The Kansas Business Hall of Fame at Emporia State University added its latest two inductees Wednesday.
Retired Burlington Northern Santa Fe executive Carl Ice is the inductee in the Hall’s contemporary category. Ice spent over 40 years with BNSF, rising eventually from intern to CEO and leading a period of “financial outperformance” from 2009-2019 before his retirement the following year.
Ice has also been heavily involved in civic roles at the state and national levels. He was appointed to the Kansas Board of Regents two years ago. Ice is also on the Salvation Army National Advisory Board and numerous Kansas State boards.
Charlie Walker is the inductee in the historical category. After an enlistment in the US Air Force during the Korean War, Walker made his name with several power washing products and related business concepts, later branching out into waste water reclamation equipment and technology.
Besides his work in business, Walker created the Rolling Hills Zoo near Salina. His Walker Family Foundation also contributed lead gifts to several ventures near Salina, including the Tammy Walker Cancer Center, honoring the memory of his daughter who died from cancer at the age of 11.
The Business Hall of Fame is located inside Emporia State’s Cremer Hall, also home of the university’s School of Business. There are now nearly 70 total inductees in the hall, with the first induction class held in 1989.
