Kenneth McFarland
Encyclopedia
Dr. Kenneth W. McFarland (October 12, 1906 – March 6, 1985)
born in Caney, Kansas
was an educator, public speaker, author and conservative
commentator. An early conservative, Kenneth McFarland was the public school superintendent for Coffeyville, Kansas
where he founded the McFarland Trade School. Later he was hired as superintendent of the Topeka, Kansas
school system, the school system in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education
347 U.S. 483
(1954),. McFarland was reportedly a staunch supporter of the political and racial status quo of the time.
in 1927. He received his Master’s degree at Columbia University
in 1931 and a doctorate from Stanford University
in 1940.
McFarland served as principal in Cherryvale, Kansas
and then superintendent of schools in Coffeyville and Anthony, Kansas
. He designed and built a trade school in Coffeyville, Kansas, named in his honor. The McFarland Trade School changed its name in 1965 to the Southeast Kansas Area Vocational-Technical School.)
and salesmanship.
(“Take me to your ladder lady, I’ll see your leader later”) and vocal techniques to make for remarkable speeches such as his “Ropes of Gold,” “The Lamplighters,” “America’s Opportunity,” “Wake the Town and Tell the People,” “Selling America to Americans,” “The Eagle Has Landed,” and “America’s Opportunity.”
Along with Frank Emerson Harris, he produced a series of booklets on the preservation of “basic Americanism,” regarded as an expression of modern political conservatism.
born in Caney, Kansas
Caney, Kansas
Caney is a city in Montgomery County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,966.-Geography:Caney is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,092...
was an educator, public speaker, author and conservative
American conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
commentator. An early conservative, Kenneth McFarland was the public school superintendent for Coffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville is a city situated along the Verdigris River in the southeastern part of Montgomery County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,295...
where he founded the McFarland Trade School. Later he was hired as superintendent of the Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
school system, the school system in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
347 U.S. 483
Case citation
Case citation is the system used in many countries to identify the decisions in past court cases, either in special series of books called reporters or law reports, or in a 'neutral' form which will identify a decision wherever it was reported...
(1954),. McFarland was reportedly a staunch supporter of the political and racial status quo of the time.
Education
Born in the small southeastern Kansas town of Caney, Kenneth McFarland received a bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State College of KansasPittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University, also called Pitt State or PSU, is a public university with approximately 7,100 students located in Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. A large percentage of the student population consists of residents within the Pittsburg region; the gender proportion is relatively equal...
in 1927. He received his Master’s degree at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1931 and a doctorate from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1940.
McFarland served as principal in Cherryvale, Kansas
Cherryvale, Kansas
Cherryvale is a city in Montgomery County, Kansas, United States. The population was 2,386 at the 2000 census.-History:Cherryvale was founded on the land of the Osage Indians who were pushed out by veterans of the American Civil War looking for land. The first white man to purchase property and...
and then superintendent of schools in Coffeyville and Anthony, Kansas
Anthony, Kansas
Anthony is a city in and the county seat of Harper County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,269.-19th century:...
. He designed and built a trade school in Coffeyville, Kansas, named in his honor. The McFarland Trade School changed its name in 1965 to the Southeast Kansas Area Vocational-Technical School.)
Public speaker
From the 1950s McFarland was engaged as a public speaker and lecturer for the General Motors Corporation, and Readers Digest. He received numerous awards from politically conservative civic and business-oriented organizations for his support of free enterpriseFree enterprise
-Transport:* Free Enterprise I, a ferry in service with European Ferries between 1962 and 1980.* Free Enterprise II, a ferry in service with European Ferries between 1965 and 1982....
and salesmanship.
Author
McFarland authored the speaking guide, “Eloquence in Public Speaking, How to Set Your Words on Fire” (1963). He also published 26 addresses recorded live. His speeches consistently used humor, as well as engaging speaking techniques of alliterationAlliteration
In language, alliteration refers to the repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of Three or more words or phrases. Alliteration has historically developed largely through poetry, in which it more narrowly refers to the repetition of a consonant in any syllables that, according to...
(“Take me to your ladder lady, I’ll see your leader later”) and vocal techniques to make for remarkable speeches such as his “Ropes of Gold,” “The Lamplighters,” “America’s Opportunity,” “Wake the Town and Tell the People,” “Selling America to Americans,” “The Eagle Has Landed,” and “America’s Opportunity.”
Along with Frank Emerson Harris, he produced a series of booklets on the preservation of “basic Americanism,” regarded as an expression of modern political conservatism.
Recorded speeches
- America's Opportunity (Bicentennial - 1976-1989)
- Are We Raising the Red Flag Over Ourselves?
- Guarding America Tonight
- Horse Sense
- How is America Doing?
- Ladder To Success
- Leadership that Leads
- Let's Sell Success
- Liberty Under Law
- Public Speaking - Part One
- Public Speaking - Part Two
- Ropes of Gold
- Salesman Power
- Selling America to Americans
- Speak Up For America!
- Sure-Fire Selling
- The Best of McFarland's Humor, Vol I
- The Best of McFarland's Humor, Vol II
- The Best of McFarland on Insurance
- The Best of McFarland for Salesmen
- The Lamplighters
- The PERSON in SalesPERSON
- Wake The Town and Tell the People
- Who Bites the Bountiful Hand
- Who Will Succeed...?
- You Better Believe It
Awards
According to his published obituary McFarland received many prestigious speaking awards:- Freedom Foundation’s National Leadership Award and Free Enterprise Exemplar Medal
- American Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award
- Honorary Member: America’s Number One Rotary Club, Chicago
- America’s Number One Air Passenger (for flying more than any other passenger on American Airlines)
- Sales and Marketing Executives International’s Outstanding Salesman of America
- Honorary Member, Fraternal Order of Police
- Optimist International’s Highest Honor: The International President’s Award
- Toastmaster International’s Golden Gavel Award for Excellence in Communications and Leadership
- Named Quote Magazine’s list of 10 Most Quotable Public Speakers