Danenbarger, William F.

William F. Danenbarger was a leader in Kansas education policy, as well as being active in multiple business pursuits over the course of his life. Danenbarger received his A.B. degree from the University of Kansas in 1933, after which he worked for two years as editor of the Concordia News and Press in Concordia, Kansas. This was followed by work for United Press, first in Denver, then in El Paso as a manager, and finally in Atlanta as a business manager. In 1947, Danenbarger returned to Concordia to manage Danenbarger’s Hardware from 1947 until 1952. In 1954, he founded the radio station KNCK in Concordia, which he would manage until 1972. Kansas Governor George Docking appointed Danenbarger to the Kansas Board of Regents in 1961 and he would serve until 1965. Danenbarger also served on the Board of Regents for Washburn University in Topeka at this time. From 1962 to 1975, Danenbarger was a member of the Kansas Council on Economic Education. Danenbarger’s work in education continued in the 1970s, as he was reappointed to the Kansas Board of Regents from 1970 to 1974 and from 1972 to 1974, he was commissioner of the Education Commission of the States. He also served as a member of the Kansas State University Research Foundation. From 1973 to 1979, he was a member of the Kansas Economic Development Commission and a member of the Kansas Industrial Roundtable. Danenbarger died in 1990.

Written in December 2020 by Jarrod Kuckelman.

Creator Source: Local Authority File