Hall of Fame

The Board of Directors of the National Safety Council, Greater Omaha Chapter, in the interest of recognizing exceptional contributions to the Council in achieving its mission, established the Hall of Fame in 1994. Annually the Chairman of the Council Board of Directors appoints a Hall of Fame Committee which nominates candidates for election by the Board of Directors to the Hall of Fame.

Members of the Hall of Fame

2006   Alan Simon

Alan Simon, chairman, Omaha Steaks International, greatly influenced the Council’s progress and growth during his tenure as board member, 1995-2006.  Serving on the executive committee during his terms as chair of the corporate leadership committee followed by chair of the development committee, Simon was influential in the Council’s investment into its owner occupied headquarters.  He was also a strong proponent and volunteer in the million dollar capital campaign held to raise dollars for program growth.

Alan Simon stressed community as the number one reason for the Council’s being and placed it at the pinnacle of our organization.

He took his membership on the Safety Council board of directors to heart.  Not only did he positively affect the Council, he affected his employees and the community in the way of safety.  Omaha Steaks invests in their people.  His company, Omaha Steaks, is proof positive that every dollar spent on safety returns four dollars in profit.  For Omaha Steaks it’s likely far more.  Omaha Steaks received the Chapter’s Award of Honor with Distinction in 2006 based on outstanding safety and health programs for five consecutive years. 

He also provided tremendous support of the Council’s Child Passenger Safety program and Safety and Health Summit.  Omaha Steaks will sponsor the Safety and Health Summit through 2011.

2005   John Mock

High energy, humorous yet all business when appropriate, characterizes the leadership of John Mock, chairman of the board of directors 1995-1996.  In the early to mid-nineties, the Council experienced tremendous growth, so when Mr. Mock became chair, the challenges to serve a growing staff, expanded programming, a growing membership and community following were imminent. 

A building fund was established, strategic business units were developed, and procedures and benefits were put in place to attract and retain quality staff. Mr. Mock was a newcomer to the Omaha community in 1990.  We are grateful that his compassion for service and volunteerism brought him to the Council and dedicated service from 1990 – 2004.

2005   Owen Neary

Owen Neary greatly influenced the Council’s progress and growth during his tenure as a board member from 1987 – 2004.  Steadfast in his concern for others, Mr. Neary appreciated safety and promoted it not only through the Council and its members but in his own life.  A great example for others and well known in the Omaha community, Mr. Neary was able to attract others of influence to the Council board.  During his chairmanship of the board of directors, he saw the successful completion and dedication of the Council’s new home at 11620 M Circle, the first development campaign and he guided the Greater Omaha Chapter through the multifaceted process to become the first independent chapter to sign as a joint membership chapter of the National Safety Council.

2004  Bruce Tresslar

Bruce Tresslar, senior vice president of Peter Kiewit & Sons was honored for his tremendous support as a board member.  He served our mission well, chairing our EXPO, and administration committees and serving as a member of the capital campaign, marketing and executive committees.  It was during this time period that the Council was challenged with huge growth and the needs for staff and space.  He provided great insight and guidance in the board of directors’ facility search followed by the building site search and planning, budgeting and oversight to the building project.

Mr. Tresslar’s interest, concern and advice from his perspective as a member of the Kiewit team coupled with his Council concern and experience gave the Council invaluable expertise in the development of our current home.

2003   Don Begley

Don Begley retired recently from the National Safety Council board of directors after more than 30 years of service to the Council. Beginning in the late 1960s Mr. Begley began working with the Council to promote fire safety. He used his own resources at his own expense to educate others

He provided school demonstrations to educate children and their teachers, neighborhood demonstrations to educate families, always using his employees, his fire pans, extinguishers, volunteers and other equipment to provide the education.

The Knights of AkSarBen were very concerned about safety and worked with the Council to educate community-wide.

In the 70s with the Council they sponsored gigantic fire show demonstrations at AkSarBen in front of the grandstand complete with high school marching bands and booths. Don Begley donated his services and resources to these events.

Mr. Begley began his service as a board member in 1983 serving as chairman of occupational safety and health programs for 6 years, chairman of membership for 2 years and chairman of the board of directors for two years.

Mr. Begley is the epitome of the ‘servant leader’. He was one who given the ability to serve and lead has given our society its character and the National Safety Council, Greater Omaha Chapter the ability to perform. His own genuine concern for the safety of others, service to the Omaha area and wonderful sense of humor highlighted his service to the National Safety Council, Greater Omaha Chapter

2002   David Houghton, Marty Conboy, Jim Jansen

In 1993-94, when David Houghton was the President of the Omaha Bar Association, he recognized that juveniles charged with Minor in Possession (MIP)

were sometimes processed in juvenile court and, at other times, in criminal court.

Houghton talked with judges in both the Separate Juvenile Court of Douglas County and the Douglas County Court about developing a possible MIP diversion program. It was suggested that David Houghton visit with Jim Jansen, the Douglas County Attorney, and Marty Conboy, the Chief Prosecutor for the City of Omaha, to determine eligibility and curriculum guidelines. Through a series of collaborative meetings, the program began through the Safety and Health Council in 1998.

The MIP diversion program provides an opportunity for youth who are charged with first offense MIP to have the charges dismissed while educating them about the risks of underage drinking.

Nearly 1,200 youth have successfully completed the MIP diversion program since its implementation. Several recent studies have proven the program is effective in reducing MIP recidivism.

Our community is indebted to Hall of Fame inductees, David Houghton, Marty Conboy and Jim Jansen for their foresight and leadership for starting the MIP diversion program. This innovative course positively impacts the safety of our community.

2000  Lorraine Giles

Lorraine Giles, retired elementary principal and director of elementary safety for Omaha Public schools, has greatly influenced school safety programs as well as community-wide safety programs for over 40 years. Some have called her the School Safety Queen.

Safety has been her passion – evident in her life style, in her work and in her volunteerism.

Mrs. Giles has been Honorary Captain and Honorary Deputy Chief of the Omaha Police, and Honorary Fire Chief of the Omaha Fire Department for contributions to safety and security, specifically for children. She frequently appeared before the legislature and served as safety chairman of the State PTA, she also serves as consultant for the development of the Nebraska Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Curriculum and for Operation Lifesaver in development of safety videos for national distribution for children addressing railroad and grade crossing safety.

Mrs. Giles received the Governor’s Highway Safety Award for Outstanding Contributions to Highway Safety, the B’Nai B’Rith Award two times, the Omaha Safety Council Service to Mankind Award, the Richmond-Gordman Safety Award, the Outstanding National Volunteer Award for Service to Safety from the National Association of Safety Council Executives and the Distinguished Service to Safety Award from the National Safety Council.

She’s been recognized in the Congressional Record for achievements in elementary education and child safety.

An active member of the Safety and Health Council board of directors from 1959 to 1999, she served as chairman of the board of directors and as executive director on two occasions.

In her Council work, spanning 40 years, Mrs. Giles has strongly advocated for community safety programs, “….these are our programs for goodness and mercy,” she said. She can take credit for everything that has been built in the community safety area. The Council’s beginning safety programs for the schools, such as Safe Walk to School and Pre-School Traffic Training were her inspiration. She pushed hard for the Council to pursue Good Driving Omaha! followed by Arrive Alive and Operation FireSafe!

1999   Gary Bucchino

Increases in driving offenses and increased numbers of offenders in the Omaha courts prompted Gary Bucchino, Omaha City Prosecutor from 1970 to 1994, to seek solutions to ease the pressures on the courts and at the same time provide services that could give the opportunity for much needed education to the driving public. He selected Safety and Health Council defensive driving programs and entrusted the Council wit the design of a system that provided all training, tracking of offenders and administration of the program. Omaha streets are safer because Mr. Bucchino had the foresight to initiate the safety training option plan for traffic offenders in Omaha… a benefit for the entire community.

1999   Jerry Guinane

Jerry Guinane, former executive with Northern Natural Gas Company became a board member of the Council in 1984.

He served as chairman of the administration committee from 1986 – 1988, and then served on the membership committee until his retirement from the board in 1995. Concern for meeting member companies’ safety and health needs prompted Mr. Guinane to spearhead a membership survey through which the Council found great concern for the safe practices in member company workplaces.  The concept of a Safe Practices Program and curriculum was formalized, yet dollars were unavailable to fund the program. Mr. Guinane took the member concerns and Council needs to provide the program to his own company and found support within Northern Natural Gas to fund the first Safe Practices in the Workplace Programs through a grant making them available at no charge to member companies. This program continues today as the center piece of member benefits for Council members.

1998   Jon Bischof

Jon Bischof, retired manager of the Kiewit Construction Company, Omaha Building District, was a member of the board of directors of the Safety and Health Council from 1983 to 1991. He became involved because of the serious safety hazards of the construction industry, but his interests expanded to include chairmanship of both the home, school and child committee and occupational safety and health awards committee.

A personal family tragedy, gave Mr. Bischof the strength and the vision to bring forward Child Safety Day as a Council project. For several years, thousands of families attended Child Safety Day at the Omaha Civic Auditorium where children and parents learned about personal and public safety. Indeed, Mr. Bischof’s influence and Child Safety Day provided a strong beginning for the Council’s excellent child safety programs of today.

His generosity knew no bounds. He provided his own staff to assist in the comprehensive evaluations of other companies’ safety programs for the Occupational Safety and Health Awards Program. And he made his Kiewit staff available for program development, demonstration and training so that other companies could become stronger in safety.

He served the Council and his community well!

1997   Joseph Laferla

Joseph Laferla greatly influenced the growth and focus of the Council from his first day on the Board of Directors through two moves until his retirement 19 years later in 1993. He continues to be a wise and welcome counselor. He served on every committee and as Chairman of the Board for three years. He has been named Board Member Emeritus. He has made a difference! Mr. Laferla attracted very capable and respected business and community leaders to the Board because of his strong personal commitment to safety as the primary mission for every business, home and community.

As a general manager of the Metropolitan Utilities District he rallied community support for programs such as Good Driving Omaha, Arrive Alive and Child Safety Days. Joe Laferla’s legacy is the expansion of effective, continuing community safety programs. The Council’s reputation for excellence and integrity and the exceptional growth of our Council have been achieved by the continuous leadership and dedication of individuals like Joe Laferla.

1997   Robert Ward

Robert Ward, retired director of safety for Omaha Public Power District, managed the safety of thousands of employees efficiently and effectively. With resources at his fingertips that could have been the envy of many smaller companies, he shared his knowledge, his contacts and expertise to provide training and other resources through the Council so that others would have a safe workplace. In the ‘60’s and 70’s when the Council did not have the resources and facilities to provide seminars and training sessions in some highly technical areas, Bob Ward worked as a volunteer with the Council staff to locate adequate sites or materials necessary to conduct high quality training in areas such as electrical, fire or trenching safety. He enlisted members of ASSE as volunteers. He was a valuable resource for training videos, library and research materials from all over the country. He served the Council and community well!

1996   Marylois Skochdopole

Marylois Sckochdopole served as CEO of the Omaha Safety Council from 1982 – 1988. Under her leadership, the quality of Council services created a market outside the Omaha area as industry moved into corporate restructuring and regulatory changes. The Council expanded to a larger facility and developed the STOP program to serve citizens, law enforcement, and the court systems. A name change to the Safety and Health Council of Greater Omaha more accurately described the organization’s expanded direction. She took Council programs into the business community and developed a professional, trained staff, tapping into the ideas, innovations, and know-how of that staff and exceptional community volunteers. Mrs. Skochdopole’s collaborative, and empowering leadership, her expertise and experience in marketing and finance, combined with great personal commitment to the Council’s mission, generated the energy that made Omaha one of the premiere chapters of the National Safety Council.

1996   Ed Sawyer

In the 1970’s Ed Sawyer began his every increasing roll as a volunteer when he directed the Council’s hospital safety committee. Because of his extensive experience as a safety professional, he was a resource for all the Council’s committees and programs. After he retired from positions as safety director, he became a full-time volunteer for the Council. He visited small businesses and assisted them as they implemented compliance reports, hazardous materials handling plans, or waded through a mire of manuals.

He made it possible for the Council to provide exceptional services and programs as they expanded beyond Omaha. The Council’s volunteer extraordinare has been honored by the National Safety Council, the ASSE, the United States Air Force, and B’Nai B’Rith. The Safety and Health Council honors Ed Sawyer for the degree of excellence he brought to the Council as a volunteer.

1995   Bernard W. Reznicek

As Chairman of the board of directors beginning in 1983, Bernard W. Reznicek led the Council during the period of tremendous expansion that developed and shaped the Council as we know it today. He recognized the unique capacities and abilities of the board members, the volunteers and the professional staff. He inspired them to undertake and accomplish even beyond their highest expectations and always credited them for the phenomenal achievements of the Council during his term. Mr. Reznicek brought new energy to the Council by developing strong board committees charged with directing the rapid growth of all aspects of the Council. The team effort established the strong foundations on which we build today. Mr. Reznicek assembled an exceptional professional staff and gave them the power and confidence to more the Council forward.

 1994  Judge Walter Cropper

Judge Cropper began his career with the Council in 1967. His leadership on the Municipal Court provided a focus on the need for education and retraining for traffic offenders. As a team, Judge Cropper and Judge Hickman became the primary force working for traffic safety education in the Omaha area. Because of their dedication to developing a comprehensive traffic safety resource in the community, Omaha pedestrians, passengers, and drivers enjoy safer streets.

 1994  Kermit Hansen

Kermit Hansen served the Council as president in 1961, 1980, 1981 and 1982.  Since the fifties, Mr. Hansen has had a stellar influence on the direction of the Council. Under his leadership, the Board expanded the mission of the Council to serve the greater metropolitan area. He expanded volunteer leadership and monitored the changing business climate enabling the Council to respond immediately to the community and new government regulatory agencies. The Council’s expanded role in safety education and training can be attributed directly to his vision and leadership.

 1994  Judge Paul Hickman

Judge Hickman served as Council president in 1978 and 1979. He joined the Council seeking resources for the courts beyond their current options. It was Judge Hickman’s personal dedication to driver education that moved the Council to develop the first defensive driving program for the court system and area businesses. He insisted that the program be closely monitored and constantly improved. Omaha streets are safer because under his leadership the Council pioneered education and training programs.

 1994 Ed Rosen

Ed Rosen, Council president in 1965, provided exceptional and constant leadership for the Council as ambassador for safety. Mr. Rosen never lost his enthusiasm for the message and the mission of the Council. For over fifty years he served as an elected leader, advisor, organizer, and at times a one-man rescue squad. Mr. Rosen also initiated the prestigious B’Nai B’Rith award for contributions to community safety.