Distinguished business professor honored by American Taxation Association

LAWRENCE — A stalwart professor at the University of Kansas School of Business has been recognized for his dedication to the accounting profession. Allen Ford received the American Taxation Association’s Outstanding Service Award. He was honored in August at the American Accounting Association’s 2015 annual meeting in Chicago.

The American Taxation Association (ATA) was founded in 1974 and is now a division of the American Accounting Association, the largest global community of accountants in research, teaching and practice.

“The ATA has been a great organization for tax educators,” Ford said. “It is an honor to be recognized for providing service that has been a pleasure to provide.”

Ford is the Larry D. Horner/KPMG Distinguished Teaching Professor of Professional Accounting. He has been with KU since 1976 and has been a distinguished professor since 1993.

“This award from the academy is well-deserved but not a surprise to Professor Ford’s colleagues and students,” said Susan Scholz, associate dean of faculty development and research. “KU is lucky and honored to be the home of such a legendary professor.”

In 2011, Ford received the Chancellors Club Career Teaching Award from KU Endowment for his legacy of excellence in teaching and research. Last year, alumnus Bill Plybon and his wife made a $100,000 gift to create the Allen Ford Tax Fund in his honor.

The ATA comprises primarily tax professionals, and Ford, a founding member, served as president from 1979 to 1980. He received ATA’s Ray M. Sommerfeld Outstanding Educator Award in 1996.