Kansas Territorial
Sesquicentennial Commission

Members

The Commission consists of nine members. A 31-member advisory committee will assist the Commission with research and information to outline specific recommendations for the celebration of the Kansas sesquicentennial and related events.

Deanell Reece Tacha, chair, Lawrence -- Tacha is Chief Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. She earned a bachelor's degree in American Studies from the University of Kansas and a law degree from the University of Michigan. Tacha is chair of the Commission.

Constance M. Achterberg, Salina-- Achterberg is an attorney. She is a member of the American Association of University Women and the Kansas Bar Association. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and she received her law degree from the University of Kansas.

Jack E. Dalton, Dodge City-- Dalton is retired, following a career as an attorney. He has served as president of the Kansas Bar Association and Chairman of the Supreme Court Nominating Committee. Dalton is an active community advocate and volunteer in Southwest Kansas.

Larry M. Hatteberg, Wichita-- Hatteberg is a Broadcast Journalist and Managing Editor at KAKE News in Wichita. His Emmy award-winning "Hatteberg's People" series is the longest running television feature in Kansas. His television career at KAKE began in 1963.

Mike Hayden, Lawrence--Hayden serves as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wldlife and Parks. The former Kansas governor was raised in Atwood and received a bachelors' degree from Kansas State University and a master's from Fort Hays State University. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, the Soldier's Medal for Heroism, and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross during his military service in Vietnam.

Yolanda Lopez, Kansas City-- Lopez is a business consultant for Language Solutions. She earned a bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management and a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Kansas. She earned a master's degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

William L. Muir III, Manhattan--Muir is Assistant Vice President for Community Relations of Kansas State University. He had served as director of economic development at K-State and assistant to the Governor of Kansas under Governor John Carlin. He is a graduate of Kansas State University.

G. Hal Ross, Wichita-- Ross is an attorney. He is a Trustee of the Ross Foundation and the Kansas State Historical Society. Ross received a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University and a law degree from the University of Kansas.

Karen Seaberg, Atchison-- Seaberg is a Travel Consultant. She is a member of the Tourism Council for the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Chamber's Board of Directors. Seaberg Chairs the Kansas Lewis and Clark Commission. She received a bachelor's degree in Literature from Texas Tech University.

Karen Gayton Swisher, Lawrence-- Swisher is President of Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence. She is a member of the American Anthropological Association. Swisher received her bachelor's degree and M.S. from Northern State College, and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration from the University of North Dakota.

Kansas Territorial Sesquicentennial Advisory Committee:

Judy Billings,Travel Industry Association of Kansas, Lawrence

Paul Bahnmaier, Lecompton

Larry K. Burke, Dodge City Community College, Dodge City

Darlene Clifton-Smith, Kansas Museums Association, Dodge City

Cheryl Collins, Riley County Historical Museum, Manhattan

Marion Cott, Kansas Humanities Council, Topeka

Senator Leslie D. Donovan, Sr., Wichita

Peggy Goertzen, Hillsboro, Tabor College

Karl Gridley, Lawrence

Sara Harris, Chanute

Bruce R. Kahler, Lindsborg