
Rev. Benjamin Gjenvick, D.D.
Rev. Chester I. Johnson, D.D.
1979
Rev. Harry S. Anderson, D.D.
Florence Parry Heide, L.H.D.
Margaret Hillis, D. Music
Keith W. Stoehr, D.H.
1978
Leslie Paffrath, D.H.L.
Studs Terkel, D. Litt.
1977
Harland Bartholomew, LL.D.
Melva Lind, D. Litt.
Ross H. Trower, D.D. ’43
1976
Robert F. Krasa, D.H.L.
Mary Eleanor Lentz, D.H.L.
William L. Niemann, LL.D. ’41
Donovan H. Palmquist, D.D.
Richard I. Preis, D.D.
Morris W. Reid, LL.D.
Newton E. Tarble, LL.D.
1975
Robert F. Boden, LL.D.
Robert G. Borgwardt, D.H.L.
Roy W. Davis, D.H.L.
Madeline Doran, D. Litt.
G. Theodore Mitau, LL.D.
Robert W. Schroeder, D.H.L.
1974
Lucien Cailliet, D. Music
Arthur G. Dixon, LL.D.
William B. Graham, LL.D.
Rev. Robert Hetico, D.D.
Samuel C. Johnson, LL.D.
Dr. Ruth A. Maxwell, D. Litt.
Rev. Christian Meyer, D.D. ’42
1973
John H. Baumgaertner, D.D.
Robert L. Grover, LL.D.
George L. Mosse, D. Litt.
Frances Murphy, D.H.L.
Tom Murphy, D.H.L.
Erland Nelson, D.Sc. ’42
Harley A. Swiggum, D.D.
1972
Dr. Frank Capra, D.F.A.
Roy D. Chapin, Jr., LL.D.
Hon. Thomas E. Fairchild, LL.D.
E.A. Grede, D. HL.
Dr. Ralph J. Jalkanen, D.D.
Dr. Frank P. Madsen, LL.D.
Dr. Theodore E. Matson, LL.D.
Dr. George A. Nicholson, Jr., LL.D.
Clarence (Dorothy) VanLoo, D.H.L.
Dr. Boyce R. Williams, L.H.B.
1971
Dr. Howard Ellis Cox, LL.D. ’33
Dr. Dorris A. Flesner, D.D. ’36
Dr. Pearl E. Goeller, D. HL. ’20
Hon. Mark Odom Hatfield, D.C.L.
Rev; Wesley A. Samuelson, D.D.
Dr. Krister Stendahl, D.S.T.
1970
Robert Barndt Anderson, D.D.
Frederick B. Artz, D. Litt.
Alden W. Clausen ’44
Robert William Girod, D.D.
Ralph Warner Hammett, D.F.A.
William G. Juergens, LL.D. ’25
William Walsh, D.H.L.
Rev. Charles Witt ’46
1969
Rev. Edgar W. Belter ’48
Rev. Howard A. Christensen
William S. Ellis
William Proxmire
1968
Kenneth E. Baulding
Rev. Arno D. Martin
R.L. Siebert
Rev. Constantine Trued
1967
Dr. Quirinus Breen
Rev. G.Wm. Genszler, D.D. ’37
Rev. Jerome A. Miller
Fr. Stransky
1966
Dr. Carl Becker
Hon. George Currie
Dr. Charles J. Curtis
Dr. Frederick J. Hoffman
O. Ewald Peterson
Dr. Richard Powell
1965
Rev. O. Garfield Beckstrand, IL. D.D. ’42
Wilbur Capps, LL.D.
Rev. Glenn Cloninger, D.D.
Harold J. Grimm, D.Litt
Rev. Ingolf B. Kindem, D.D.
Bernard Tallent
Charles Whitten, D.Sc. ’30
1964
Rev. D.P. Dovemuehle, D.D. ’39
1963
Herbert Fisk Johnson, L.H.D.
Joseph Johnson, Sc.D.
Rev. Frederick R. Ludwig, D.D.
Rev. William Niebling, D.D.
Rienow, D. Litt. ’30
Rev. Alfred H. Stone, D.D. ’37
Dr. Harold Swanbert, Sc.D.
Clarence Turley, LL.D.
Milton C. Wittenberg, L.H.D.
1962
John Leonard Berger, LH.D.
W.O. Helwig, LL.D.
General Lyman Louis Lemnitzer, Sc.D.
Rev. Robert Sebastian Romies, D.D. ’35
Rev. B.J. Stecker, D.D.
Orlando W. Wilson, LL.D.
1961
Rev. Walter Kloetzli, LL.D.
Rev. Robert J. Marshall, D.D.
Rev. Paul L. Roth, D.D.
Rev. Theodore A. Youngquist, D.D.
1960
Arthur L. Grede, L.H.D.
Rev. George L. Lundquist, D.D.
Rev. Luther C. Mueller, D.D. ’31
Donald K. Slayton, Sc. D.
1959
Rev. William H. Cooper, D.D.
Rev. William R. Eller, D.D.
Emma M. Johnson, L.H.D. ’24
LeRoy J. Knoeppel, LL.D. ’27
Rev. Theodore Stephens Rees, D.D. ’27
Rev. William W. Roth, D.D.
1958
Dr. Marcue Bach, LL.D.
Rev. Henry W. Opperman, D.D.
Rev. Hugh Paton, D.D. ’30
Rev. A. Howard Weeg, D.D.
1957
Rev. Dr. Jerald C. Brauer, LL.D. ’43
Rev. William A. Kiser, D.D.
Rev. Clarence B. Lund, D.D. ’31
Alex Miller, L.H.D.
Dr. James L. d’Aumont Roth, Sc.D. ’38
1956
Dr. Ralph A. Dorner, Sc. D. ’30
Cedric Foster, Litt. D.
Rev. Garrett F. Gensler, D.D. ’25
Carl F. Granrud, LL.D.
Rev. Maurice E. Lesher, D.D. ’23
Rev. Ernest D. Nielsen, Litt.D. ’28
Rev. Amos G. Streich, D.D.
1955
Rev. Carl D. Kammeyer, D.D.
J. Martin Klotsche, LL.D.
The Rev,. Frederick F. Mueller, D.D. ’28
Rev. Harold T. Rasmussen, D.D.
Luther W. Youngdahl, LL.D.
1954
Rev. K. William Braun, D.D. ’31
Dr. O.A. Hanke, L.H.D.
Rev. Kenneth A. Hurst, D.D. ’23
William K. Selden, LL.D.
Rev. Carl V. Tambert ’29
1953
Rev. Elmer E. Flack, LL.D. ’16
Rev. George B. McCreary, D.D.
Dr. Leon A. Sweet, Sc.D. ’30
1952
Rev. Alfred Jensen, D.D.
Conger Reynolds, LL.D.
Merriam H. Trytten, Sc. D.
Mildred W. Winston, Litt. D.
1951
Rev. William G. Arbaugh, D.D. ’23
A.O. Boatman, Sc. D.
Rev. Albert E. Iverson,D.D.
J. Loy Maloney, LL.D.
Rev. Henry F. Schuh, LL.D.
1950
Rev. Paul E. Bishop, D.D.
1949
Rev.Frederick D. Boldt, D.D.
Everett G. Mitchell, Litt.D.
1948
Edith E. Eykamp, D. Litt. ’24
1943
Rev. Charles B. Foelsch, D.D.
1942
Rev. J.R. Frenzel, D.D.
Rev. Edward A. Piper, D.D. ’20
Rev. W. Carl Satre, D.D. ’25
1941
Rev. William J. Boatman, D.D.
Rev. William H. Gable, D.D.
Rev. Alfred L. Grewe, D.D.
1940
Rev. R.R. Belter, D.D.
Dr. Armin George Weng, D.D.
1939
Rev. Mark A. Getzendanner, D.D. ’14
Rev. Charles L Venable, D.D.
1938
Rev. Leland H. Lesher, D.D. ’18
Rev. Carl C. Roth, D.D.
1937
Rev. O. Garfield Beckstrand, D.D. ’17
Rev. Walter D. Spangler, D.D.
Rev. Paul H. Stahl, D.D.
1936
Rev. Oak W. Ebright, D.D. ’16
1935
Rev. William P. Christy, D.D.
1934
T.E. Musselman, Sc.D.
1933
Alfred G. Heitman, Sc.D. ’08
1932
Rev. George P. Lottich, D.D.
1930
Rev. Clarence E. Paulus, D.D.
Rev. Edward P. Scharf, D.D.
1929
Rev. Frank E. Jensen, D.D.
Karr Parker, Sc. D. ’13
1927
Rev. John F. Fedder, D.D.
1926
Rev. J.D. Riser, D.D. ’95
1925
Rev. W.F. Rex, D.D.
Rev. A.J. Soldan, D.D.
1924
Rev. Paul W. Roth, D.D.
Rev. Nils Willison, Litt.D.
1920
Rev. R.B. Garten, D.D.
1918
Rev. Stewart W. Herman, D.D.
The Carthage Flame was created by action of the Board of Trustees on October 11, 1988, and recognizes outstanding service to the College and the community. The recipients of the Carthage Flame are elected by the Trustees. Each flame is numbered consecutively, and engraved with the name of the recipient and the year of award. The Flame is not awarded every year. In years when it is awarded, only one Flame is bestowed, although it can be bestowed jointly.
Past winners of the Carthage Flame:
2022
Albert J. Van Maren ’65
2019
Loren H. Semler ’65, trustee emeritus
2017
Jan Tarble, artist and philanthropist
2016
The Rev. Dudley V. Riggle, professor emeritus of religion, former Carthage campus pastor
2015
William Abt, former senior vice president for administration and business at Carthage
2014
F. Gregory and Barbara Campbell, former President and First Lady of the College
2012
James M. Unglaube ’63, Vice President Emeritus for College Relations
2011
Edward W. Smeds ’57, chairman emeritus, Carthage Board of Trustees
2010
Charlotte Chell, professor of mathematics at Carthage
2009
The Reverend Ralph S. Leonard ’51, Vice President Emeritus for Church Relations (awarded posthumously)
2008
William L. Niemann ’41, Trustee of the College
2007
Catherine Lowry Straz, Trustee of the College, and David A. Straz, Jr., philanthropist (awarded jointly)
2006
Ralph Tenuta, Chairman, Tenuta’s Inc., Kenosha, and Chairman of the Board, Johnson Bank, Kenosha, and a Trustee of the College
2005
Irène J. Kraemer, Vice President and Dean of the School of Professional Studies (awarded posthumously)
2004
Alan R. Anderson ’50, President Emeritus of the College
2003
Donald D. Hedberg ’53, Trustee of the College
2002
Robert C. Dittus, Vice President Emeritus of Business and Finance
2001
Senator Joseph F. Andrea (retired)
2000
Ruth Johnson, Registrar Emerita
1999
R. William Miller, Professor of Geography
1998
Howard Brown, Publisher (retired) of the Kenosha News and a Carthage Trustee
1997
T. Shandy Holland, Professor Emeritus of Speech Communication and Theatre
1996
Theodore W. Nicholson, director of Carthage’s food service operations from 1946 to 1989
1995
Merle W. Boyer, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, and Eunice F. Boyer, Professor Emerita of Sociology/Anthropology (awarded jointly)
1994
Jack S. Harris ’49, President Emeritus of the Siebert Lutheran Foundation and a Trustee Emeritus of the College
1993
Dr. Harold H. Lentz, President Emeritus of Carthage, and Mrs. Eleanor Lentz (awarded jointly)
1992
John E. Koenitzer, Chairman and CEO (retired) of Helwig Carbon Products, Inc., and a Trustee of the College
1991
A. W. Clausen ’44, Chairman and CEO (retired) of BankAmerica Corporation and a Carthage Trustee. His leadership led the College to establish the A. W. Clausen Center for World Business
1990
Mrs. Newton E. Tarble, benefactor; along with her late husband, she provided the funds to build and maintain Tarble Hall. In the late 1990s, Mrs. Tarble’s naming gift made possible the construction of the N. E. Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center
1989
Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Jockey International, and former Chairman of the Carthage Board of Trustees
According to tradition, in the ninth century before Christ, a small band of refugees set sail from the city of Tyre and wandered halfway across the Mediterranean before discovering a wonderful natural harbor on the north coast of Africa. There, they founded a settlement they called simply “new town.” That Phoenician word has evolved into English as “Carthage.”
The first Carthaginians had left a rich and powerful Biblical city for bleak and challenging territory far away. Across ensuing centuries, however, they and their descendants built their new town into the leading commercial center of the ancient Mediterranean world. Carthage College owes its name ultimately to them. It is only fitting that the College thank those whose transforming work helps build a “new town” today.
The Carthage “New Town” Award recognizes outstanding civic leadership in the building of better communities. The College lives in a symbiotic relationship with its neighbors, benefits enormously from the dynamic regional environment, and seeks to contribute to a strong and healthy social order. The mission of Carthage is to foster human excellence in its students, both as free individuals and as responsible members of society. It is very appropriate, therefore, for the College to honor individuals whose community leadership provides role models for others.
Winners of the “New Town” Award:
2017
Robert Lee Sr., founder of Kenosha-based Lee Plumbing
2016
Keith Bosman, former mayor of Kenosha
2015
Bryan Albrecht, president and CEO of Gateway Technical College
2014
Carole Johnson, director of local and regional community programs for The Johnson Foundation
2013
Wally Graffen, Director of Organization Development-Midwest Region, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
2012
Norman C. McPhee, Managing/Artistic Director, Racine Theater Guild
2011
Paula Touhey, Director Emerita, Kenosha Public Museums
2010
Don Holland, former Kenosha City Administrator and alderman
2009
Charles Vignieri, chairman of Kenosha Beef International and Birchwood Meat and Provision Co.
2008
Nick Arnold, ’81
2007
Joan C. Potente
2005
Gateway Technical College President Sam E. Borden
2004
Kenosha County Executive Allan K. Kehl, ’74
2003
Fran Puidokas
2002
Kenosha Mayor John M. Antaramian
State Representative James E. Kreuser
State Senator Robert W. Wirch