15 Mar Kansas Chamber Announces 2024 Ad Astra Award Honoree

TOPEKA, KAN. – The Kansas Chamber on Thursday announced Lawrence Paper Company is the Chamber’s 2024 Ad Astra Award honoree.

Each year during its annual dinner, the Chamber and its members recognize a Kansas company with the Ad Astra Award. The award recognizes a Kansas business for its unique contributions to the economic health and welfare of the state. This honor is presented to a business that exemplifies both business and civic excellence within the state.

“For more than 142 years, Lawrence Paper Company and its employees have been leaders in the paper and corrugated box industry, focused on advancing innovation in their industry and embracing the entrepreneur spirit of Kansas,” said Chamber President and CEO Alan Cobb. “LPC dedication to new products and new markets led to its expansion to three locations and more than 300 employees. The Kansas Chamber and its members are thrilled to recognize Lawrence Paper Company and its employees for their contributions to Kansas with the 2024 Ad Astra Award.”

Justin DeWitt Bowersock established the Lawrence Paper Company in 1882, making it the first paper mill constructed west of the Mississippi. The mill along the Kansas River in Lawrence produced wrapping paper made from straw. It was used primarily to protect whiskey bottles and cases of eggs being shipped by trains and horse-drawn wagons.

It wasn’t long before LPC proved itself as an industry pioneer, developing numerous corrugated shipping products under the “Jayhawk” brand. The company also designed patented equipment to manufacture these products, and then shared the new technology to the benefit of the entire paper industry.

Under the leadership of four generations of Bowersock’s descendants, LPC has continued on its path of innovation and expansion, and today has operations in Lawrence and divisions in Hutchinson (American Packing Company) and Freemont, NE (Jayhawk Boxes Inc.). It produces industrial boxes and retail displays and provides fulfillment services.

“During the last two decades, LPC now operating under fourth and fifth generation ownership, has been able to transform itself into a market leader through substantial investments in state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. The business and working culture in Kansas and Nebraska have allowed us to leverage our assets to better serve our customers,” said Justin Hill, LPC President. “We are honored to be the recipient of the Chamber’s 2024 Ad Astra Award.”

LPC and its divisions are among the largest employers in their respective communities, providing an important foundation for the local economies. At a regional and state level, the company appreciates the importance of working in a business-friendly environment, and is therefore pleased to volunteer time to serve Chamber activities such as Leadership Kansas, the Manufacturing Council, and representation of the Kansas Chamber Executive Committee.

Presented by NextEra Energy Resources, the 2024 Kansas Chamber Annual Dinner is Monday, April 29th at the Stormont Vail Events Center in Topeka.

The dinner is one of the largest annual statewide gathering of business and political leaders in Kansas.

This year’s keynote speaker is former United States Attorney General William Barr.

Only the second person to serve twice as the U.S. Attorney General, Barr also served as general counsel and advisor for major corporations on government enforcement matters, regulatory litigation, and government affairs activities.

Barr currently serves as Chairman of the advisory board of the Center for Legal Action (CLA), part of the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce (AMFree). The CLA fights against the excessive expansion of federal regulations and mandates that only raise costs and eliminate jobs while restricting basic freedoms of individuals and businesses.

You can learn more about the annual dinner at KansasChamber.org/AnnualDinner.