Since 1975, the NACO Annual Conference has carried on a simple but beloved tradition: every attendee receives a NACO-branded mug. Over the decades, those mugs have quietly documented the organization’s history—changing styles, evolving designs, and memories from conferences past.
In 2021, while preparing to convert a room in the NACO building into a staff lounge, NACO Deputy Director Candace Meredith was cleaning out the basement when she came across several forgotten boxes filled with paper and mugs. As each mug was unwrapped and cleaned, it became clear they were more than storage items—they were pieces of NACO history that deserved to be seen.
Leave it to Etsy to solve the problem. After finding mug racks large enough to support the growing collection, a display was installed on the second floor of the NACO building. The NACO mug wall was born.
But there was one small problem—the set wasn’t complete. Four mugs were missing: 1987, 2006, 2008, and 2013.
When the mug project was shared with the NACO Board of Directors, Deb Schorr, then a Lancaster County Commissioner, casually remarked, “I think I have three of those years.” Sure enough, she did, bringing the collection one step closer to completion.
Over the years, the mugs themselves have evolved. Some years featured simpler designs, while others became more creative and intricate. Mug inscriptions have changed over the years, such as during Earl McNutt’s presidency, when his signature was engraved on the mug—an idea credited to Bill Tielke. Today, the annual mug has become a fun and anticipated part of the NACO Conference experience.
The final missing piece—the 1987 mug—remained elusive until the 2025 NACO Annual Conference. During the event, Riley Lott, Education and Community Engagement Specialist, mentioned the missing mug while visiting with Amber Mulbery, NACO Clerk of the District Court Director, and Saline County Clerk of the District Court. Amber quickly sent an email to the Clerk of the District Court Association.
That outreach paid off.
Kathleen Nieveen, Johnson County Clerk, responded with the news everyone had hoped for: she had the 1987 mug, safely boxed and ready for its new home on the NACO mug wall.
The long-missing mug was officially presented to NACO staff at the NACO Board of Directors meeting on January 22. With that, the mug wall was finally complete.
To make the moment even more special, the 1987 mug features a slogan that NACO staff and the Board of Directors believe is perfectly suited to be repurposed for this year’s NACO Annual Conference. Stay tuned..
So now the question is…
What year is your favorite NACO mug?
