Years active 50 Education University of Missouri Name R. Kemper, Home town Kansas City | Role Jr. Parents R. Crosby Kemper | |
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Born February 22, 1927 ( 1927-02-22 ) Kansas City, Missouri Occupation Retired banking magnate Died January 2, 2014, Indian Wells, California, United States | ||
Employer UMB Financial Corporation | ||
Raw video kansas city celebrates life of r crosby kemper jr
R. Crosby Kemper Jr. (February 22, 1927 – January 2, 2014) was an American banker and philanthropist.
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Career
Kemper was born into an influential banking and railroading family in Kansas City, Missouri. His father was R. Crosby Kemper. He attended Southwest High School in Kansas City, then transferred to Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts where he graduated in 1945. After graduating from prep school, he served his country during World War II. After returning home, Mr. Kemper enrolled in the University of Missouri and became a member of the Zeta Phi chapter of Beta Theta Pi.
In 1950, Kemper went to work for the United Missouri Bank, which later became UMB Financial Corporation. He later became president in 1959. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 1962 on the Republican ticket and in the same year chaired the Kansas City Industrial Committee. He was active in the running of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, which was named for him. He retired as chairman of UMB in 2004.
Kemper's college fraternity brother Sam Walton often referred to Mr. Kemper as his "personal banker."
Personal
Kemper died at age 86 on January 2, 2014, at Indian Wells, California.
On June 18, 1965, Kemper and his wife Mary Kemper gave birth to son Sandy Kemper in Chicago Illinois. Kemper was a first cousin, twice removed, of actress Ellie Kemper.