Bernard M. Trager, the founder of Republic Bank in Louisville, can now boast that he shares something in common with Muhammad Ali: Both have been recognized by the Advertising Federation of Louisville as Louisvillians of the Year.
The Advertising Federation has presented the award every year since 1951 to a Louisville citizen who has made outstanding contributions to the community in the areas of civic, educational or business progress.
Trager, 82, was honored as the 2011 winner last week for his involvement in a wide array of civic activities. Trager is a former chairman of the University Louisville Board of Overseers and he has served as a director on a number of nonprofits, including the Fund for the Arts, the Boy Scouts of America, the Greater Louisville Inc./The Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Louisville/Jefferson County Redevelopment Authority.
Trager joins an elite list that includes Ali; Stan Curtis, who founded the food distribution charity USA Harvest; and Junior Bridgeman, a former professional basketball star who later became one of the nation's largest franchisees of Wendy's Restaurants.
Trager founded Republic in 1982 and is now the chairman of its holding company, the $3.4 billion-asset Republic Bancorp Inc. His son, Steven, is the current chairman, president and chief executive officer of the bank.
