HWBA held our annual Stockyards Legends Dinner on May 6, 2024 in The Oliver Building.

This year, we honored Crosby Kemper III for his contributions to the Greater Kansas City Area. During his time as former executive director of the Kansas City Public Library, Kemper established the library as one of the leading cultural destinations and a hub of community engagement in the city. He also served as chair of the board of directors of the Schools, Health, & Libraries Broadband Coalition, which supports open, affordable broadband connections for local community organizations.

As a result of his work, Kemper has received numerous honors and awards, including the Difference Maker Award from the Urban League of Kansas City, the William F. Yates Medallion for Distinguished Service from William Jewell College, and the 2010 Harmony Humanitarian Hoffman Legacy Award. He was inducted into the Mid-America Education Hall of Fame by the Kansas City Kansas Community College Endowment Association and was appointed to the Missouri Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission. His board service has included the Kansas City Symphony, the Black Archives of Mid-America, Union Station Kansas City, the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, the Rabbit hOle — a center promoting children’s books — and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which operates Monticello.

The evening included a cocktail hour, dinner, and musical accompaniment before a program of remarks by friends and colleagues of the honoree including Jon Stephens, President and CEO of Port KC, Sylvester "Sly" James, former Mayor of Kansas City, MO, Dr. Carmaletta Williams, Executive Director of Black Archives of Mid America, Mike Zeller, President of Flying Truss LLC and HWBA Board Member, and Tom Esselman, HWBA President.

Once again, the Stockyards Legends Dinner proved to be a highlight of our Heritage Days celebrations. See you next year!