2006

Dennis DePorte    Purveyors, Ark-Sar-Ben Beef Company
Louis S. Gorat and Louis N. "Pal" Gorat   Owners, Managers and Directors, Gorats Steak House
Dean Rasmussen    Owner, Manager and Director, Grandmother's
Ron Samuelson    Owner, Manager and Director, M's Pub and Vivace

Deporte, DennisDennis DePorte
Purveyors, Ark-Sar-Ben Beef Company

He served the top restaurants and country clubs in the Omaha metro area. He taught meat cutting seminars to classes at MCC's Institute for the Culinary Arts. He was state judge for DECA in the restaurant division, a board member for the Omaha Restaurant Association for eight years, a board member of the Jewish Community Center and an executive board member of Temple Israel Synagogue. He retired in 2004.

 

 


Gorat, Louis S.Louis S. Gorat
Owner, Manager and Director, Gorats Steak House 

He opened Gorats in 1944. Gorats has been host to many Presidents and celebrities such as Ronald Reagan, Mickey Rooney, Piper Laurie, Mamie Eisenhower, Sally Jessie Raphael, Bob Devaney, Tom Osborne and Bob Kerry. For 40 years he supported and contributed to 4-H clubs through the purchase of purple ribbon livestock grand champion reserves. He was a member of the Omaha Restaurant Association, the Nebraska Restaurant Association, the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Seritoma Club and Sons of Italy.

 


Gorat, Louis N.Louis N. "Pal" Gorat
Owner, Manager and Director, Gorats Steak House

 

 

 

 


Rasmussen, DeanDean Rasmussen
Owner, Manager and Director, Grandmother's 

He was a certified foodservice professional. He was the Developer/Owner of Don and Millie's; member and board member of the Omaha Restaurant Association; member, President and Chairman of the Board of Nebraska Restaurant Association; member and board member of the National Restaurant Association; member, board member and President of the West Omaha Rotary; member of the Ralston Chamber of Commerce; and member, Director and Chairman of the South Council of Omaha Chamber. He received the National Restaurant Association's Service Award and was Nebraska Restaurateur of the Year (1989).

 


Samuelson, RonRon Samuelson
Owner, Manager and Director, M's Pub and Vivace

He started his restaurant career in Restaurant Management Studies in Denver, Colo. He was a board member and President of the Omaha Restaurant Association; board, committee member and Treasurer of the Old Market Business; and board member and President of the Santa Monica House Women's Recovery Center. He was the Omaha Restaurant Association's Restaurateur of the Year (1992) and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Person of the Year (1996).