Kenneth Churchill

Kenneth F. Churchill, age 92, a resident of Chillicothe, passed away at Hedrick Medical Center on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Kenneth was born son of Cliffton Bondurant and Anna Louise (Gehlhaar) Churchill on March 29, 1918 in Garden Grove, Iowa. Kenneth attended grade school and high school in Meadville, Missouri, graduating in 1936. Upon graduation, he immediately entered into the trucking business under the guidance of his late father, Cliff Churchill. Kenneth married Eugenia (Jeanne) Minnis on May 25, 1940. Jeanne preceded him in death on August 15, 2010. Kenneth's strong work ethic began on the farm and continued as he worked hard and long beside his father and brothers. His father, Cliff, started the business as an individual in 1926 before many gravel roads or concrete pavement existed. Cliff began the business with one Dodge straight truck hauling livestock from the rural area to Kansas City, St. Joseph, and later to St. Louis, and hauling feed, tankage, and vinegar in wooden barrels back into the North Missouri area. All of this was prior to the state and federal regulation of the trucking industry. In 1932, the Missouri legislature passed laws to regulate motor carriers. In 1935, federal laws were passed to regulate operations which were managed by the Interstate Commerce Commission. CHTL was granted as a regular route with authority to transport general commodities, as well as irregular routes between Meadville, Missouri, and all points in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. In later years, this authority proved quite helpful in expanding operations into major cities. The company was incorporated in 1935 and was owned by Cliff Churchill, Mr. J.E. Creason, and Mr. John Miller (all of Meadville). Later, both gentlemen sold their interest in the company to Churchill. In 1936, ownership reverted to a family-owned corporation, and Kenneth's mother became a stockholder and member of the Board of Directors. In 1943, the company moved its general offices from Meadville, Missouri, to Chillicothe, Missouri, purchasing all or parts of numerous other carriers throughout the years. Since 1936, Kenneth has been associated with Churchill Truck Lines, Inc., serving as Secretary-Treasurer from 1936 to 1960, President from 1960 to 1966; and Chairman of the Board and president from 1966 to the present. There was never a task too remedial, too mundane, too unimportant, or too dirty to do as he worked long and hard to grow a very successful business in a very tough, highly competitive industry. As president and chairman of the board, he arrived for work by 6:30 a.m. and rarely left before 7 p.m. Through the years, he touched business associates; employees; competitors; a variety of board members he served with on local, state, and national levels; friends; acquaintances; and family. His leadership and day-to-day operation of his company reached into 26 states with 100 terminals employing several hundreds of people. Receiving national, statewide, and regional recognition and awards, he was also committed to the community where he kept his company although many thought he should move his headquarters to the city. Kenneth's distinctive handwriting was always admired and noticed - he said his elementary teachers made him practice over and over to achieve this level of quality. His dedication and effort paid off. His quality of leadership and success in management may be seen by the summarized list of achievements over his lifetime. This list was created in 1992, which was 18 years ago... since that time, he continued to go to work every day, continued to generously contribute to the community where he lived, and continued to be admired wherever he went. Kenneth was a recipient of the "Frank G. Campbell Award for Outstanding Service" in 1980. This award is given to an individual in Missouri for his/her distinguished record of service to the Transportation industry, the Missouri Motor Carriers Association, and his/her community. In 1986, he was named the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce "Business Person of the Year." His business activities included: Served as President and Vice President of the Missouri Bus and Trucking Association, served many years on the Board of Directors, served and chaired various standing committees, including Public Relations, Legislative, and Membership, Past President (1966) and member of the Missouri Motor Carriers Association (MMCA) Executive Committee and Board of Directors since before 1960, Member of the Association Finance & Administrative Committee MMCA, Chairman of the Committee for Sound Transportation, Board member and Past President of Missouri-Kansas Motor Carrier Conference, Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Motor Tariff Bureau, Past President of Transport Clearings-Midwest and member of Board of Directors, Vice Chairman from Missouri for the American Trucking Association (1967-1988), ATA Vice Chairman at Large (1988-1990),ATA Executive Committee member, Chairman of the Special Committee of Nominations for Officers of the Middle west Motor Freight Bureau (MWMFB), Chairman of Executive Committee of MWMFB, Member of MWMFB Board of Directors, Treasurer of the Central States Motor Freight Bureau (CMB) Board of Trustees, Board of Directors of American Trucking Association (ATA), ATA's 1992 National Membership Task Force, First Vice-Chairman and Board member of the Regular Route Common Carrier Conference of the American Trucking Association, Regular Common Carrier Conference (RCCC) Administrative & Finance Committee, RCCC Strategic Planning Committee, Board of Governors of the Southern Motor Carriers Rate Conference, Board member of Trucking Management, Inc., Washington D.C., Board of Directors - Excalibur Insurance Company, Carrollton, Texas, Served many years working on the Missouri Economic Development, Export and Infrastructure Board in Jefferson City, Diplomat Club member (industry political action committee), Early volunteer to help home community cut down noise from truck traffic. His service Activities included: Member of the Board of Directors of the Missouri State Chamber of Commerce, Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce member, Chillicothe Industrial Development Board member (now CDC), Served many years on Citizens' Bank & Trust Company Board of Directors, St. Louis Ambassadors Club member, Member of Fontbonne College Board of Directors, Member National Museum of Transportation Board of Directors, Member of Catholic Knights of Columbus, Treasurer of St. Raphael Holy Name Society, past St. Raphael The Archangel Parish assistant for the White House Retreat League, Kiwanis Club member, Rotary Club member, on the Chillicothe Parks and Recreation board, Jerry Litton Family Memorial Foundation Advisory Board, a long time supporter of the Missouri US Highway 36/I-72 Association, United Methodist Church member where he ushered beyond his 92nd birthday. He is survived by his children: son Fred Churchill and wife Lois, of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, daughter Connie Moore and husband Fred, of Scottsdale, Arizona, daughter Patricia Churchill, of Liberty, Missouri, son David M. Churchill and wife Jennie Jo, of Chillicothe, Missouri, daughter Julie Longwell, and husband Mark, of Gladstone, Missouri; ten grandchildren: Michael Roe and wife Christine, Matthew Roe and wife Michelle, Mark Fredrick Churchill, Abby Curnow-Chavez and husband Tim, Luke Roe and wife Denise, Neelie Churchill, Donny Churchill, Duke Churchill, Clinton Longwell and wife Tina, Clayton Longwell; nine great grandchildren: Colin Roe, Constance Addie Roe, Victoria Roe, Kenneth Fredrick Roe, Drew Chavez, Connor Roe, Margaret Churchill, Samuel Kenneth Chavez, and Vincent Mosby Churchill. He is also survived by one brother Paul Churchill and wife Joyce of Chillicothe and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Cliffton Bondurant and Anna Louise; four brothers, George Churchill, Randy Churchill, Herb Churchill, Don Churchill; three sisters, Lorene Stambaugh, Mary Frances Thompson, Louise A. Atkins. Funeral services will be held at the Chillicothe United Methodist Church, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Monday, October 25, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. There will be a scheduled family visitation on Sunday, October 24, 2010 from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the Lindley Funeral Home in Chillicothe, Missouri. Friends may call on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Lindley Funeral Home. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Chillicothe, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chillicothe United Methodist Church and/or the Chillicothe Parks and Recreation. Online condolences may be left at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com Arrangements are under the direction of the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri