Ben Eugene Vidricksen

Background

Vidricksen, Ben Eugene was born on June 11, 1927 in Salina, Kansas, United States. Son of Henry and Ruby Mae Vidricksen.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Kansas Wesleyan University, 1951. Field superintendent Harding Creamery division National Dairy Products, Kearney, Kansas, 1951-1952. Plant manager Kraft division National DairyProducts, O"Neill, Nebraska, 1952-1959.

Owner Vidricksen"s Food Service, Salina, 1959.

Consultant in field; member Kansas Senate, since 1979, assistant majority leader. Chairman joint building construction committee, legislation and congressional apportionment committee, legislation post audit, economics development, transportation and utilities, public health and welfare, federal and state affairs, governmental organization, special interim commission on efficiency in state government, 1983.

Delegate White House Conference Small Business, 1995, 96, White House Conference on Tourism and Travel, 1995, 96. Member Hennessy/United States Air Force Worldwide Food Service Evaluation Team, 1978, 79.

Career

Field superintendent Harding Creamery division National Dairy Products, Kearney, Kansas, 1951-1952, plant manager Kraft division O'Neill, Nebraska, 1952-1959. Owner Vidricksen's Food Service, Salina, since 1959. Consultant in field; member Kansas Senate, since 1979, assistant majority leader.

Chairman joint building construction committee, legislation and congressional apportionment committee, legislation post audit, economic development, transportation and utilities, public health and welfare, federal and state affairs, governmental organization, special interim committee on efficiency in state government, 1983. Delegate White House Conference on Tourism and Travel, 1995, 96. Member Hennessy/United States Air Force Worldwide Food Service Evaluation Team, 1978, 79.

Achievements

• Ben Eugene Vidricksen has been listed as a noteworthy food service executive, state legislator by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Member Salina Airport Authority, 1972-1984, chairman, 1976-1977. Chairman Republican Central Committee, County of Saline, Kansas, 1974-1979. Advisory council Small Business Administration, since 1982, chairman advisory council small business development center.

Member advisory board Salvation Army. Past chairman Salina Convention and Tourism Bureau. Vice chairman Kansas Turnpike Authority, since 1995.

Served with United States Navy, 1945-1946. Member United States Air Force Association, Association United States Army, National Republican Legislators Association, American Legislation Exchange Council, Pan American Highway Association (International Achievement award 1992, Road Buiulders award 1995), North Salina Business Association (past president), International Brdige, Tunnel and Tpke. Association, Kansas Restaurant Association (past president, Restauranteur of Year 1973), Kansas Tourism and Travel Commission, Kansas Film Commission, National Restaurant Association (director since 1977), Travel Industry Association Kansas (director), Veterans of Foreign Wars (life), Salina Chamber of Commerce (past board directors), American Legion, Optimists, North Salina Lions Club, Elks, Moose, Eagles, Masons (knight commander Scottish rite 1994), Shriners.

Connections

Married Lola Mae Nienke, January 20, 1950 (divorced). Children: Nancy, Janice, Ben, Penelope, Jeffery.

Father:

Henry Vidricksen

Mother:

Ruby Mae Vidricksen

Spouse:

Lola Mae Nienke

child:

Nancy Vidricksen

child:

Ben Vidricksen

child:

Jeffery Vidricksen

child:

Penelope Vidricksen

child:

Janice Vidricksen