Earl Bane was inducted into the Salina Business Hall of Fame* in 2019 under the Historic Category 1926-1975, which honors business leaders who have added to the prestige and growth of the Salina area business community, establishing the economic base upon which Salina continues to grow and prosper.  The following is the biographical information provided about Earl at the induction ceremony.

Earl Bane was born in Plano, Iowa in 1906 to William and Ada Bane.  He was one of seven children born into the Bane family.  His early life was spent in the Plano area where he attended elementary and high school.  When Earl was 12 years old, he and his brother purchased a flat bed truck and began selling produce to help support their family.  He also worked in a car repair shop and for the Maytag Company.

Always an entrepreneur, Earl opened his own sandwich shop in Newton, Iowa.  From 1931 until 1942 this business grew from a 10 seat sandwich shop to a 40 seat business.  In 1942, he sold his sandwich shop and joined the Army.  He served as a mess sergeant in the Infantry Headquarters Company Third Battalion.  His Army service took him to Africa and Italy before he was discharged in 1945.  After his WWII service, he began working for the HPL Development Company that owned Dairy Queen franchises in Kansas, Connecticut, Missouri and Arkansas.  In 1947, after moving to Salina, Kansas, he began construction on his first Dairy Queen store.  It opened in 1948 at 321 N. Ninth Street.  He would later build two more Dairy Queen stores in Salina.  In 1961, after spending several years traveling the country to oversee DQ stores, he bought out the company he was working for and became one of the largest territory operators for Dairy Queen.  During his time as a territory operator, he oversaw the development of 148 stores across 7 states.  Earl was a true pioneer in the Dairy Queen business.

Earl had two mottos for his business:

• “Treat your employees well and they will treat your business well.”
• “Stick with a product that you make well and that the customers love.”  (He was not thrilled when DQ entered into the hot food market in the 1970s.)

In 1994, Earl retired from the Dairy Queen business but maintained daily business hours so he could follow his personal investments.  He also established the Earl Bane Foundation, a charitable foundation.  When asked why he did this, his reply was, “I’ve worked my whole life for this money.  Why should I let the government take it all?”

Education was important to Earl.  Coming from a large, poor family, college was not an option for him.  Despite and perhaps because of this, he felt strongly about the ability of young people to further their education following high school.  Earl designed a scholarship program through the Foundation for select Saline County high school seniors who attend a Kansas college.  The requirements of the scholarship were and are a true testament to his life, focusing on a strong work ethic and enterprising potential.  He knew that many students may not excel in the classroom or in extracurricular activities, but they are hardworking and dedicated students with strong work ethics.  These were the young people he was hoping to help. 

Earl was also passionate about the Salina community.  As he was establishing himself as a businessman in the community, he encountered other business owners who became life-long friends and supporters of his work and business.  He truly felt embraced by the people of Salina.  It was essential for him to give back to the community that had helped him become a successful businessman.  His Foundation continues to award grants to Salina area not-for-profit organizations that seek to improve the community.

Because of Earl’s business acumen, the Foundation has grown exponentially.  Since April 1996, the Earl Bane Foundation has granted over $11 million back into the Salina community through grants and scholarships.  Curiously, he was a private man of few words who would not be comfortable with any recognition.

Before being a “foodie” was a thing, Earl was one.  He enjoyed every aspect of a well-prepare meal; from growing an extensive garden, to preparing the finest cuts of meat.  He loved to cook and serve meals to those closest to him.  He would never turn down the opportunity to go fishing or smoke a good cigar.

Earl Bane died in April 1999.

----------------------------------------------------

* The Salina Business Hall of Fame

Purpose

The Salina Business Hall of Fame program was established by the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and is designed to honor prominent business leaders, both past and present, who have made extraordinary contributions to Salina, earned the respect of the local community and called attention to the Free Enterprise System and to its value to our country and citizens in shaping our local way of life. Individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame have demonstrated the following characteristics: business excellence, courageous thinking, vision, innovation, and inspirational leadership. They have worked to lead the Salina community to a stronger, higher level.