By: Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce—
Muncie, IN—The Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce has honored Kelly Stanley with their 2018 Legacy Award. The Gala Event held at the Horizon Convention Center, had nearly 300 guests.
The Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s Legacy Award is presented annually to an individual or couple who has made extraordinary, sustained, and positive contributions to the Muncie-Delaware County community, and who has provided leadership in the development of programs, events, and/or new traditions that promote goodwill and community pride.
Among those who spoke at the Gala were: Ron Fauquher and Wil Davis, founding partners of Ontario Systems; US Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donahue; Jim Borgmann, an attorney with DeFur Voran, LLC; Old National Bank President Robert Jones and Rick Rowray, CEO of the Youth Opportunity Center.
“Kelly Stanley has been an important part of this community and it’s only fitting that the community honors him with the Chamber’s Legacy Award. Kelly’s contributions haven’t only touched Muncie-Delaware County, but numerous others across the state and nation.” said Chamber President Jay Julian.
Kelly N Stanley was born in Muncie in 1943 and married Donna Marie Kozoriz of Hamilton, ON, Canada in 1967. They have now been married for 51 years and have three children, ten grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He graduated from Burris High School (’61), Miami (OH) University (’65), and the Indiana University School of Law (’68).
After law school, Donna and Kelly returned to Muncie in the summer of 1969. Early in his career, he was named the Outstanding Young Man in Muncie and One of Five Outstanding Young Men in Indiana by the local and state Jaycees in 1973. He also was President of the Muncie Bar Association and WIPB while serving as Chair of the local Red Cross and Muncie Mission during this time.
In 1978, he became Vice President and General Counsel of Ontario Corporation. Kelly eventually became President and CEO of Ontario and served as Chairman of American National Bank, Chairman of Ball Memorial Hospital, and a director of Maxon Corporation.
In addition to Chairing the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, Kelly served on the Board of Directors of the United States Chamber of Commerce and had the honor of serving as Chairman of that organization from 2000 – 2001.
After retiring from Ontario, he became President of the BMH Foundation – an organization dedicated to supporting the activities of Ball Memorial and Cardinal Health. It was during that time that Kelly and Donna co-chaired an important effort with Jim and Cathy Schrecongost to raise $9 million for a new cancer center.
In 2007, Kelly was named President and CEO of Cardinal Health System, a regional integrated network of healthcare providers, which included Ball Memorial Hospital. Under Kelly’s leadership, in January 2009, what had been known as Cardinal Health System became part of Clarian Health Partners (now IU Health) – a state-wide organization based in Indianapolis – that includes Methodist Hospital, Riley Children’s Hospital and the Indiana University Medical Center.
While retired, Kelly has remained active and engaged. Among other activities, he currently serves on the Board of Directors for Old National Bank, headquartered in Evansville. In the past year, he chaired the Youth Opportunity Center’s first-ever capital campaign to help vulnerable children in our community and across Indiana. The effort exceeded its original goal by 13% and raised more than $4.8 million. The work — meaningful to him and Donna both – was done, in his words, “For the Kids!”
Open Door Health Services CEO Bryan Ayars began the evening by greeting guests as the presenting sponsor of the event. Chamber Chairman of the Board of Directors Chris Caldwell presented the award to Stanley on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce.
Caldwell said, “It was an honor to recognize Kelly Stanley’s contributions to our community by awarding him with the Chamber’s Legacy Award. From his leadership at the US Chamber of Commerce to his involvement with numerous local boards (and most recently his successful capital campaign for the YOC), Kelly has always committed his energies and labors to making Muncie and Delaware County a better place. We are excited to recognize his legacy to this place we all choose to call home. Kelly represents what this award is about and I’m excited that we can do this to honor him and his family.
Past recipients include: Dr. Jo Ann Gora, Past President of Ball State University; Van P. Smith, Techsmith, LLC; Stefan Anderson, Retired CEO of First Merchants Bank; community activists Cornelius & Mary Dollison; Dr. George Branam, Pathologist & Community Volunteer; J. Allan Rent; and Jack Buckles, a retired attorney from the law firm Beasley Gilkison.
The Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce has been serving the community since 1894.
