Bolton, Kenyon C. (Kenyon Castle), 1980-

Kenyon C. Bolton (1912-1983) was a businessman and philanthropist of the Cleveland, Ohio, area and a member of one of the area's most prominent families. His parents, Chester C. Bolton and Frances Payne Bingham Bolton, both served as Republicans in Congress from Ohio's 22nd district. Chester served from 1929 until 1935 and again from 1937 until his death in 1939. Mrs. Bolton then succeeded him and served until 1969.

Kenyon Bolton was president of Cleveland Air Taxi (also known as Cleveland Airways), a helicopter taxi corporation that operated in the northeastern Ohio area during the 1950s. He also took a great interest in a large number of charitable activities. One of his primary concerns was higher education. He served on the board of trustees of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, an institution with which his family had enjoyed a long relationship. He also served as a trustee of John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. He had strong interests in the performing arts. He served as president of the Cleveland Play House and was instrumental in the construction of the Bolton Theatre (named for his family) on the campus of Kenyon College. Other arts organizations in which he was involved included the Metropolitan Opera National Council and the Northern Ohio Opera Association.

Though Kenyon Bolton never held public office as did his parents and his brother, Oliver Payne Bolton (who also served in Congress), he had a strong interest in foreign affairs. He was a veteran of World War II, having attained the rank of major in the United States Army. After the war, he became an active member of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, with which he retained a close association for the rest of his life, serving as president of the organization on at least one occasion. Kenyon Bolton was married to Mary Peters of Lancaster, Ohio, and they had five children.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Kenyon Bolton click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Chester Bolton click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Frances Payne Bolton

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Nationalities Services Center

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Cleveland Council on World Affairs

From the guide to the Kenyon C. Bolton Papers, 1938-1983, (Western Reserve Historical Society)