Dick Bond has known the Ellsworths for years, dating back to his days as an undergraduate at Kansas University.

For that reason, it’s especially significant to him that he will receive the Fred Ellsworth Medallion next Friday Linda Warren and Jim Martin also will receive the KU honor.

“I had a unique relationship with the Ellsworth family,” Bond said. “The six years that Bob Ellsworth served in the United States Congress, I was his chief of staff. Because of that longtime relationship with Fred and his wife, and their son (Bob), it’s very exciting to me.”

Bond, who lives in Overland Park, said this award would mean even more to him than the university’s Distinguished Service Citation, because of his personal connection to the family. Bond said he was nominated by former KU Chancellor Archie Dykes.

Bond, a former chairman of the Board of Regents, earned undergraduate and law degrees from KU. He also spent time as a Kansas state senator and served on the boards of the KU Edwards Campus, cancer center and medical center.

Fred Ellsworth Medallion winners are selected by a group from the chancellor’s office, the Alumni Association, the Endowment Association and the athletic department.

Warren, a doctor in Hanover, said she was shocked to have been selected to the group of Ellsworth winners.

“I was unbelievably honored, very surprised and astonished,” she said. “I think this award is for people who have had a long commitment, service and involvement with the university.

“The university is part of my family. That’s how I feel about KU. It’s a huge part of my life.”

Warren earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from KU. Almost immediately, she said, she came back to the university, through the Alumni Association. Eventually, she rose to become the national chairwoman of the association’s board.

“I received a great deal from the university, beginning with my scholarship hall award,” said Warren, a former resident of Sellards Hall.

Perhaps somewhat ironically, accepting this award will require Warren to reach out to KU for help. Warren, with her husband, runs a rural medical practice in Hanover. They’ll have to hire a KU faculty member to cover their practice while Warren accepts the award.

Unlike the previous two recipients, Jim Martin has just one degree from KU. But he’s been responsible for a considerable part of the financial success of the university.

A 28-year employee of the Endowment Association, who spent 11 years as its president, Martin was director of one fundraising drive and helped start the KU First campaign.

“I’m totally surprised to receive this award,” he said. “I never gave it a thought, though I’m very pleased to accept it.”

Martin, now retired but still living in Lawrence, credited the Ellsworth awards as a legacy of Fred Ellsworth’s spirit that future Jayhawks can see.

“It’s standard for excellence,” he said. “I’m pleased that through my years at Endowment, we could assist the university by encouraging gifts that could build an endowment for future Jayhawks.”

All three winners will be recognized at a dinner next Friday at Adams Alumni Center.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the date the awards would be presented. The correct date is Sept. 7.