Governor Paul Patton presented Mr. Yasusada "Nobbie" Nobumoto, former President and Chairman and currently Honorary Chairman of Akebono Brake Industry Company, Ltd., the first "Founders Award of Merit" for his leadership and dedication to the Japanese Business Advisory Council to Kentucky (JBACK) at their semi-annual meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, May 22, 2000.  Akebono has plants in Elizabethtown, Munfordville and Glasgow, Kentucky.