Honorary Life Membership
(D indicates Deceased)
- 2021 — Bethany Roberts
- 2020 — Karla Whitaker
- 2019 — The Honorable Amy Hanley
- 2018 — Professor L. Ali Khan
- 2017 — Dean Thomas J. Romig
- 2016 — Cynthia Heath and The Honorable Edward Larson
- 2015 — David J. Rebein
- 2014 — No award given
- 2013 — Professor Gregory J. Pease (D)
- 2012 — Elizabeth A. "Betty" Fischer
- 2011 — Kathleen Gilligan Sebelius
- 2010 — John E. Christensen
- 2009 — Sheila Reynolds
- 2008 — Nancy G. Maxwell
- 2007 — William Rich
- 2006 — Dennis R. Honabach
- 2005 — Dr. Jerry Farley
- 2004 — Myrl L. Duncan
- 2003 — The Hon. Deanell Reece Tacha
- 2002 — Dean Allen Easley
- 2001 — Martha M. "Marty" Snyder
- 2000 — The Hon. Wesley E. Brown
- 1999 — Bruce Levine
- 1998 — Louis E. Mosiman
- 1997 — James M. Concannon
- 1996 — No award given
- 1995 — Charles Koch
- 1994 — Banks McDowell (D)
- 1993 — The Hon. Mary Briscoe
- 1992 — Barbara King Wilson
- 1991 — James M. Concannon
- 1990 — No award given
- 1989 — Robert E. Edmonds (D)
- 1988 — The Hon. Terry Bullock
- 1987 — Jean B. Reeves (D)
- 1986 — David S. Dale
- 1985 — The Hon. James MacNish
- 1984 — Dr. John L. Green, Jr.
- 1983 — The Hon. Richard Rogers
- 1982 — Keith Sebelius
- 1981 — Carl Monk
- 1980 — Richard Foth (D)
- 1979 — The Hon. Frank Theis (D)
- 1978 — Alfred G. Schroeder (D)
- 1977 — Spencer Gard (D)
- 1976 — No award given
- 1974 — John Fontron (D); Robert Fowls; James Ahrens (D)
- 1973 — Arthur Stanley
- 1972 — J. Richards Hunter (D)
- 1971 — Christine Johnson (D); Robert Price
- 1970 — John Howe (D); Hugh Wedell (D)
- 1969 — Gerry Barker (D); John Henderson (D)
- 1968 — Oscar Stauffer (D)
- 1967 — Walter Thiele
- 1966 — Edward Robinson (D)
- 1965 — David Prager (D)
- 1964 — William Treadway (D); Dr. Karl Menninger (D)
- 1963 — Schuyler Jackson; Walter Huxman (D)
Glenda Cafer was born in Missouri, but has spent most of her life in Topeka. Her association with Wash¬burn University started in 1967 when her father, Glenn Cafer, came to Washburn as the men's basketball and golf coach. Glenda received her B.B.A. in 1983 from Washburn University. After earning her B.B.A. she briefly attended Washburn Law, before transferring to receive her J.D. from Louisiana State University in 1987. Now with Morris Laing in Topeka, Cafer has a depth of knowledge in public utility regulatory law that is second to none. Not only is she the only person to have served as both General Counsel and Director of Utilities at the Kansas Corporation Commission, but she also actively practices in the areas of both Energy and Telecommunications Law. Cafer is a former Chair of the Administrative Law Section of the Kansas Bar Association, past president of the Women Attorney's Association of Topeka, former Chair of the Career Development Committee of the Kansas Women Attorney's Association, and current President of the Topeka Lawyers Club.
Cafer began serving Washburn University Foundation as a Trustee in April, 2007 and completed her term as board chair in summer 2022. She has been chair of the Finance and Development Committees and also serves on the Executive Committee and the Committee on Directors and Trustees. In her roles with the Foundation, she has been a vocal advocate for the law school, was a major gift donor to the new building, and helped the building campaign across the finish line. Cafer is such a champion for Washburn Law that many alumni are unaware that she received her law degree elsewhere.