Opinion
by Murrel Bland
I was saddened to learn earlier this week of the death of a friend and community leader—George Gray Breidenthal Jr., 67. He was an outstanding community volunteer and a person who was always courteous and cheerful.
I first met George when he was a young marketing officer at Security National Bank in the late 1970s. I would call on him frequently, usually on a Friday. He had a desk in the middle of the first floor of the bank and was always very accessible. We would visit about necessary banking business and then spend most of our time discussing various community activities.
George was a member of a very influential and wealthy banking family in Wyandotte County. He had a degree in education from what is now Emporia State University. He was a substitute teacher in the Kansas City, Kan., School District in the mid-1970s. That experience was to prove most valuable when he became a member of the district’s school board in 1983. He served on the board for the next 32 years.
George ran for the Kansas State Legislature a couple of times —unsuccessfully. I joked with him that he would have won had he not received my editorial endorsement in The Wyandotte West.
Quality education was always a top priority with George Breidenthal. He was a fiscal conservative on the Kansas City, Kan. School Board – a voice of reason who could balance community needs with realistic expenditures.
Sports were a very important part of George’s life. He owned a women’s professional basketball team that brought WNBA stars such as Nancy Liebermann and Anna DeForge to Kansas City, Kan. George traveled extensively to attend ten summer Olympics and one winter Olympics. He was a special angel for the Kansas State University women’s basketball team.
George served as the first United Methodist Church member to be president of the Donnelly College Board of Trustees, which is a Roman Catholic institution. The Mid-America Education Hall of Fame at Kansas City Kansas Community College recognized him for his various accomplishments in 2012.
I would frequently see George in my neighborhood, either jogging or riding his motor scooter. I will always remember him as a down-to-earth fellow, very casually dressed with his ponytail flowing in the wind. He understood the responsibility that came with his wealth.
The visitation for George will be from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Monday, June 29, at the Porter Funeral Home, 1835 Minnesota Ave. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 30, at Trinity Community Church, 5010 Parallel Parkway.
The family has suggested memorial contributions to either Trinity Church or the George G. Breidenthal Scholarship Fund that is part of the Kansas City, Kan., Foundation for Excellence, 2010 N. 59th St. Such contributions would be most appropriate.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press.