The name Kauffman is synonymous with Kansas City, from Kauffman Stadium to the Kauffman Foundation to the Kauffman Scholars program. In celebration of his 100th birthday, we took a look back at the life of a man whose great impact ripples beyond the boundaries of our city.

As a young man, Ewing Marion Kauffman opened Marion Laboratories, now Marion Merrell Dow, in his garage. He would eventually make himself and his employees millionaires while taking care of the city and its youth. After his death in 1993, Kauffman’s legacy has lived on in his dedication to entrepreneurship, education, health and technology, all of which have shaped this city. Ewing Marion Kauffman's dedication to education, entrepreneurship and Kansas City is unmatched. Through his generosity, he has created ripple effects that will continue for generations to come.

KCPT published highlights of Mr. K's contributions to Kansas City, including the stories of Kauffman Scholars students and of individuals who worked with him.

As he said in 1933: "All the money in the world cannot solve problems unless we work together. If we work together, there is no problem in the world that can stop us as we seek to develop people to the highest and best potential."

This work and research was funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The editorial content is the sole responsibility of KCPT.

A Timeline of Marion Labs

One of Ewing Marion Kauffman's lasting legacies comes from his pharmaceutical company, Marion Labs, now Marion Merrell Dow. He started the company in the basement of his home in 1950 and used his middle name instead of his first name so customers wouldn't think it was a one-man operation. When Kauffman sold his company in 1989, it netted nearly $1 billion in sales.