Cooperative Hall of Fame "America's Legacy of Cooperation"
Established by the National Cooperative Business Association, the Cooperative Hall of Fame honors distinguished individuals whose contributions to the cooperative business have been genuinely heroic. Inductees are carefully selected to preserve the special nature of this recognition. It is a distinct honor to be inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame.
The Cooperative Hall of Fame is housed in the offices of the National Cooperative Business Association in Washington, DC, where a permanent collection of commemorative plaques tells of the contributions made by each inductee. In addition, there is a website – heroes.coop – that highlights each inductee and
their contributions to cooperatives.
The Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) administers the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Nominations are received annually and reviewed by a selection committee composed of current leaders from the various sectors of the U.S. cooperative movement.
The Cooperative Hall of Fame induction ceremony is also a major fundraiser for CDF. It is fitting that the occasion that bestows honor and recognition to individuals who have given of themselves to promote cooperatives is also the occasion to raise funds which in turn perpetuate their work and commitment.
Meet the Inductees
Cooperative Hall of Fame Members

​The members of the Cooperative Hall of Fame congratulate Lori Capouch, Randy Lee,
J. Tom Webb, and Estelle Witherspoon. From championing rural and frontier co-op
development, to transforming the natural food and co-op groceries sector, to innovating
the field of co-op education, to opening new economic possibilities for Black
women artisans and their families in Alabama, you have dedicated your lives to
helping people and communities through cooperatives. Welcome to the Hall of Fame!
Andrew Reicher
Clifford Rosenthal
Daniel Waddle
Judy Ziewacz
Karen Zimbelman
Leland Ruth
Marilyn Scholl
Paul Bradley
Paul Hazen
Rebecca Dunn
Rosemary Mahoney
Terry Appleby
Tony Bedard
Walden Swanson & Kate Sumberg
William J. Nelson
Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund
The entire Federation family congratulates the 2025 class of Cooperative Hall of
Fame inductees.
You have all played an intricate role in advancing the cooperative movement across
the nation and around the world.

NCBA CLUSA & CDF Board of Directors
The Boards of Directors of NCBA CLUSA and the Cooperative Development Foundation applaud the outstanding accomplishments of the 2025 inductees to the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Thank you for your service to cooperatives.


Adria Powell
Ann Fedorchak
Anne Divjak
Brad Captain
Brian Cavey
Christina Jennings
Christopher Roe
Cornelius Blanding
Deborah Wege
Devin Fuhrman
Emma McCormick
Erbin Crowell
Esteban Kelly
Jeffrey Connor
Jill Tomalin
John Holdsclaw IV
Karen Zimbelman
Larry Blanchard
Matthew Wehland
Michelle Schry
Richard Larochelle
Rosemary Mahoney
NCBA CLUSA

NCBA CLUSA members and staff congratulate Lori Capouch, Randy Lee, Tom Webb,
and Estelle Witherspoon on their induction into the 2025 Cooperative Hall of Fame.
We applaud each of you for your dedication to the cooperative movement.
2025 Hall of Fame Sponsors
Co-op Heroes



Table Sponsors
America's Credit Unions & National Credit Union Foundation
CoBank
CSI Support & Development Services
International Centre for Co-operative Management
Federation of Southern Cooperatives/LAF
National Cooperative Bank
National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International
National Co+op Grocers
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC)
Nationwide
Neighboring Food Co-op Association
North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives
PCC Community Markets
Ralph K. Morris Foundation
Rochdale Capital
Rural Development Finance Corporation
Shared Capital Cooperative
TruStage