Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Kansas

Jane E. Groves Riddell Hurt

Kansas Mayflower Pilgrim Award

for excellence in promoting

The Mayflower Society and Pilgrim History

2026

Della J. Regenold

Deputy Governor General, Past Kansas Governor and

nominee for GSMD Secretary General 2026 - 2029

On 02 May 2026, Della J. Regenold was honored with the Jane E. Groves Riddell Hurt Kansas Mayflower Pilgrim Award in recognition of her exemplary service and an unwavering commitment to the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Kansas.

Della J. Regenold - Nominee for Secretary General

Dear DGG Regenold,

As officers of the Board of Assistants of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Kansas we extend our heartfelt congratulations on your nomination for the GSMD office of Secretary General. We are proud to have you represent the Kansas Society and offer you our unwavering support for the third highest position on the GSMD Executive Committee.

Deputy Governor General Regenold, the Kansas Society is grateful for your professionalism and outstanding contributions. We are confident that these qualities will continue to guide you as you embark on a successful election process to become the third Secretary General from the state of Kansas.

We wish you the success you truly deserve!

2023 - 2026 Kansas Board of Assistants

DGG Della J. Regenold

FGG Jane Hurt ~ DGG Della Regenold

Della Regenold served as Junior Membership Chairman (2013-2014), Nominating Committee Chair (2014), and Acting Recording Secretary (November 2014). She was elected Corresponding Secretary (2014-2017) and appointed to the Bylaws and Life Membership Committees during the same period.

Della served as Acting Assistant General (AG) to the GSMD 2014 Congress in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and received the GSMD Outstanding Service Award in September 2015 for her contributions to the Kansas Society.

She was elected Governor of the Kansas Society in November 2017 - 2020. During her tenure, she managed the Kansas Mayflower website, Facebook page, and newsletters using Mailchimp.

Della Regenold served as the General Society of Mayflower Descendants Assistant General (AG) in 2017, acting Deputy Governor General (DGG) in 2018 and 2019 General Board of Assistants Meetings. She was appointed to the GSMD Scholarship Committee in 2019 and continues to serve. In 2020, she was elected Deputy Governor General (DGG) and continues to represent Kansas.

In 2021, Miss Regenold was appointed the General Society’s Mayflower Quarterly Magazine (MQM) Copy Editor and appointed Chairman in 2022.

She received the Governor General’s Commendation Award for her exceptional service during the 2023 Congress from Governor General Jane Hurt.

2024

Carol Smith Leavitt

FGG Jane Hurt ~ Carol Leavitt ~ Patricia Burton

On 03 November 2024, Carol Smith Leavitt was honored with the Jane E. Groves Riddell Hurt Kansas Mayflower Pilgrim Award in recognition of her significant and impactful contributions to the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Kansas. Carol forged numerous friendships with her infectious sense of humor and her positive influence. Former Governor General Jane Hurt and Patricia Burton presented the award on behalf of the Kansas Society.

Mrs. Carol Smith Leavitt’s leadership was recognized by Kansas Governor Phillip Barbour, who appointed her as Assistant Junior Membership Chairperson during his 1981-1983 administration. She served as Deputy Junior Membership Chair (1983-1985) and Junior Membership Chair (1995-2002). She was elected Deputy Governor under Governor John H. Walker in 2004, a recognition of her service. Her tenure with the Kansas Society continued as Acting Corresponding Secretary (2003-2005) and Corresponding Secretary (2005-2014), where she was re-elected continuously.

Mrs. Leavitt was nominated for Deputy Governor General (DGG) by the Kansas Society and elected by the General Society at the 1984 Congress serving until 2014, amassing an impressive 30-year tenure.

She served on the General Society Awards Committee from 1988 – 1990 and continued as Chair from 1990 - 1996.

At the 1996 Congress, Mrs. Leavitt was elected Secretary General, a position she held until 2002. She then was elected as Member-at-Large from 2002 - 2005.

Her dedication to service continued as she served on the Constitution and Bylaws Committee from 2005 - 2014, receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from Governor General Judith H. Swan.

In 2010, Mrs. Leavitt was awarded the Governor General’s Distinguished Service Award.

In 2013, she served on the Policy and Procedure Committee.

Her lifetime contributions were recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Plaque and a Commendation Award Certificate and pin from Governor General Lea Sinclair Filson during the Kansas 100th Anniversary Celebration in 2014. Kansas Governor Dewey Fry awarded her a Certificate of Achievement for her service as the Kansas Society Corresponding Secretary from 2002 to 2014.

Mrs. Leavitt served on the Kansas Society Nominating Committee in 2017.

Carol Smith Leavitt forged friendships and made significant financial contributions to the Kansas Society and the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.

2023

Former Governor General Jane E. Groves Riddell Hurt

Jane E. Groves Riddell Hurt

On 05 November 2023, Former Governor General Jane E. Groves Riddell Hurt received the inaugural award, named in her honor, for her service to the Kansas Mayflower Society and the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.

The Kansas Society is proud to have had Kansas member and former Kansas Governor Jane E. Groves Riddell Hurt serve as the Governor General of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants for the term of 2020 - 2023. Since the General Society was organized in 1897, Jane was the fifth woman to serve the General Society as Governor General and the only Governor General from Kansas.

Former Governor General Hurt served as the Kansas Society Historian (2011 - 2014) and the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Kansas as Governor (2014-2017). The General Society elected her Secretary General (2017-2020) and Governor General (2020 - 2023) leading over 31,000 members internationally. Her Governor General’s projects were the restoration of the Mayflower Society House in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and a new General Society website.