Spencer, Kenneth Aldred, 1902-1960

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1902-01-25
Death 1960-02-19

Biographical notes:

1902 Born in Columbus, Kansas, January 25, son of Charles Favor and Clara Hughes Spencer. ca. 1908 ca. 1920 Preparatory education and Kansas Normal School (later Emporia State University) Emporia, Kansas and Culver (Indiana) Military Academy. 1925 Employed as junior engineer, Pittsburg and Midway Mining Co. 1926 Graduated University of Kansas, Bachelor of Science. 1927 Married Helen Elizabeth Foresman, January 6. 1936 Promoted to chief engineer, Pittsburg and Midway Mining Co. 1938 Promoted to general manager, Pittsburg and Midway Mining Co. 1940 Promoted to vice-president and treasurer, Pittsburg and Midway Mining Co. Submitted proposal to U.S. War Dept. Office Program Management, calling for development of war plants in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. 1941 Served as president, Military Chemical Works, Inc., Baxter Springs, Kansas, a Pittsburg and Midway Mining Co. subsidiary. 1942 Succeeded father as president, Pittsburg and Midway Mining Co. Jayhawk Ordinance Works, Pittsburg, Kansas completed. 1943 Production begins at Jayhawk Ordinance plant. Appointed member of the board, Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, Missouri. 1946 Secures lease of Jayhawk plant and Kansas Ordinance Works, Parson, Kansas. Name of Pittsburg and Midway Mining Co. changed to Spencer Chemical Co. 1948 Jayhawk plant purchased by Spencer Chemical Co. 1949 1956 Diversification and expansion of Spencer Chemical Co. 1951 1960 Member, Business Advisory Council. U.S. Dept. of Commerce. 1954 1957 Chairman, Board of Trustees, Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, Missouri. 1955 Initiated Charles F. Spencer Award, Amercian Chemical Society, in honor of his father. Recipient, Distinguished Service Award, National Association of Soil Conservation Districts. 1956 Recipient, Sam Casey Award, Society for the Advancement of Management. 1957 Recipient, Memorial Award, Chemical Market Research Association. 1959 Chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Spencer Chemical Co. 1960 Died, Miami, Florida, February, 19.

From the guide to the Papers of Kenneth Aldred Spencer, 1918-1960, (University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kansas Collection)

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