Richard L. Berkley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard L Berkley
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Berkley in 2011
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| 50th Mayor of Kansas City | |
| In office May 1979 – May 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Wheeler |
| Succeeded by | Emanuel Cleaver |
| 45th President of the United States Conference of Mayors | |
| In office 1987–1988 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Riley Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Holland |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Richard L. Berkowitz
June 29, 1931 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | November 29, 2023 (aged 92) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Sandy Berkley |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Harvard University (AB, MBA) |
Richard L. Berkley was an important leader for Kansas City, Missouri. He was born Richard L. Berkowitz on June 29, 1931. He served as the 50th mayor of Kansas City from 1979 to 1991. He passed away on November 29, 2023, at the age of 92.
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Early Life and Education
Richard Berkley was born in 1931. He went to Harvard University for his college degree. Later, he earned a Master's degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1957. His family owned a company in Kansas City called Tension Corporation. Richard Berkley was involved with the company's business.
A Long Career in Public Service
Richard Berkley dedicated many years to serving his city. He was a member of the city council from 1969 to 1979. The city council helps make decisions for the city. From 1971 to 1979, he also served as mayor pro tem. This means he could act as mayor if the main mayor was not available.
In 1979, Richard Berkley became the mayor of Kansas City. He was a member of the Republican Party. He was the first Jewish mayor of the city. He also served as mayor for 12 years, which is longer than any other mayor in Kansas City's history.
Key Projects and Achievements
During his time as mayor, Richard Berkley worked on many important projects. He helped improve the city in many ways. More than 700 projects were completed while he was mayor.
One big project was expanding the Bartle Hall Convention Center. This is a large building used for meetings and events. He also helped to make the Quality Hill neighborhood a better place to live.
Richard Berkley also called for a federal investigation after the Hyatt Regency walkway collapse in 1981. This was a very serious event, and he wanted to make sure it was properly investigated.
Honoring His Legacy
A special place in Kansas City is named after him: the Richard L. Berkley Riverfront Park. This park is located along the Missouri River. It is a beautiful area for people to enjoy.
The Port Authority of Kansas City, Missouri (Port KC) created a public cemetery within this park. Mayor Berkley was buried there. He was a strong supporter of cleaning up and developing the riverfront area. Today, this area has apartments, shops, and even a new stadium.
The new stadium, which opened in March 2024, is home to the KC Current women's professional sports team. It is the first stadium built just for a women's professional sports team in the world.
Family Life
Richard Berkley was married to Sandy Berkley. They had two children, Elizabeth and Jon. He lived a long life and passed away in 2023.
