Kenny Cline Award
This award is given by the last three recipients, in recognition of outstanding service to the Mid-Continent Region and to the Hobby of Model Railroading.
Kenny Cline served as Secretary/Treasurer for Several terms, as Vice-president for 1 two year term (1977 & 78) and served as President for one year term (1979) before passing away in office. Allen Pollock, his Vice-president, complete his uncompleted term.
The highest award that the Mid Continent Region can bestow upon an individual is that of the KEN CLINE AWARD. This award, established by the MCoR BOD in June of 1981, is given annually to someone in recognition of service to the Region, the NMRA, and the hobby in general. It occurred to me, however, that many of our members never had the privilege of knowing Ken personally. I asked former MCoR President Warren Weston, MMR of Lee's Summit, MO to tell us all a little about this gentleman whom our Region holds in such high esteem. The following, with a little editing on my part, are the words of Warren Weston telling us about his good friend, Ken Cline.
"...it was suggested that I put some memories down so that you might also know Ken Cline better. Ken, Kenneth R. Cline lived in Independence, MO with his wife Irene, and raised three daughters.
Ken has a B.S. in Education and a M.S. in Guidance and Counseling. He was employed by the Independence School District as a visiting teacher (truant officer). We had started a new model club (HO) that had finally found a home in the basement of a hobby shop on East Lexington near the square. During this era (the early 60's) we moved across the street to another basement that was more accessible and business-like. By accident, we found that we could get rid of most of our trash just by wrapping it up to look valuable, then carrying it to the top of the stars. By the time we got back up with another load to take home, the first package was gone. Bill Herd linger, Tom Bennett, Larry Kombrink, David Wade, Chuck Schrivener, Ken, and this writer, were some of the members of this group.
After a heart attack in the Mid 50's, Ken moved from modeling airplanes and boats, to TT scale model railroading. Later came HO and then he saw the "true light" of modeling as spoken by Swede Norlin: Sn3. Model building was always good therapy for Ken. He built a 10'x20' Sn3 layout in his basement, and the S Gang; Jim Phelps, Dave Engle, Mike Kane, Dave Pausell, Pete Bellos, Jim Graham, Dick Y. Wholf, and others would get together. At the 1970 Convention, he took a First Place for his Rio Grande work gondola.
Ken was later appointed Area Director and under his tutelage we had our first Area Meet. Starting at the Carousel on Troost for just gab sessions. From here the idea just grew. Elected to the first of five terms as Secretary/Treasurer in 1972, he served the Region well. During this time he received Achievement Awards for Association Official and Association Volunteer. Awarded the Kenny John Memorial Award in 1974 at Des Moines, he went on to be elected Vice President in 1977, and Region President in 1979. Just starting his second term as President, he suffered congestive heart failure on September 5, 1980, and died. His San Juan Railroad was now silent.
Ken was a dedicated modeler and most importantly, a person in service to modelers. He was quiet and jovial with his good humor to keep things running smoothly. He has been missed, and it is good to remember him with the "Ken Cline Award".
| Year | Recipiant | Award Location |
| 2024 | Robert Simmons | Grand Island, NE MCoR Convention |
| 2023 | Ray Brady | Kansas City, KS MCoR Convention |
| 2022 | Robert Folkmann | |
| 2021 | Ryan Moats MMR | Tulsa, OK MCoR Convention |
| 2020 | Philip G. Bonzon MMR | |
| 2019 | Philip Aylward | Wichita, KS MCoR Convention |
| 2017 | Brad Slone MMR | Ames, IA MCoR Convention |
| 2016 | Larry E. Gulick | Council Bluffs, IA MCoR Convention |
| 2015 | Larry W. Diehl | Jefferson City, MO MCoR Convention |
| 2014 | Steven P. August | Memphis, TN MCoR Convention |
| 2013 | Bradley Morneau MMR | Olathe, KS MCoR Convention |
| 2012 | Frances Hale MMR | Saint Louis, MO MCoR Convention |
| 2011 | Robert D. Rands | Norfolk, NE MCoR Convention |
| 2010 | Paul Richardson MMR | Cedar Rapids, IA MCoR Convention |
| 2009 | W. Miles Hale MMR | Wichita, KS MCoR Convention |
| 2008 | James D. Anderson | Branson, MO MCoR Convention |
| 2007 | Thomas E. Shook MMR | Lenexa, KS MCoR Convention |
| 2006 | W. Marty Vaughn MMR | Council Bluffs, IA MCoR Convention |
| 2005 | Whitney D. Johnson | Topeka, KS MCoR Convention |
| 2004 | Robert J. Amsler Jr | Collinsville, IL MCoR Convention |
| 2003 | Joe B. Robertson MMR | Olathe, KS MCoR Convention |
| 2002 | Larry R. Alfred MMR | North Platte MCoR Convention |
| 2001 | Kenneth S. Thompson | St. Louis National Convention |
| 2000 | Richard E. Napper MMR | Ames MCoR Convention |
| 1999 | Randolph P. Meyer MMR | Omaha MCoR Convention |
| 1998 | John W. Hardy | Kansas City National Convention |
| 1997 | Dean Windsor MMR | Little Rock MCoR Convention |
| 1995 | Peter T. Bellos MMR | Des Moines MCoR Convention |
| 1994 | G. Patrick Harriman MMR | Carthage MCoR Convention |
| 1993 | Larry R. Long MMR | Kansas City MCoR Convention |
| 1992 | Ronald D. Morse Sr. Sr MMR | Tulsa MCoR Convention |
| 1991 | David Halpern MMR | Springfield MCoR Convention |
| 1990 | Robert M. Dye | Omaha MCoR Convention |
| 1989 | Ronald E. Williams MMR | St. Louis MCoR Convention |
| 1988 | Robert A. Lenz | Des Moines MCoR Convention |
| 1987 | John C. Kalin | Oklahoma City MCoR Convention |
| 1986 | James D. Hammer | Kansas City MCoRConvention |
| 1985 | Allen Pollock | Little Rock MCoR Convention |
| 1983 | Arthur C. Brown | Omaha MCoR Convention |
| 1982 | Joseph J. Bothman | St. Louis MCoR Convention |
| 1981 | Jack C. Rice | Tulsa MCoR Convention |