Richard ‘Dick’ Berkley, the longest serving mayor in Kansas City’s history, dies
Richard “Dick” Berkley, who served as mayor of Kansas City for 12 years, died on Wednesday. Berkley was the Mayor of Kansas City from 1979 to 1991.He served as a council member for a decade before becoming mayor. Current Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said he was one of Kansas City’s “greatest leaders.” “Kansas City’s first Jewish mayor and serving longer than any other mayor in Kansas City history, Mayor Berkley leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of service to our community,” Lucas said. “Leading Kansas City from 1979 until 1991 after a decade on City Council, Mayor Berkley helped our community come together after the Hyatt Regency Skywalk collapse, oversaw the transformation of our downtown skyline, and through his appointments to boards, commissions, and Council positions, created new opportunities for Kansas Citians of all backgrounds. A humble man, Mayor Berkley nonetheless drew the support of leaders nationally, serving as the president of the United States Conference of Mayors and shaping civic life in Kansas City over the 1980s. “The man who succeeded Berkley also paid tribute. “For 12 years as Mayor, and ten more on the City Council, Dick Berkley offered the calm, collected, and utterly effective leadership that helped transform Kansas City into the major metropolitan area it is today,” said U.S. House Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Berkley’s successor. “From the expansion of Bartle Hall to the revitalization and economic development of neighborhoods across Kansas City, the impact of Dick Berkley can be felt in every zip code of our great city. While I was proud to honor his legacy through the Berkley Riverfront, we all owe him a debt of gratitude for his lifelong devotion and public service to our community.” Berkley was Kansas City’s first Republican mayor since 1930. Cleaver, a Democrat, said Berkley did not look at life “through a partisan lens.” “Although he was a Republican, and I a Democrat, I cannot recall a single moment when Mayor Berkley was anything less than helpful, supportive, and committed to the progress and unity of our communities—because that was all that mattered in his eyes. I believe that is something to be treasured, and something that will be sorely missed.”Berkley Riverfront Park was named in honor of the mayor. “Every great city needs a solid foundation,” said Jon Stephens, the CEO of Port KC. “Mayor Berkley’s efforts solidified Kansas City’s place as one of the best to call home. His work was a building block to KC becoming a top-rated destination, he opened the doors for our hometown to become a global opportunity. We say thank you to his years of dedication and service.” As mayor, he served as the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ president. He’s credited with helping bring 911 services to Kansas City and creating the mayor’s task forces on food and hung, drugs, and AIDS.
Richard “Dick” Berkley, who served as mayor of Kansas City for 12 years, died on Wednesday.
Berkley was the Mayor of Kansas City from 1979 to 1991.
He served as a council member for a decade before becoming mayor.
Current Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said he was one of Kansas City’s “greatest leaders.”
“Kansas City’s first Jewish mayor and serving longer than any other mayor in Kansas City history, Mayor Berkley leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of service to our community,” Lucas said. “Leading Kansas City from 1979 until 1991 after a decade on City Council, Mayor Berkley helped our community come together after the Hyatt Regency Skywalk collapse, oversaw the transformation of our downtown skyline, and through his appointments to boards, commissions, and Council positions, created new opportunities for Kansas Citians of all backgrounds. A humble man, Mayor Berkley nonetheless drew the support of leaders nationally, serving as the president of the United States Conference of Mayors and shaping civic life in Kansas City over the 1980s. “
The man who succeeded Berkley also paid tribute.
“For 12 years as Mayor, and ten more on the City Council, Dick Berkley offered the calm, collected, and utterly effective leadership that helped transform Kansas City into the major metropolitan area it is today,” said U.S. House Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Berkley’s successor. “From the expansion of Bartle Hall to the revitalization and economic development of neighborhoods across Kansas City, the impact of Dick Berkley can be felt in every zip code of our great city. While I was proud to honor his legacy through the Berkley Riverfront, we all owe him a debt of gratitude for his lifelong devotion and public service to our community.”
Berkley was Kansas City’s first Republican mayor since 1930.
Cleaver, a Democrat, said Berkley did not look at life “through a partisan lens.”
“Although he was a Republican, and I a Democrat, I cannot recall a single moment when Mayor Berkley was anything less than helpful, supportive, and committed to the progress and unity of our communities—because that was all that mattered in his eyes. I believe that is something to be treasured, and something that will be sorely missed.”
Berkley Riverfront Park was named in honor of the mayor.
“Every great city needs a solid foundation,” said Jon Stephens, the CEO of Port KC. “Mayor Berkley’s efforts solidified Kansas City’s place as one of the best to call home. His work was a building block to KC becoming a top-rated destination, he opened the doors for our hometown to become a global opportunity. We say thank you to his years of dedication and service.”
As mayor, he served as the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ president.
He’s credited with helping bring 911 services to Kansas City and creating the mayor’s task forces on food and hung, drugs, and AIDS.
