Junior high library named for long-time school board leader

By Melissa Bower | Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, October 29, 2009 9:39 AM CDT
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Unified School District 207 Board of Education President Myron Griswold straightens the portrait of former Board of Education President Stephen Kempf during a ceremony Oct. 22 naming the library at Patton Junior High School in Kempf's honor. Lamp photo by Prudence Siebert.

Those who know Stephen J. Kempf best say it's fitting to name a school library in his honor.

Kempf, former president of the Fort Leavenworth Unified School District 207 school board, retired this summer after 17 years of service. The school district decided to name the library and multimedia center at Patton Junior High School in Kempf's honor. District officials unveiled a plaque at the school Oct. 22.

Fellow board member and new board vice president Edith Rob said that Kempf was an avid reader, especially when it came to school board business. When board members received packets of information before meetings, she was surprised at how quickly he read and understood everything.

"I was amazed, so I think that it is very appropriate when (Superintendent Deborah Baeuchle) thought of the library and hopefully your speed-reading will emanate through the school," she said.

Kempf, also a retired colonel, said his love of reading helped him more than once throughout his military career. While attending military education, making up plans or presentations, Kempf said his knowledge of the written word was imperative.

"Words are still the best way to share information," he said. "In this world, if you can't read, you're dead."

Kempf remembered the days when library cards were filled out with book titles, and he would go through one a month. Kempf estimates it takes him about a day to finish a book. He never needs to re-read them, because he can remember everything he's read. Kempf said some of his personal books might have to be donated to the media center named in his honor.

Current school board President Myron Griswold said he's honored to follow in Kempf's footsteps. Griswold mentioned the district's rebuilding project during Kempf's tenure as board president, which included construction of the district's four existing school buildings. Kempf's name appears on plaques in all of them.

"He did wonderful things for all the school-age children that came through the district, thousands of them, particularly with the modernization of the facilities," Griswold said.

Griswold also said it was with Kempf's direction that the latest technology was added into each building, putting the Fort Leavenworth school buildings years ahead of other schools in the area.

"For the kids who are in Patton now and the kids who will come into the halls of this great school in the future, they will really benefit from the resources, the support, the great professional educators, the technology that are in this library media center," Griswold said. "I'm sure that over the years, they'll hopefully think back in a memorable way to this being an important step in their journey throughout their lives as they continue to learn and be productive citizens in our nation."