Awards and Honors

An honorary degree is one of Carthage College’s most significant accolades. Carthage College awards honorary degrees on a selective basis to distinguished individuals who merit special recognition for achievement and distinction in a field or activity consonant with the mission of the College.

Previous Recipients

Carthage is proud to have conferred an honorary degree upon the following individuals:

2022

Nicholas Pinchuk, L.L.D.

2019

Dam Bich Thuy, D.C.L.

2014

Rev. Darrell Jodock, D.D.

2013

Rev. Ross Larson, D.D.

2012

Rev. Jeff Barrow, D.Div.
Rev. Wayne N. Miller, D.Div.

2011

Rev. John Nunes, D.Min.

2010

Rev. Carl Nelson, D.D.
Rev. Timothy Wengert, D.D.

2009

Rev. Erno Dahl, Ed.D.
Rev. David Rhoads, D.D.

2008

Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, SJ, D.P.S.
Weston Noble, D.F.A.

2007

Rev. William B. Downey (posthumously, to his wife, Gladys), D.D.
Rev. Robert Wilch, D.D.

2006

Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan, D. Div.
The Hon. Paul Ryan, D. Laws
H.E. Oscar Andrés Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga

2005

Joseph T. Mangi, D.P.S.
Moeen Qureshi, L.L.D.
Rev. Bernard L. Richardson, D.D.

2004

Rev. Lloyd Ogilvie, D.D.
Paul Volcker, L.L.D.

2003

Rev. William Lazareth, D.D.
Julie McCarthy, D.H.L.
RADM Ann E. Rondeau, D.P.S.

2002

Leon Kass, D.H.L.
Rev. John J. Piderit, S.J., D.P.S.
James H. Billington, D.P.S.

2001

Michael E. DeBakey, M.D., Dr. of Science
George W. Pollard, D.F.A.
Rev. Harvard W. Stephens, Jr., D.D.

2000

Jean Bethke Elshtain, D.H.L.
Rev. Robert Paul Roth, D.D.
Daniel J. Travanti, D.F.A.

1999

John D. Callaway, D.H.L.
George Connolly, D.P.S.
Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Echols, D.D
Dr. David Uber, Music ’44

1998

Dr. Patricia Gober, D.S.
Dan Jansen, L.L.D.
John E. Koenitzer, D.P.S. ’51

1997

Rev. H. George Anderson, D.D.
Rev. James M. Gustafson, D.HL.
Eugene Potente, Jr., D.F.A.
Pat Tarble, L.L.D.

1996

William H. McNeill, D.H.L.
Mary Nelson, D.P.S.
Rev. William L. Perry, D.D. ’62
Dr. Sylvester Sterioff, D.P.S.

1995

Phil H. Sander, D.P.S.
Benno C. Schmidt, Jr., D.H.L.
Rev. David L. Tiede, D.D.
Rev. Donald E. Wagner, D.D.

1994

Sister Rose Marie Cepress, Social Work
Bob Love, D.H.L.
Rev. Dudley Riggle, D.D.
Betty J. Thompson, D.P.S.
John William Vessey, Jr, L.L.D.

1993

Rev. Donald M. Hallberg, D.D.
Thelma Orr, Social Work
Jim Palmer, Education
David A. Straz, Jr., D.P.S.

1992

Mortimer J. Adler, D.H.L.
Rev. Jon. S. Enslin, D.D.
Greta Hansen, D. SW. ’71

1991

Joseph F. Andrea, LL.D.
Fr. Avery Dulles, D.D.
Imogene P. Johnson, D.H.L.
Prof. Jaroslav Pelikan, D.H.L.
Rev. Robert A.K. Runcie, D.D.

1990

Rev. Ellsworth E. Freyer, D.D. ’58
Rev. Ronald K. Hasley, D.D
Masato Mizuno, L.L.D. ’70
Joy Moy, D.H.L.
Gov. Tommy G. Thompson, D.L

1989

Rev. Lowell G. Almen, D.D.
Roland Olson, L.L.D.
Wally Phillips, L.L.D.

1988

Alan R. Anderson, L.L.D. ’50
Sherman G. Hicks, D.D.
Elmer W. Johnson, D.H.L.
Rev. John P. Kaitschuk, D.D.
Lowell H. Mays, D.D.
W. Robert Sorensen, D.D.

1987

Harold H. Lentz, D. Humanites
Richard Marconi, D.B.A.
Rev. Peter Rogness, D.D.
James L. Sundquist, D.S.S.

1986

Gerda Weissmann Klein, D.H.L.
Rev. June Nilssen, D.D.
Martin Staunt, D.H.L.

1985

Ness Flores, D.Law
Rev. Ronald Lavin, D.D.
Erna Rueggeberg, D.H.L.
Dr. James M. Unglaube, D.C.E. ’63

1984

Lois Dekker, D.C.E.
Rev. Joseph Ellwanger, D.D.
Merton E. Knisely, D.H.L.
Rogers Palmer, D.H.L.

1983

Matthias Kern, D.M.
Russell M. Rutter, D.H.L.
Rev. John H. Tietjen, D.D.
Frank P. Ziedler, D.H.L.

1982

Rev. William H. Kohn, D.D.
Dr. Gottfried Krodel, D.H.L.
Mr Reginald P. Merridew, D.H.L.
Rev. William H. Truby, D.D.

1981

William K. Eastham, D.H.L.
Rev. Frederick A. Marks, D.D.
Ruth Youngdahl Nelson, H.L

1980

Les Aspin, LL. D.
Donald E. Behrens, D.H.L.
Rev. Benjamin Gjenvick, D.D.
Rev. Chester I. Johnson, D.D.

1979

Rev. Harry S. Anderson, D.D.
Florence Parry Heide, L.H.D.
Margaret Hillis, D. Music
Keith W. Stoehr, D.H.

1978

Leslie Paffrath, D.H.L.
Studs Terkel, D. Litt.

1977

Harland Bartholomew, LL.D.
Melva Lind, D. Litt.
Ross H. Trower, D.D. ’43

1976

Robert F. Krasa, D.H.L.
Mary Eleanor Lentz, D.H.L.
William L. Niemann, LL.D. ’41
Donovan H. Palmquist, D.D.
Richard I. Preis, D.D.
Morris W. Reid, LL.D.
Newton E. Tarble, LL.D.

1975

Robert F. Boden, LL.D.
Robert G. Borgwardt, D.H.L.
Roy W. Davis, D.H.L.
Madeline Doran, D. Litt.
G. Theodore Mitau, LL.D.
Robert W. Schroeder, D.H.L.

1974

Lucien Cailliet, D. Music
Arthur G. Dixon, LL.D.
William B. Graham, LL.D.
Rev. Robert Hetico, D.D.
Samuel C. Johnson, LL.D.
Dr. Ruth A. Maxwell, D. Litt.
Rev. Christian Meyer, D.D. ’42

1973

John H. Baumgaertner, D.D.
Robert L. Grover, LL.D.
George L. Mosse, D. Litt.
Frances Murphy, D.H.L.
Tom Murphy, D.H.L.
Erland Nelson, D.Sc. ’42
Harley A. Swiggum, D.D.

1972

Dr. Frank Capra, D.F.A.
Roy D. Chapin, Jr., LL.D.
Hon. Thomas E. Fairchild, LL.D.
E.A. Grede, D. HL.
Dr. Ralph J. Jalkanen, D.D.
Dr. Frank P. Madsen, LL.D.
Dr. Theodore E. Matson, LL.D.
Dr. George A. Nicholson, Jr., LL.D.
Clarence (Dorothy) VanLoo, D.H.L.
Dr. Boyce R. Williams, L.H.B.

1971

Dr. Howard Ellis Cox, LL.D. ’33
Dr. Dorris A. Flesner, D.D. ’36
Dr. Pearl E. Goeller, D. HL. ’20
Hon. Mark Odom Hatfield, D.C.L.
Rev; Wesley A. Samuelson, D.D.
Dr. Krister Stendahl, D.S.T.

1970

Robert Barndt Anderson, D.D.
Frederick B. Artz, D. Litt.
Alden W. Clausen ’44
Robert William Girod, D.D.
Ralph Warner Hammett, D.F.A.
William G. Juergens, LL.D. ’25
William Walsh, D.H.L.
Rev. Charles Witt ’46

1969

Rev. Edgar W. Belter ’48
Rev. Howard A. Christensen
William S. Ellis
William Proxmire

1968

Kenneth E. Baulding
Rev. Arno D. Martin
R.L. Siebert
Rev. Constantine Trued

1967

Dr. Quirinus Breen
Rev. G.Wm. Genszler, D.D. ’37
Rev. Jerome A. Miller
Fr. Stransky

1966

Dr. Carl Becker
Hon. George Currie
Dr. Charles J. Curtis
Dr. Frederick J. Hoffman
O. Ewald Peterson
Dr. Richard Powell

1965

Rev. O. Garfield Beckstrand, IL. D.D. ’42
Wilbur Capps, LL.D.
Rev. Glenn Cloninger, D.D.
Harold J. Grimm, D.Litt
Rev. Ingolf B. Kindem, D.D.
Bernard Tallent
Charles Whitten, D.Sc. ’30

1964

Rev. D.P. Dovemuehle, D.D. ’39

1963

Herbert Fisk Johnson, L.H.D.
Joseph Johnson, Sc.D.
Rev. Frederick R. Ludwig, D.D.
Rev. William Niebling, D.D.
Rienow, D. Litt. ’30
Rev. Alfred H. Stone, D.D. ’37
Dr. Harold Swanbert, Sc.D.
Clarence Turley, LL.D.
Milton C. Wittenberg, L.H.D.

1962

John Leonard Berger, LH.D.
W.O. Helwig, LL.D.
General Lyman Louis Lemnitzer, Sc.D.
Rev. Robert Sebastian Romies, D.D. ’35
Rev. B.J. Stecker, D.D.
Orlando W. Wilson, LL.D.

1961

Rev. Walter Kloetzli, LL.D.
Rev. Robert J. Marshall, D.D.
Rev. Paul L. Roth, D.D.
Rev. Theodore A. Youngquist, D.D.

1960

Arthur L. Grede, L.H.D.
Rev. George L. Lundquist, D.D.
Rev. Luther C. Mueller, D.D. ’31
Donald K. Slayton, Sc. D.

1959

Rev. William H. Cooper, D.D.
Rev. William R. Eller, D.D.
Emma M. Johnson, L.H.D. ’24
LeRoy J. Knoeppel, LL.D. ’27
Rev. Theodore Stephens Rees, D.D. ’27
Rev. William W. Roth, D.D.

1958

Dr. Marcue Bach, LL.D.
Rev. Henry W. Opperman, D.D.
Rev. Hugh Paton, D.D. ’30
Rev. A. Howard Weeg, D.D.

1957

Rev. Dr. Jerald C. Brauer, LL.D. ’43
Rev. William A. Kiser, D.D.
Rev. Clarence B. Lund, D.D. ’31
Alex Miller, L.H.D.
Dr. James L. d’Aumont Roth, Sc.D. ’38

1956

Dr. Ralph A. Dorner, Sc. D. ’30
Cedric Foster, Litt. D.
Rev. Garrett F. Gensler, D.D. ’25
Carl F. Granrud, LL.D.
Rev. Maurice E. Lesher, D.D. ’23
Rev. Ernest D. Nielsen, Litt.D. ’28
Rev. Amos G. Streich, D.D.

1955

Rev. Carl D. Kammeyer, D.D.
J. Martin Klotsche, LL.D.
The Rev,. Frederick F. Mueller, D.D. ’28
Rev. Harold T. Rasmussen, D.D.
Luther W. Youngdahl, LL.D.

1954

Rev. K. William Braun, D.D. ’31
Dr. O.A. Hanke, L.H.D.
Rev. Kenneth A. Hurst, D.D. ’23
William K. Selden, LL.D.
Rev. Carl V. Tambert ’29

1953

Rev. Elmer E. Flack, LL.D. ’16
Rev. George B. McCreary, D.D.
Dr. Leon A. Sweet, Sc.D. ’30

1952

Rev. Alfred Jensen, D.D.
Conger Reynolds, LL.D.
Merriam H. Trytten, Sc. D.
Mildred W. Winston, Litt. D.

1951

Rev. William G. Arbaugh, D.D. ’23
A.O. Boatman, Sc. D.
Rev. Albert E. Iverson,D.D.
J. Loy Maloney, LL.D.
Rev. Henry F. Schuh, LL.D.

1950

Rev. Paul E. Bishop, D.D.

1949

Rev.Frederick D. Boldt, D.D.
Everett G. Mitchell, Litt.D.

1948

Edith E. Eykamp, D. Litt. ’24

1943

Rev. Charles B. Foelsch, D.D.

1942

Rev. J.R. Frenzel, D.D.
Rev. Edward A. Piper, D.D. ’20
Rev. W. Carl Satre, D.D. ’25

1941

Rev. William J. Boatman, D.D.
Rev. William H. Gable, D.D.
Rev. Alfred L. Grewe, D.D.

1940

Rev. R.R. Belter, D.D.
Dr. Armin George Weng, D.D.

1939

Rev. Mark A. Getzendanner, D.D. ’14
Rev. Charles L Venable, D.D.

1938

Rev. Leland H. Lesher, D.D. ’18
Rev. Carl C. Roth, D.D.

1937

Rev. O. Garfield Beckstrand, D.D. ’17
Rev. Walter D. Spangler, D.D.
Rev. Paul H. Stahl, D.D.

1936

Rev. Oak W. Ebright, D.D. ’16

1935

Rev. William P. Christy, D.D.

1934

T.E. Musselman, Sc.D.

1933

Alfred G. Heitman, Sc.D. ’08

1932

Rev. George P. Lottich, D.D.

1930

Rev. Clarence E. Paulus, D.D.
Rev. Edward P. Scharf, D.D.

1929

Rev. Frank E. Jensen, D.D.
Karr Parker, Sc. D. ’13

1927

Rev. John F. Fedder, D.D.

1926

Rev. J.D. Riser, D.D. ’95

1925

Rev. W.F. Rex, D.D.
Rev. A.J. Soldan, D.D.

1924

Rev. Paul W. Roth, D.D.
Rev. Nils Willison, Litt.D.

1920

Rev. R.B. Garten, D.D.

1918

Rev. Stewart W. Herman, D.D.

The Carthage Flame was created by action of the Board of Trustees on October 11, 1988, and recognizes outstanding service to the College and the community. The recipients of the Carthage Flame are elected by the Trustees. Each flame is numbered consecutively, and engraved with the name of the recipient and the year of award. The Flame is not awarded every year. In years when it is awarded, only one Flame is bestowed, although it can be bestowed jointly.

Past winners of the Carthage Flame:

 

2022

Albert J. Van Maren ’65

2019
Loren H. Semler ’65, trustee emeritus

2017
Jan Tarble, artist and philanthropist

2016
The Rev. Dudley V. Riggle, professor emeritus of religion, former Carthage campus pastor

2015

William Abt, former senior vice president for administration and business at Carthage

2014
F. Gregory and Barbara Campbell, former President and First Lady of the College

2012
James M. Unglaube ’63, Vice President Emeritus for College Relations

2011
Edward W. Smeds ’57, chairman emeritus, Carthage Board of Trustees

2010
Charlotte Chell, professor of mathematics at Carthage

2009
The Reverend Ralph S. Leonard ’51, Vice President Emeritus for Church Relations (awarded posthumously)

2008
William L. Niemann ’41, Trustee of the College

2007
Catherine Lowry Straz, Trustee of the College, and David A. Straz, Jr., philanthropist (awarded jointly)

2006
Ralph Tenuta, Chairman, Tenuta’s Inc., Kenosha, and Chairman of the Board, Johnson Bank, Kenosha, and a Trustee of the College

2005
Irène J. Kraemer, Vice President and Dean of the School of Professional Studies (awarded posthumously)

2004
Alan R. Anderson ’50, President Emeritus of the College

2003
Donald D. Hedberg ’53, Trustee of the College

2002
Robert C. Dittus, Vice President Emeritus of Business and Finance

2001
Senator Joseph F. Andrea (retired)

2000
Ruth Johnson, Registrar Emerita

1999
R. William Miller, Professor of Geography

1998
Howard Brown, Publisher (retired) of the Kenosha News and a Carthage Trustee

1997
T. Shandy Holland, Professor Emeritus of Speech Communication and Theatre

1996
Theodore W. Nicholson, director of Carthage’s food service operations from 1946 to 1989

1995
Merle W. Boyer, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, and Eunice F. Boyer, Professor Emerita of Sociology/Anthropology (awarded jointly)

1994
Jack S. Harris ’49, President Emeritus of the Siebert Lutheran Foundation and a Trustee Emeritus of the College

1993
Dr. Harold H. Lentz, President Emeritus of Carthage, and Mrs. Eleanor Lentz (awarded jointly)

1992
John E. Koenitzer, Chairman and CEO (retired) of Helwig Carbon Products, Inc., and a Trustee of the College

1991
A. W. Clausen ’44, Chairman and CEO (retired) of BankAmerica Corporation and a Carthage Trustee. His leadership led the College to establish the A. W. Clausen Center for World Business

1990
Mrs. Newton E. Tarble, benefactor; along with her late husband, she provided the funds to build and maintain Tarble Hall. In the late 1990s, Mrs. Tarble’s naming gift made possible the construction of the N. E. Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center

1989
Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Jockey International, and former Chairman of the Carthage Board of Trustees