May 28, 1999
Ron Harper is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Management Planning Systems Inc. (MPSI), based in Tulsa. Founded in 1970 with $500 of capital and the idea that petroleum marketers could use computer software to select the best sites for their outlets, MPSI has grown into a publicly traded NASDAQ firm doing business in more than 80 countries.
Harper earned a KU degree in engineering in 1961, then took a position with Phillips Petroleum as a computer analyst. In 1965, he returned to KU to pursue an MBA in operations research, which he completed with honors the following year. He joined Sun Oil Co., then founded his own company four years later.
When the firm went public in 1983, Harper made a donation of MPSI stock then valued at $1.25 million to endow the Ronald G. Harper Distinguished Professorship, currently held by Professor Prakash Shenoy. He also established the Harper Computer Lab.
Dave Dillon has managed large corporate food industry enterprises for most of his career. In 1986, Dillon was named president of the company his grandfather founded in 1921. The Kansas-based Dillons stores are now a part of Kroger Co., the largest retail food company in the United States as measured by total annual sales. David Dillon is the president of Kroger, which has its headquarters in Cincinnati.
While earning degrees in accounting and business administration, Dillon was the KU student body president. He went on to earn a law degree from Southern Methodist University.
Both of this year's honorees serve on the Board of Advisors of the School of Business. Dillon is a trustee of the KU Endowment Association as well.
This was the second year the award was given. It was inaugurated last May with the presentation of 21 Honorary Alumni Awards to School of Business graduates.