by Kelly Rogge
The Kansas City Kansas Community College Endowment Association is welcoming a new member to its Board of Directors.
Robert L. Davis, a resident of Kansas City, Kan., joined the Board of Directors in February.
Owner of Thatcher’s Funeral Home, he is a graduate of KCKCC’s mortuary science program as well as the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer and a licensed insurance agent.
He is co-chairman of the Kansas City Kansas Community College Advancement Council and is on the KCKCC Mortuary Science Board of Directors. In addition, he has affiliations with the First Baptist Church in KCK, the National Funeral Directors Association and is president of the MOKAN Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association.
“Being from an entrepreneurial family gave me the foundation of hard work and sacrifice required to be successful at self-employment,” he said about how he has been able to succeed in business. “I have a great pride in our business and feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to operate an African-American family business that is in its fourth generation. We are the oldest African American family owned/operated business in the state of Kansas.”
Patrick McCartney, executive director of the Endowment Association, said he is excited to have Davis join the board in this capacity.
“Bob is a KCKCC grad with strong ties in our community and is a great advocate for the college,” he said. “He will be a tremendous asset as we continue to grow the Endowment and expand our fundraising efforts.”
Davis said as a fourth generation “Dotte,” he has a great deal of pride for KCK and continues to look for ways to give back to the community.
“As a graduate of KCKCC I have a soft place in my heart for the college. I support the fine work Dr. (Doris) Givens is doing and would like to assist in enhancing and promoting the college,” he said. “As a business owner, I will bring management skills and community connections to the board. One of my primary tasks will be raising money for the Endowment, so more scholarships can be awarded. I’m looking forward to seeing the endowment grow and am happy to assist in any way.”
Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.