Kready named outstanding trustee

Don Kready, longtime member of the Colby Community College Board of Trustees, was recently selected to receive the “2008 Outstanding Trustee Award” from the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees (KACCT).
Kready served seven consecutive four-year terms on the CCC Board of Trustees before retiring from the board and moving last year to Topeka.  He was nominated for the award by the current members of the CCC board.
In a letter nominating Kready for the award, board members wrote, “Don was part of the development of many new programs at the college, including dental hygiene, criminal justice, associate degree in nursing, computer support specialist, office management, business management and business technology.  Seven four-year universities partnered with CCC in 2+2 programs, two classroom buildings were constructed and he worked with three college presidents.  He represented CCC at KACCT meetings for many years as well as attending American Community College Trustees meetings nationwide.
“During his tenure at CCC, Kready served with 19 different trustees.  His friendly, outgoing personality made him a cordial associate.  He kept himself accountable to other trustees and always delivered detailed reports of the meetings he attended.  He was willing to be involved in local legislative briefings and stayed in touch with the area legislators. He was always a positive proponent of the community college concept.  He had a good sense of what agenda to bring forward at state meetings and worked to gather support from all 19 community colleges before proceeding with any initiative to the legislative level.”  Sheila Frahm is the Executive Director of the KACCT and worked for many years with Kready.
“Don served 28 years as a CCC trustee,” said Frahm.  “During this time he was chair, vice-chair and treasurer of the board and always helped make decisions that he knew were best for Colby Community College students.  In addition, he was conscious about the needs of the community and even the property taxes that would be collected for the college.  He knew the importance of supporting and working with the other Kansas community colleges.  Colby has every reason to be proud of Don’s willing and able service to CCC students and area citizens.”
To honor Kready’s service to CCC, he was voted the Honorary Degree recipient for the college’s 2007 commencement.  He and his wife Jo operated the State Farm Insurance Agency in Colby for over 35 years.  Kready was a member of the Colby Rotary Club and served a District Governor during 1985-86.  He loves to sing and is very active in the Barbershop Harmony Society.  While he lived in Colby, he sang with the Tumbleweed Chorus and founded and directed the Hi-Plains Harmony Chapter of Sweet Adelines.  He was also very active in the Colby United Methodist Church. 
“I can’t tell you how honored I am,” said Kready.  “When I learned of the award, I immediately called the KACCT office to tell them I thought there had been a mistake.  They assured me that it was correct and I was selected for the honor.”
Kready will receive the award at the annual Kansas Association of Community College Trustees/Council of Presidents banquet in Wichita on Friday, Sept. 5.
“Don will be joined at this celebration by his wife Jo, Colby Trustees Cindy Black, Kenton Krehbiel, Bill Biel, Arlen Leiker, President Lynn Kreider and his wife Janice as well as former CCC President Mikel Ary and his wife Delores,” said Frahm.  “Former President Jim Tangeman and his wife Sandy will be sending their greetings.”
Don and his wife have three adult children.  All three attended CCC and continued their education at Kansas Universities.  They now reside in Topeka where Don remains interested in community college issues.  He continues to sing and perform in the Barbershop Harmony Society with his son and grandson.