Kentucky Distinguished Economist Awards

Each year the KEA presents the Kentucky Distinguished Economist award at its annual conference.

The 2026 Kentucky Distinguished Economist Award recipient is Dr. John P. Nelson

Dr. Nelson holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Kentucky and taught at the University of Louisville for over 57 years until his retirement in 2024. During the course of his time as an economics professor, Dr. Nelson advised and worked for Louisville Mayors, Kentucky Governors, and members of the old Louisville Board of Alderman and the current Louisville Metro Council. He played a key role in helping Louisville city government to develop its annual budget. He was a key figure in advising city government on the Louisville International / Muhammad Ali Airport expansion and growth.

https://www.wdrb.com/news/education/university-of-louisville-economics-professor-retires-after-nearly-6-decades/article_919aec22-a6af-11ef-95b7-fbbcb0281158.html

Kentucky Economic Association Roll of Distinguished Economists

1975James Martin
1976William Herzel
1977Marlon Gillium
1978Don Soule
1979Clifton Lowry
1980Paul Tanner
1981Damon Harrison
1982Charles Haywood
1983Charles Hultman
1984James Thompson
1985Lawrence Lynch
1986Stephen Lile
1990Roy Bahi
1991Juanita Kreps
1992Ray Marshall
1993Paul McCracken
1994Benjamin Friedman
1995Alan Randall
1996Gerald Lynch
1997Ronald Jones
1998Price Fishback
1999James Ramsey
2000Kerry Back
2002Eugene Steurle
2003Margaret Walls
2004Merl Hackbart
2005Donald Kenkel
2006W. Kip Viscusi
2007Ralph d’Arge
2008John Whitehead
2009Glenn Blomquist
2010Jeffrey Lacker
2011Amitabh Chandra
2012James J. Heckman
2013Jerry R. Skees
2014Paul A. Coomes
2015La Vaughn M. Henry
2016Eugenia F. Toma
2017Kathryn H. Anderson
2018Frank O’Connor
2019David Wildasin
2020John Garen
2021Cathy Carey
2022Frank Scott
2023Todd Stinebrickner
2024Bruce K. Johnson
2025Brian Goff
2026John P. Nelson