In April, we were delighted to induct Mr. Vern Herbel into our Accounting Hall of Fame. The Accounting Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding alumni who have represented Kansas State with distinction in business, government or academia.
Vern Herbel was Executive Vic
e President and Chief Administrative Officer until his recent retirement at Torchmark Corporation, a public financial services holding company specializing in life and supplemental health insurance for middle income Americans. Torchmark’s affiliate companies have local offices throughout the United States.
A native of Dorrance, Kansas, Vern earned a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Kansas State University in 1979. He started his business career with Ernst & Whinney, and then entered the insurance industry in 1983. He was with Torchmark for 32 years and held a variety of positions, including Internal Audit, Operations, President of various Torchmark affiliates, and Chief Administrative Officer.
Vern serves on the KSU College of Business Administration (CBA) Accounting Advisory Council, the CBA Dean’s Business Advisory Council, and is the KSU Foundation Trustee.
He is a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, and has served on the Board of Directors, including being Chairman. Vern and his wife, Joan, reside in McKinney, Texas. They have a son and daughter-in law, Eric and Blaise, and a daughter, Sara.
Past Inductees
2019 Vern Herbel Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Torchmark
2018 Michael Upchurch Executive Vice President & CFO, Kansas City Southern
2018 Johanna Lyle Instructor Emeritus of Accounting
2017 Ken Selzer Kansas Insurance Commissioner
2016 Mark A. Soucie Vice President & CFO, Koch Chemical Technology Group, LLC
2015 Barry Robinson EMEIA Tax Markets Leader, Ernst & Young
2014 Steve Lacy Chairman of the Board & CEO, Meredith Corporation
2013 Doug Gaston Regional Managing Partner of BKD
2012 Jackson Day Ernst and Young’s Americas Professional Practice
2011 Paul Edgerley Managing Director, Bain Capital
2010 Robert G. Chapman (deceased) President, Zieman Manufacturing
2009 Julie Bryant Controller, ConocoPhillips
2008 Stan Weber Chief Financial Officer, Tower Properties Company
2007 Randall G. Fletchall Vice Chair, Assurance and Advisory Business Services
2006 Joleen D. Moden Retired Senior Vice President, Verizon Communications
2005 Maurice “Buzz” Stark Retired Professor, Kansas State University
2005 Gene Laughlin Retired Associate Dean, Kansas State University
2005 Ken Fox Retired Professor, Kansas State University
2004 Randolph A. Buseman Partner, Ernst & Young
2003 Rand C. Berney Vice President and Controller, ConocoPhillips
2002 Candace Duncan Partner, KPMG
2001 Gary Boomer Chief Executive Officer, Boomer Consulting Inc.
2001 Roger Sink Partner, Sink, Gillmore & Gordon LLP
2000 F. Lynn Markel Retired EVP & CFO, Koch Industries
2000 Julie Davis Partner, KPMG
1999 Bill Sinderson Retired, Baird Kurtz & Dobson
1999 Allen Webber Retired, Kennedy and Coe