The Columbus Award
Recognizing Outstanding Business and Community Leadership
Leadership is the essence of the Columbus Award. Since 1964, this award has been presented by the Chairman of the Columbus Chamber to individuals who have enjoyed business success or provided outstanding community leadership.
The Columbus Award Hall of Fame
| 2026 | Jeffrey W. Edwards | 1994 | Leslie H. Wexner |
| 2025 | Robert J. “Bob” Weiler, Sr. | 1993 | John F. Wolfe |
| 2024 | Melissa Ingwersen | 1992 | Vern Riffe |
| 2023 | Stephen D. Steinour | 1991 | Richard Moore Ross and Elizabeth McKeever Ross |
| 2022 | Guy Worley | 1990 | Robert M. Duncan |
| 2021 | Stephanie Hightower | 1989 | Melvin L. Schottenstein |
| 2020 | Lisa Bachmann | 1988 | Daniel M. Galbreath |
| 2019 | Cathy Lyttle | 1987 | John W. Kessler |
| 2018 | Jim Kunk | 1986 | John E. Fisher |
| 2017 | Steve Rasmussen | 1985 | Robert Lazarus, Jr. |
| 2016 | David Blom | 1984 | Frank Wobst |
| 2015 | Jack Partridge | 1983 | Rep. Chalmers P. Wylie |
| 2014 | Tanny Crane | 1982 | German Village Society |
| 2013 | Michael B. Coleman | 1981 | John H. McConnell |
| 2012 | John P. McConnell | 1980 | Dr. Joseph L. Davis |
| 2011 | Michael Curtin | 1979 | C. Kenneth Smith |
| 2010 | Michael Morris | 1978 | Rowland C. W. Brown, Mayor Tom Moody |
| 2009 | Carl Kohrt | 1977 | Walter English, Robert S. Crane, Jr. |
| 2008 | David Meuse | 1976 | Walter C. Mercer, Clair E. Fultz, John G. McCoy |
| 2007 | Alex Shumate, Esq. | 1975 | Sherwood L. Fawcett, Dean W. Jeffers |
| 2006 | Jerry Jurgensen | 1974 | Chief Justice C. William O’Neill, John C. Elam |
| 2005 | Don M. Casto III | 1973 | Edward F. Wagner, James Ralph Riley, Robert K. Levy, Sr. |
| 2004 | William J. Lhota | 1972 | Charles Y. Lazarus, William S. Guthrie |
| 2003 | Dimon McFerson | 1971 | Novice G. Fawcett |
| 2002 | E. Linn Draper, Jr., Ph.D. | 1970 | Harrison M. Sayre, Paul R. Gingher |
| 2001 | Robert D. Walter | 1969 | W.W. “Woody” Hayes |
| 2000 | Ronald A. Pizzuti | 1968 | Everett D. Reese |
| 1999 | Paula Spence | 1967 | Gov. James A. Rhodes |
| 1998 | Jo Ann Davidson | 1966 | Mayor M.E. Sensenbrenner |
| 1997 | Bob and Dorothy Teater | 1965 | Bertram D. Thomas, Jack Nicklaus, William E. Knepper |
| 1996 | John B. Gerlach | 1964 | Jerrie Mock, Robert Lazarus Sr., John W. Galbreath |
| 1995 | John B. McCoy |
