Year Inducted: 2006
Mayor Kay Barnes was elected as Kansas City’s first woman mayor in 1999, and reelected to a second term in 2003. Mayor Barnes received her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Kansas, and Master’s in Secondary Education and Public Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She became interested in public service in the late 1960’s when she worked for the Cross-Line Cooperative Council in the urban core. She helped found the Women’s Resource Service at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and also formed multicultural women’s speaking panels throughout the western United States.
“People throughout the city praise Mayor Barnes for her bipartisan leadership and her creative solutions to long-standing programs,” said Kala Stroup, president of American Humanics, Inc. “Those who have known her since she was a student at the University of Kansas are not surprised. Since her graduation from KU in 1960, she has made significant contributions to universities, cities, nonprofit organizations, and to quality of life wherever she has chosen to lead.”
Some of her accomplishments include co-authoring a book entitled About Time: A Woman’s Guide to Time Management, co-founding the Central Exchange, Kansas City’s premier women’s organization that provides personal and professional development opportunities, and introducing the ServiceFIRST program that examines the delivery of basic services to Kansas City residents and redesigns them for greater efficiency and effectiveness. Mayor Barnes also gained voter approval for the investment of over $2 billion in Downtown Kansas City as the result of her vision and leadership.
“As Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, Kay Barnes is a recognized political figure and an outstanding civic leader,” said Stewart Smith, president and CEO of Camp Fire USA. “But she is more than that. She is the strategic architect of a new Kansas City, leading a process to revitalize our downtown and galvanizing public and private credibility and resources necessary to ensure that this City is a robust and growing place to live and do business.”
It is also important to note her role as mentor and role model to countless women. Karen McCarthy, Director, AH AmeriCorps*ProCorps Program, cites Kay’s pioneering commitment to public service as “inspir[ing] individuals, especially women, to serve in elective and appointed positions in record numbers. I am one who volunteered in her campaigns, and with her encouragement went on to serve as State Legislator (18 years) and Member of the U.S. Congress (10 years).”
“Kay Barnes is a ‘leader among leaders’ with exceptional organization and management skills, gigantic fundraising capacity, and a positive change-agent on public policy development,” said Joanne Collins. “I have observed Kay empowering youth, women, and minorities by interpreting her clear vision for our city and the metropolitan area. Kay takes great pride in her family, KCMO, and the KU experience.”
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The University of Kansas Medical Center
