Rufus Crosby Kemper Jr. (February 22, 1927 – January 2, 2014) was an American banker and philanthropist.

Career

Kemper was born into an influential banking and railroading family in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

. His father was Rufus Crosby Kemper Sr. He attended Southwest High School in Kansas City, then transferred to

Phillips Academy ("Not for Self") la, Finis Origine Pendet ("The End Depends Upon the Beginning") Youth From Every Quarter Knowledge and Goodness , address = 180 Main Street , city = Andover , state = Ma ...

in Andover, Massachusetts where he graduated in 1945. After returning from service in World War II, Mr. Kemper enrolled in the University of Missouri and became a member of the Zeta Phi chapter of

Beta Theta Pi Beta Theta Pi (), commonly known as Beta, is a North American social fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. One of North America's oldest fraternities, as of 2022 it consists of 144 active chapters in the Unite ...

. In 1950, Kemper went to work for the United Missouri Bank, which later became

UMB Financial Corporation UMB Financial Corporation is an American financial services holding company founded in 1913 as City Center Bank and based in Kansas City, Missouri. It offers a number of financial services from checking and savings accounts, credit services inclu ...

. 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 Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art opened in 1994 in Kansas City, Missouri. With a $5 million annual budget and approximately 75,000 visitors each year, it is Missouri's first and largest contemporary museum. Founders The core of the museum's perm ...

, which was named for him. He retired as chairman of UMB in 2004.

Personal

Kemper died at age 86 on January 2, 2014, at Indian Wells, California. He had seven children with wives Cynthia Warrick Kemper and Mary "Bebe" Stripp Kemper, including

Crosby Kemper III Rufus Crosby Kemper III is the current director of the U.S. National Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Previously director of the Kansas City Public Library from 2005 until 2020, Kemper's other experience includes CEO/Chairman of UMB ...

and Mariner Kemper. On June 18, 1965, Kemper and his wife Mary Kemper adopted son

Sandy Kemper Alexander Sandy Kemper (born June 18, 1965) is an American entrepreneur, known for being founder and board chairman of Agriculture Future of America, founder of Education, Inc., chairman of Global Trading Web Association, founder of The Collector ...

in Chicago Illinois. Kemper was a first cousin, twice removed, of actress

Ellie Kemper Elizabeth Claire Kemper (born May 2, 1980) is an American actress and comedian. She has been nominated for a Critics' Choice Movie Award, two Critics' Choice Television Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, three Satellite Awards, and seven Scre ...

References

External links

University of Missouri biographyKansas City Business Hall of Fame profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemper, R. Crosby Jr. American art collectors Museum founders American philanthropists 1927 births 2014 deaths R. Crosby Jr American bank presidents Businesspeople from Kansas City, Missouri University of Missouri alumni Missouri Republicans 20th-century American businesspeople