Harold Stones
2011 Kansan of the Year

Harold Stones was born in the house his grandfather built, on the farm his great-grandfather timber-claimed, in Smith County Kansas. He and his only brother, Charles from Garden City, greatly appreciate and value that heritage.

He graduated from Lebanon High School and received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Fort Hays State University.

In 1997, he retired as Executive Vice President and CEO of the Kansas Bankers Association, his employer for exactly 30 years. Prior to that he had been an Associate Professor of Speech, Debate Coach and Director of Alumni Affairs and Student Placement for nine years at Fort Hays State University.

On September 1, 1997, he became the Kansas Special Projects Director for U. S. Senator Pat Roberts, a position he currently holds. Sen. Roberts has asked Stones to primarily be a liaison with military bases in Kansas, and additionally with local governments, economic development groups, chambers of commerce and with companies who create jobs for Kansans.

He acts as the Senator's liaison with military units in Kansas at Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, McConnell Air Force Base, the Kansas National Guard and various Reserve units. This is especially critical during a period of hostilities. In 2007, Stones was inducted as an honorary member of the Audie Murphy Society at Fort Riley. In 2009, he received the Commander's Award for Public Service from LTG William Caldwell IV, Commanding General at Fort Leavenworth; and LTG (ret.) Robert Arter, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army.

Stones is located in the Topeka office and travels extensively throughout Kansas representing Sen. Roberts at many military events, as well as meeting with job creators, governmental officials and groups dedicated to economic improvement in Kansas.

At the request of the government of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and under coordination of the Financial Services Volunteer Corps, Stones was selected by the American Bankers Assn. and dispatched by Sen. Roberts to spend time in October 1997 as a volunteer in Bosnia assisting in organizing a multi-ethnic, democratic Bosnia Bankers Association. The goal was to help Bosnian bankers organize themselves to develop a set of free market financial laws and to assist their local economies throughout the country. Stones and fellow volunteer, Halstead banker Larry Williams, met with bankers from all areas of Bosnia and traveled to several cities.

Stones is a veteran of the United States Air Force (1951-1955). He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Kansas Council on Economic Education and is past Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Fort Hays State University Foundation, and he received Fort Hays State University's Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award in 1995. In 2001 he served as President of the Native Sons of Kansas and as President of Topeka Country Club in 1991.

Harold and his wife, Patty, live in Topeka where they attend the Countryside Methodist Church. They enjoy three children: Chuck, who is with the Kansas Bankers Assn.; Rick, with Kansas City Southern Railroad and Janie, who is a retail pharmacist in Norwich, CT. They also enjoy five grandchildren; Alicia, Rick, Erica, Steven and Hannah and four great-grandchildren.