2017
|
| Name |
Position |
Instruments |
| Lou Hospodka |
Bandleader |
Button Accordion |
| Kevin 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 |
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 Lastovicka |
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 |
|
|
|
|
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, Saxophone |
| Irvin Cidlik* |
Sideman |
Clarinet, Saxophone |
| Herman Liska* |
Sideman |
Trumpet, Saxophone |
|
|
|
1985
|
| Name |
Position |
Instruments |
| Adolph Nemetz* |
Bandleader |
Clarinet, Saxophone |
| Charles Dovrak* |
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 Grebinick* |
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 |
|
|
|
1979
|
| NO INDUCTEES THIS YEAR |
|
|
|
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. |
|
| All 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 |
| 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 |
|
