Ewing Kauffman
Encyclopedia
Ewing Marion Kauffman was an American pharmaceutical magnate, philanthropist
, and Major League Baseball
owner.
Born near Garden City, Missouri
, Kauffman grew up in Kansas City, Missouri
. He was bedridden for a year at age 11 with a heart ailment, during which he read as many as 40 books a month. Kauffman was an Eagle Scout
and as an adult was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
.
After serving in the United States Navy
in World War II
, Kauffman worked as a pharmaceutical salesman until 1950, when he formed Marion Laboratories with a $5,000 investment, operating it initially out of the basement of his home. He reportedly chose to use his middle name rather than his last name in order to not appear to be a one-man operation.
Marion Laboratories had revenues of $930 million the year before it merged with Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (now part of Aventis
) in 1989. The company sale made more than 300 millionaires.
in the mid-1960s with the same sense of opportunity he brought to his business endeavors, and, with the same convictions. Kauffman wanted his foundation to be innovative—to dig deep and get at the roots of issues to fundamentally change people’s lives. He wanted to help young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, get a quality education that would enable them to reach their full potential. He saw building enterprise as one of the most effective ways to realize individual promise and spur the economy. Today the mission of the Kauffman Foundation follows Ewing Kauffman’s vision by focusing its grant making and operations on two areas: advancing entrepreneurship and improving the education of children and youth.
's support and encouragement, he stepped up to the plate when he was convinced that the team would bring economic muscle to Kansas City. Once he committed to the idea, he poured the same energy, resources, and innovative thinking that made him a successful businessman into the team. Instinct for innovation built a model sports franchise, a modern stadium, and a championship-caliber team.
Kauffman established the Kansas City Royals
, bringing major league baseball back to Kansas City. He hired mavericks and encouraged them to bring new thinking to transform the hidebound culture of the baseball establishment. Following their owner's unconventional path, the Royals built a model baseball franchise, developing talented young players into major league stars. Ewing Kauffman's Royals were perennial playoff contenders, winning six division championships, two American League pennants and a world championship in 1985.
After efforts to bring partners into the Royals ownership group failed, Kauffman developed innovative measures to ensure the continued presence of the Royals in Kansas City. His intricate will dictated that the new owner would keep the Royals in Kansas City, sell the team for a fair price, and have proceeds from the sale go to local charities.
On November 8, 2007, he was nominated to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the 2008 class. He was not elected.
, commit to being good citizens and graduate on time, he would fund their post-secondary education. To be eligible for the program, parents also had to agree to be involved in their child's education by attending meetings and participating in parent/teacher organizations and other activities. Project Choice was offered to students at Mr. Kauffman's alma mater, Westport High School in Kansas City, Mo., and to selected students at five high schools in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas.
Opened as Royals Stadium
on April 10, 1973 as part of the Harry Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City. Designed by Kivett and Meyers architects in Kansas City, the Royals' home incorporated the best of Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium, with 40,793 seats, all facing second base and arranged in three tiers. A construction strike delayed the opening of the stadium so Kauffman added money to make sure it would open in time for the 1973 season and the 1973 All Star game. The stadium's prominent features include water fountains beyond the outfield fence and a 10-story high scoreboard shaped like the Royals crest, topped by a gold crown. The 322 feet (98.1 m) water spectacular is the largest privately funded fountain in the world. The stadium featured an artificial turf field but was replaced in 1995 with grass.
Ewing Kauffman made his last public appearance at the stadium on May 23, 1993, when he was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame. The facility was officially renamed in honor of Ewing M. Kauffman in a ceremony at the stadium on July 2, 1993 and is the only stadium in the American League named in honor of a person.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, and Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
owner.
Born near Garden City, Missouri
Garden City, Missouri
Garden City is a city in Cass County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,500 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Garden City is located at ....
, Kauffman grew up in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. He was bedridden for a year at age 11 with a heart ailment, during which he read as many as 40 books a month. Kauffman was an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
and as an adult was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America . It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout...
.
After serving in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Kauffman worked as a pharmaceutical salesman until 1950, when he formed Marion Laboratories with a $5,000 investment, operating it initially out of the basement of his home. He reportedly chose to use his middle name rather than his last name in order to not appear to be a one-man operation.
Marion Laboratories had revenues of $930 million the year before it merged with Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (now part of Aventis
Aventis
Aventis was a pharmaceutical and lab assay testing company. It was formed in 1999 when Rhône-Poulenc S.A. merged with Hoechst AG. The merged company was based in Strasbourg, France. With its headquarters in Strasbourg, Aventis was the product of the first transnational merger to combine large...
) in 1989. The company sale made more than 300 millionaires.
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Ewing Kauffman established the Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationEwing Marion Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a non-profit foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri. It has an asset base of $2 billion...
in the mid-1960s with the same sense of opportunity he brought to his business endeavors, and, with the same convictions. Kauffman wanted his foundation to be innovative—to dig deep and get at the roots of issues to fundamentally change people’s lives. He wanted to help young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, get a quality education that would enable them to reach their full potential. He saw building enterprise as one of the most effective ways to realize individual promise and spur the economy. Today the mission of the Kauffman Foundation follows Ewing Kauffman’s vision by focusing its grant making and operations on two areas: advancing entrepreneurship and improving the education of children and youth.
Kansas City Royals
Ewing Kauffman came to baseball ownership reluctantly. With his wife Muriel KauffmanMuriel Kauffman
Muriel Irene McBrien Kauffman was a civic leader and philanthropist in Kansas City, Mo. She was the wife and partner of Ewing Kauffman...
's support and encouragement, he stepped up to the plate when he was convinced that the team would bring economic muscle to Kansas City. Once he committed to the idea, he poured the same energy, resources, and innovative thinking that made him a successful businessman into the team. Instinct for innovation built a model sports franchise, a modern stadium, and a championship-caliber team.
Kauffman established the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, bringing major league baseball back to Kansas City. He hired mavericks and encouraged them to bring new thinking to transform the hidebound culture of the baseball establishment. Following their owner's unconventional path, the Royals built a model baseball franchise, developing talented young players into major league stars. Ewing Kauffman's Royals were perennial playoff contenders, winning six division championships, two American League pennants and a world championship in 1985.
After efforts to bring partners into the Royals ownership group failed, Kauffman developed innovative measures to ensure the continued presence of the Royals in Kansas City. His intricate will dictated that the new owner would keep the Royals in Kansas City, sell the team for a fair price, and have proceeds from the sale go to local charities.
On November 8, 2007, he was nominated to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the 2008 class. He was not elected.
Project Choice
In 1988, Ewing Marion Kauffman made a commitment to a group of high school students that if they would stay in school, stay off drugs, avoid teenage parenthoodTeenage pregnancy
Teenage pregnancy is a pregnancy of a female under the age of 20 when the pregnancy ends. It generally refers to a female who is unmarried and usually refers to an unplanned pregnancy...
, commit to being good citizens and graduate on time, he would fund their post-secondary education. To be eligible for the program, parents also had to agree to be involved in their child's education by attending meetings and participating in parent/teacher organizations and other activities. Project Choice was offered to students at Mr. Kauffman's alma mater, Westport High School in Kansas City, Mo., and to selected students at five high schools in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas.
Kauffman Stadium
At a time when other cities were building cookie-cutter, multipurpose sports facilities Ewing Kauffman went against the trend to build Royals Stadium, a home for the team that was decades ahead of its time. The stadium was the sole baseball-only facility built in the majors between 1962 and 1991. Fans in one of the sport’s smallest markets responded by filling the stadium, topping the magic two-million attendance mark a total of ten times and seven seasons in a row.Opened as Royals Stadium
Kauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
on April 10, 1973 as part of the Harry Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City. Designed by Kivett and Meyers architects in Kansas City, the Royals' home incorporated the best of Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium, with 40,793 seats, all facing second base and arranged in three tiers. A construction strike delayed the opening of the stadium so Kauffman added money to make sure it would open in time for the 1973 season and the 1973 All Star game. The stadium's prominent features include water fountains beyond the outfield fence and a 10-story high scoreboard shaped like the Royals crest, topped by a gold crown. The 322 feet (98.1 m) water spectacular is the largest privately funded fountain in the world. The stadium featured an artificial turf field but was replaced in 1995 with grass.
Ewing Kauffman made his last public appearance at the stadium on May 23, 1993, when he was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame. The facility was officially renamed in honor of Ewing M. Kauffman in a ceremony at the stadium on July 2, 1993 and is the only stadium in the American League named in honor of a person.