Inductees

* – Denotes Deceased

Names with Red Text denotes link to bio page

2024

Name	Position	Instruments
Donna Svanda*	Sideman	Drums
Johnny Armbrust*	Bandleader	Accordion, Cordovox, Button Accordion
Joe A. Masek*	Sideman	Drums
Charlie Svagera*	Sideman	Button Accordion
Steve Hines	Sideman	Drums
Randy Skarka	Sideman	Trumpet, Fluegel Horn, Tenor Horn, Bass Horn, Music Arranger
Greg Blecha	Sideman	Trombone, Baritone, Trumpet, Button Accordion

2023

Name	Position	Instruments
Herman “Hermie” Franzluebbers*	Sideman	Button Accordion
Raynold Woita*	Sideman	Button Accordion
Bill Scott*	Bandleader	Trumpet
Leonard R. “Lenny Rich” Siedlik	Bandleader	Concertina, Accordion, Bass Guitar, Drums
Jan Lhotak	Sideman	Trumpet, Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Horn
Bob Zbylut	Sideman	Drums, Bass Horn, Vocals
Galen Beck	Sideman	Trumpet, Baritone, Bass Horn, Button Accordion

2022

Name	Position	Instruments
Walt Bahm*	Sideman	Drums
Marvin Capoun*	Sideman	Clarinet, Saxophone
Larry Skarka	Bandleader	Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone, Bass Horn
Jim Kucera	Bandleader	Accordion, Trumpet, Trombone
Charles & Irene Warga	Sokol Award Owners KOTD Radio Irene Sunday Polka Show

2021

NO INDUCTEES THIS YEAR

Cancelled due to renovations of Sokol Auditorium, now called The Admiral

2020

NO INDUCTEES THIS YEAR

Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

2019

Name	Position	Instruments
Mike Brecka	Bandleader/Sideman	Trumpet
Frank Remar	Bandleader	Accordion
Gil Krajnik*	Bandleader	Sax and Clarinet
Frank Kostka Jr.*	Sideman	Trumpet

2018

Name	Position	Instruments
Charles Petrmichl	Bandleader	Button Accordion
Steve Steager	Bandleader	Bass Horn/Bass Guitar
Big Joe Siedlik*	Polka Music Promoter
Johnny Halama*	Sideman	Bass Horn

2017

Name	Position	Instruments
Lou Hospodka	Bandleader	Button Accordion
Kevin D. Koopman	Bandleader	Bass, Trumpet, Trombone
Helen Janak*	Bandleader	Vocals
Charles Kral Sr.*	Sideman	Trombone, Baritone, Bass
Joe Yindrick	Sideman	Bass, Trumpet, Vocals
Everett Van Cleve*		Service Award, Sokol Omaha

2016

Name	Position	Instruments
Kenny Grebenick*	Sideman	Trumpet
Bud Comte*	Bandleader, Recording Engineer	Trumpet
Daniel L. Pasonault*	Sideman	Trumpet, Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Trombone
Gene Benes (Bobby Layne)	Bandleader Ballroom Owner	Alto Sax, Clarinet

2015

Name	Position	Instruments
Leonard Kassik*	Bandleader Milligan Brass Band	Brass
Frank Menousek*	Sideman	Sax, Clarinet
Steve Sobota	Sideman	Bass
Jeff Janda	Sideman	Bass
Louis Sevek Jr.	Service Award, Sokol Omaha

2014

Name	Position	Instruments
Ed Chalupa*	Sideman	Trumpet, Trombone
George Michka*	Sideman	Trumpet
Warren “Fritz” Srb*	Sideman	Trumpet
Ron & Darlene Kliment	Hall Managers Starlite Ballroom, Wahoo, NE
Tom Hazuka	Sideman	Drums
Ray Lastovica*	Sokol Omaha Service Award

2013

Name	Position	Instruments
Joseph J. Cerveny*	Polka Music Producer & Promoter
Lonnie L. Piitz	Bandleader	Clarinet, Saxophone, Accordion, Piano
Barry C. Boyce	Bandleader	Piano Accordion, Button Accordion

2012

Name	Position	Instruments
Robert “Bob” Luksa Jr.*	Sideman	Trombone, Clarinet, Saxophone, Drums
Rich Foral*	Sideman	Drums
Eddie Hanna*	Bandleader	Clarinet, Saxophone
Marla Hansen Janak	Sideman	Trumpet, Music Arranger

2011

Name	Position	Instruments
Mike Helgesen	Sideman	Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone
Frank Siedlik	Sideman	Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone
Gary Masek*	Sokol Omaha Service Award
Ron Nadherny	Sokol Omaha Service Award	Trumpet, Music Arranger

2010

Name	Position	Instruments
Don Korinek*	Sideman	Clarinet, Saxophone
Jim Kostka*	Sideman	Trumpet, Trombone

2009

Name	Position	Instruments
Jerry Hospodka*	Sideman	Drums, Trumpet
Dennis Pavlik	Chairman, Sokol Omaha Polka Hall of Fame
Leo V. Piitz*	Sideman	Drums
Helmut Putler*	Sideman	Clarinet, Saxophone

2008

Name	Position	Instruments
Ken Janak Jr.	Bandleader, Nebraska Czech Brass Band	Clarinet, Saxophone
Dick Janak Jr.	Sideman	Drums, Vocals
Bob Zagozda	Bandleader	Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet

2007

Name	Position	Instruments
Greg Trojan*	Sideman	Piano Accordion, Button Accordion
Joseph D. Slezak*	Polka Music Promoter

2006

Name	Position	Instruments
Bob Stepanek	Sideman	Bass Horn
Bill Andel	Sideman	Clarinet, Saxophone, Vocals

2005

Name	Position	Instruments
Allen Moravec	Sideman	Bass Horn
Edward J. “Sonny” Svoboda	Bandleader	Piano Accordion, Music Arranger

2004

Name	Position	Instruments
Mark Vyhlidal	Bandleader, Radio DJ, KJSK Radio	Accordion, Trumpet
Jerry Chalupa*	Sideman	Trumpet, Bass Horn, Vocals

2003

Name	Position	Instruments
Duane Stehlik*	Sideman	Accordion, Bass Horn
Gary Berka*	Sideman	Trumpet, Vocals

2002

Name	Position	Instruments
Frank Sobota*	Sideman	Bass Horn, Saxophone, Vocals
Glenn Koca	Sideman	Trumpet, Music Arranger

2001

Name	Position	Instruments
Joe Cada*	Sideman	Bass Horn
Elmer Nemec	Sideman	Bass Horn, Vocals
Charles Jirkovsky*	Sideman	Trumpet

2000

Name	Position	Instruments
Leonard Piitz*	Sideman	Clarinet, Saxophone
Don Horacek*	Sideman	Bass Horn

1999

Name	Position	Instruments
Kenny Shuda	Bandleader	Button Accordion
Gawaine Dvorak	Sideman	Accordion, Concertina

1998

Name	Position	Instruments
Norman Sodomka Jr.*	Sideman	Trumpet, Trombone
Clifford Koutnik*	Sideman	Piano, Clarinet, Music Arranger
Bob Palensky*	Bandleader, American Czech Brass Band	Trumpet, Accordion

1997

Name	Position	Instruments
Norman Sodomka Sr.*	Sideman	Trumpet
Dean Fornoff	Sideman	Drums

1996

Name	Position	Instruments
Leonard Becwar*	Bandleader	Button Accordion
Leonard Vidlak*	Sideman	Trumpet, Vocals

1995

Name	Position	Instruments
Paul Menousek	Sideman	Clarinet, Saxophone, Vocals
Vernon Belik*	Bandleader	Button Accordion

1994

Name	Position	Instruments
Jim Bochnicek	Bandleader	Drums
Ed Vanek*	Sideman	Bass Horn

1993

Name	Position	Instruments
Eddie Washinowski*	Bandleader	Accordion
Anton Pokorny*	Sideman	Trumpet

1992

Name	Position	Instruments
Ernie Hovorka*	Sideman	Bass Horn
Rudy Dvorak*	Bandleader, Omaha Czech Brass Band, Radio DJ, KOTD Radio	Bass Horn

1991

Name	Position	Instruments
Frank Hazuka*	Bandleader	Accordion
Bob Blecha	Bandleader	Button Accordion

1990

Name	Position	Instruments
Alfred Cochnar*	Bandleader	Clarinet, Saxophone
Teresa Cochnar*	Bandleader	Trumpet
Jim Holubar*	Sideman	Trumpet
Frank Jakes*	Sokol Omaha Service Award

1989

Name	Position	Instruments
Allen Valish	Bandleader	Trombone
Dean Hansen*	Bandleader	Accordion

1988

Name	Position	Instruments
Bok Krivohlavek*	Sideman	Trumpet, Drums
Frank Kucera*	Bandleader	Button Accordion

1987

Name	Position	Instruments
Joe Prochaska*	Sideman	Bass Horn
Math Sladky*	Bandleader	Drums

1986

Name	Position	Instruments
Jerry Jaros*	Bandleader	Clarinet, Saxomphone
Irvin Cidlik*	Sideman	Clarinet, Saxophone
Herman Liska*	Sideman	Trumpet, Saxophone

1985

Name	Position	Instruments
Adolph Nemetz*	Bandleader	Clarinet, Saxophone
Charles Dvorak*	Bandleader, Omaha Czech Brass Band	Trumpet, Clarinet, Saxophone
Jim Velehradsky*	Bandleader	Clarinet, Saxophone

1984

Name	Position	Instruments
George Hovorka*	Bandleader	Trombone
Vern Luddington*	Bandleader	Bass Horn

1983

Name	Position	Instruments
Frank Kostka*	Bandleader	Accordion
Emil Korbelik*	Sideman	Trombone
Sen. Roman Hruska*	Sokol Omaha Service Award (56 Years)
Joseph J. Susterka*	Sokol Omaha Service Award (41 Years)

1982

Name	Position	Instruments
Al Grebenick*	Bandleader	Clarinet, Saxophone
Stan Kucera*	Sideman	Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet
Vic Kaspar*	Service Award, Ballroom Manager Sokol Omaha

1981

Name	Position	Instruments
Johnny Matuska*	Bandleader	Accordion
Ron Nadherny	Bandleader	Trumpet
Jerry Koci*	Bandleader	Button Accordion

1980

Name	Position	Instruments
Don Hamsa*	Bandleader	Trombone
Frank Mokry*	Sideman	Clarinet, Saxophone
Emil Olsufka*	Bandleader	Clarinet
Rose Sinkule*	Service Award, Sokol Omaha

1979

Name	Position	Instruments
Joe Sinkule Jr.*	Sideman	Drums
Milo Palensky*	Sideman	Drums

1978

NO INDUCTEES THIS YEAR

1977

NO INDUCTEES THIS YEAR

1976

Name	Position	Instruments
Eddie Janak*	Bandleader	Clarinet, Saxophone
Ernie Kucera*	Bandleader	Drums

1975

NO INDUCTEES THIS YEAR

1974

Name	Position	Instruments
Ray Dusatko*	Sideman – Teacher	Bass Horn, Accordion
George Huttlemaier*	Sponsor, Modern Appliance Co.
Al Young*	Sponsor, Modern Appliance Co.
Moostash Joe Spellerberg*	Bandleader, Radio DJ, KHUB Radio	Trumpet
Fanny Jelen*	Service Award, Sokol Omaha
Ed Svoboda Sr.*	Bandleader	Accordion, Drums

1973

Name	Position	Instruments
Rev. Ed Chapuran*	Band Conductor
Johnny Swoboda*	Sideman – Teacher	Accordion
Del Hamann*	Sideman, Radio DJ, KOTD Radio	Accordion
Joe Lukesh*	Bandleader	Button Accordion
Dave Huskey*	Bandleader	Trumpet
John Wyszkowski*	Sideman
Henry Koenig*	Ballroom Manager, Avoca, IA

1972

Name	Position	Instruments
Jim Hovorka*	Bandleader	Button Accordion, Piano Accordion
Joe Sinkule Sr.*	Bandleader
Charlie Kucera*	Bandleader	Drums
John Kovarik*	Bandleader	Trumpet
Jim Tourek*	Bandleader	Clarinet, Saxophone
Milt Jaworski*	Bandleader	Accordion
Joe Ruzicka*	Service Award, Sokol Auditorium
Vaclav Dvorak*	Sideman	Bass Horn
Mike Kucera*	Sideman	Bass Horn
Pete Janak*	Sideman	Clarinet, Saxophone
Bennie Petru*	Sideman	Trumpet
Frank Vomocil*	Bandleader
Dick McCann*	Radio DJ, KBON Radio
Harry Snyder*	Radio DJ, KHUB Radio
Smetana		Band