At the age of 92, the son of the founder of Churchill Truck Lines of Chillicothe, Mo. and a former president of the company left this world to meet his creator. In 1928, at the age of 10, Kenneth, son of Cliff Churchhill, began his career in the family business as a janitor's helper. He became the president of the company in 1960.

Kenneth Churchill was born in Garden Grove, Iowa, in 1918. He spent his grade school and high school in Meadville, Mo., and got his diploma in 1936. Right after his graduation, he immediately jump into the family business under the guidance of his late father, Chris. The multi-million dollar company served 26 states, had 100 terminals, and gave jobs to hundreds of people.

Kenneth has been officially associated with Churchill Truck Lines, Inc. since 1936. He served as Secretary-Treasurer from 1936 to 1960; became president from 1960 to 1966; and moved on to become the Chairman of the Board and president from 1966 to the present.

Churchill worked with dignity no matter what job was thrown to him. There was never a task too banal, too insignificant, or too dirty to do as he worked long and hard to grow a very successful business in a very tough, highly competitive industry. Ast time goes by, he touched friends, business associates, employees, and business competitors alike.

In 1980 he received the Frank G. Campbell Award for Outstanding Service. This kind of award if given only to someone from Missouri offering distinguished record of service to the Transportation industry, the Missouri Motor Carriers Association, and to the community he/she lives in.

Being named the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce "Business Person of the Year," in 1986, was another feather added in his already filled cap.

Kenneth Churchill's life didn't revolve around their family business alone, through the years, he's been a member of several boards and has partaken an active role in the community of Chillicothe.

Among his dozens of stewardship:

• He functioned as president and vice president of the Missouri Bus and Trucking Association, and for many years a member of the Board of Directors. He served and managed several standing committees, including Public Relations, Legislative, and Membership, Past President (1966)

• Since before 1960, he is a member of the Missouri Motor Carriers Association (MMCA) Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

• He was a Member of the Association Finance & Administrative Committee MMCA

• Chairman of the Committee for Sound Transportation

• Board member and past president of Missouri-Kansas Motor Carrier Conference

• Board of directors of the Rocky Mountain Motor Tariff Bureau.

• He was ATA vice chairman at Large (1988-1990)

• ATA Executive Committee member

• Chairman of the Special Committee of Nominations for Officers of the Middle West Motor Freight Bureau (MWMFB)

• Chairman of Executive Committee of MWMFB

• Member of MWMFB Board of Directors.
  
  
  

Beyond the trucking industry, he functioned as a member of the Board of Directors of the Missouri State Chamber of Commerce, he was also a member of the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce, the Chillicothe Industrial Development Board (now CDC), and he served many years on Citizens' Bank & Trust Company Board of Directors.

Kenneth Churchill has also shared his time as an active member of several community service groups, and he was a faithful member of the Chillicothe United Methodist Church, where he ushered until and beyond his 92nd birthday.

Kenneth Churchill is survived by his sons Fred and David, daughters Connie and Julie, and brother Paul. Kenneth married the loving Eugenia Minnis on May 25, 1940. Jeanne preceded him in death on August 15, 2010.

Funeral services will be held at the Chillicothe United Methodist Church, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Monday, October 25, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. There will be a scheduled family visitation on Sunday, October 24, 2010 from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the Lindley Funeral Home in Chillicothe, Missouri. Colleagues may visit on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Lindley Funeral Home. Interment will be in Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Chillicothe, Mo. Memorial offerings may be made to the Chillicothe United Methodist Church and/or the Chillicothe Parks and Recreation.

Online condolences may be left at Lindley Funeral Homes