EMPORIA, Kan. – A Hutchinson native who at one time ran a national retail company and a railroad builder who developed Johnson County will be inducted into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame next month located at Emporia State University.

David Dillon, who until January 1, of this was CEO of the Kroger Co., parent company of Dillon’s.

Dillon was born March 30, 1951, attended Hutchinson public schools and graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1969. He attended the University of Kansas where he received a bachelor’s degree in business. He then went on to earn a law degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from SMU, Dillon returned to Hutchinson to work for the Dillon Company, a grocery store chain that his grandfather had founded. Dillon’s merged with the Kroger Co. in 1983 and Dillon became the CEO as part of that merger.

The other inductee is the late William B. Strang, who built the interurban Strang Line for rail travel between Kansas City and Olathe.

Both will be recognized at the Kansas Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony during the 42nd annual Team Kansas Awards Banquet on Tuesday, June 17, at Wichita State University.

The ceremony marks the 26th year of inductions into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame. Business leaders selected for the KBHF are widely known for their contributions to Kansas, and are recognized as role models.