GCCC Awards Honorary Degree to Dick Fankhauser at 2026 Commencement
[Garden City, KS] May 12, 2026 – During the 2026 Commencement Ceremony at Garden City Community College (GCCC), Richard B. “Dick” Fankhauser was awarded an Honorary Associate in Science Degree in recognition of his lifelong professional accomplishments, dedicated civic leadership, and enduring support of GCCC.
Fankhauser, an 89-year-old Garden City resident and GCCC alumnus from the 1950s, was honored for his decades of service to the community and his continued advocacy for accessible, practical, and workforce-focused education. His recognition highlights both his professional achievements in business and real estate and his extensive record of leadership across numerous community organizations in southwest Kansas.
Garden City Community College’s honorary degree recognizes individuals whose exceptional
achievements have made a meaningful impact on the college, its communities, and society. 
About Dick Fankhauser
Richard B. “Dick” Fankhauser’s life reflects a deep and lasting connection to southwest Kansas, shaped by hard work, community involvement, and a lifelong appreciation for education. Born in 1936 in Eureka, Kansas, he moved with his family to Ness City at age two, where he attended school through the sixth grade. In 1948, his family relocated to Garden City, a community that would become central to his life’s work and legacy. He completed his education in Garden City, graduating from Garden City High School in 1954.
Following high school, Fankhauser briefly attended Kansas State University for two semesters, though he admits the transition proved challenging at the time. He returned to Garden City and enrolled at Garden City Community College. There, he pursued business courses while balancing the demands of work. Attending classes in the morning and driving a truck into the evening, he ultimately fell short of the credit hours needed to graduate in the spring of 1956.
Despite not completing his degree, Fankhauser carried forward the practical knowledge he gained and applied it directly to his career. Having worked at Masonry Products since high school, he remained with the company and eventually rose to become president of what evolved into Fankhauser, Inc., which included Masonry Products, Cash and Carry Lumber Company, and Concrete Industries.
Entrepreneurship remained a constant throughout his career. In 1968, he and his brother Dan launched a side venture that began with six apartments and grew into a larger portfolio of residential and commercial real estate. Over time, their investments expanded to include post office properties across multiple states.
In addition to his business achievements, Fankhauser has played an active role in community leadership. He has served as president of the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce, the Garden City Lions Club, and Southwind Country Club. He has also held board positions with the United Way, Garden National Bank, Fidelity State Bank, and served as chairman of the Mariah Fund. Additionally, he served as a Garden City Commissioner and was an active member of both the Garden City Regional Airport Board and the Finney County Economic Development Corporation Board. In recognition of his service, Fankhauser was named the first recipient of the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce Award of Merit in 1984.
A strong advocate for education, Fankhauser has long supported Garden City Community College through both service and philanthropy. He is a member of the President’s Golden Guild and has contributed to scholarships, particularly those supporting technical education. His belief in accessible, affordable, and practical education is rooted in his own experience. Both his son, Alan, and daughter, Annette, attended GCCC, further reinforcing his commitment to the institution and its students.
Reflecting on his life, Fankhauser takes the greatest pride in the growth and success of Garden City and its community college. He credits the community for the opportunities it has provided him and believes strongly in giving back. As he puts it, the community has given him so much that supporting it in return is simply the right thing to do.
Now at 89 years old, Fankhauser remains active and engaged. An avid golfer and traveler, he continues to enjoy life fully, having also spent years as a pilot and motorcycle rider, with multiple trips to Sturgis among his experiences.
In recognition of his lifelong contributions to business, civic leadership, and education—and in honor of the academic path he began at GCCC in the 1950s—he is being awarded an Honorary Associate in Science degree, which he considers a highlight of his life.
Dick Fankhauser displays his diploma during the Garden City Community College commencement ceremony on May 8, 2026.
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Garden City Community College exists to produce positive contributors to the economic and social well-being of society.