Missouri Press Association
Serving Missouri Newspapers Since 1867
Missouri’s newspapers have employed thousands of individuals over the years, from journalists and photographers to print production and receptionists. Uniting the varied perspectives each of those people represents is the Missouri Press Association, and for many years, the man keeping them all informed was Kent Ford.
Ford died July 31, peacefully, at his home in Columbia, after a recent cancer diagnosis. He was 78.
Many Missouri newspaper people will know Ford from his work as MPA’s editor, in which he served from July 1989 to April 2014. Through him, members learned about everything from legislation changes to contest updates to USPS statement of ownership reminders.
Doug Crews, the former MPA executive director who hired Ford and previously held the MPA editor role, praised the work he did in furthering MPA’s mission.
“I was so pleased to hire Kent to serve as editor of Missouri Press News magazine,” Crews said. “He was an excellent writer and journalist, along with his photography skills, and he worked hard to put together and publish the monthly magazine for MPA members and the Membership Bulletin, also.”
An Iowa native, Ford attended Kansas City Metropolitan Junior College and Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg before joining the U.S. Navy. His service included training as an Aviation Fire Control Technician, blue-water deployments on two aircraft carriers, USS America and USS Constellation, and time on the USS Albert David off the coast of Vietnam.
Between deployments, Ford married Sharon Blankenship of Brookfield, Missouri, and following his military service, they moved to Columbia so he could complete his education at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Graduating in 1974, he had jobs as a city reporter at The Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff and as city editor at The Daily Nonpareil in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
In 1981, he and Sharon purchased The Oregon Times Observer, where his responsibilities included everything: editor, publisher, advertising sales and pagination. He also shared his love of journalism with local high school students and helped create a monthly, full-page feature, “Knight Times,” addition to the newspaper. They sold the newspaper in July 1989 when Ford joined the MPA staff.
“Kent kept MPA members informed of issues that affected their local newspapers, and he maintained notice of MPA activities and documented its history. His wife, Sharon, and family were active in Missouri Press, also, and our condolences are shared with them,” Crews said.
As publisher of The Times Observer, Ford was a member of Missouri Press Association and Northwest Missouri Press Association, serving as board president in 1987.
Bryan Jones, publisher of the Morgan County Statesman, Versailles, and another former MPA editor, remembers meeting Ford as he prepared for retirement. “I was honored to be selected his successor at the MPA editor’s desk, as I certainly could never be his replacement.”
Jones added that it was a privilege to learn from Ford, “as he unselfishly, and with good humor, shared his experience and knowledge with me. I am genuinely grateful for the opportunity I had to work closely beside him for a time in that little office at 802 Locust in Columbia, where he spent so much of his influential career.”
One of Ford’s final journalistic endeavors was writing his memoir, Boomer Tales: Adventures of a Part-Time Delinquent. An excerpt from the book can be found with this story on MPA’s website, www.mopress.com, and you can order the book online.
While Jones is appreciative of Ford’s time and counsel, there is one topic that will always jokingly remain a “sore” spot between the two. “One thing I will never forgive Kent for is him edging me out to win the ’70s Night costume competition,” Jones said. “If you were there, you know!”
It’s the kind of story that would elicit a chortle from Ford when recalled at a Newspaper Hall of Fame reception (to which Ford was inducted in 2018) or in the clubhouse after the Missouri Press Foundation’s annual golf tournament. Longtime Missouri newspaper people, like John Spaar, of The Odessan and Focus on Oak Grove, and who also served as MPA president in 2005, have lots of stories like that with which to remember Ford.
“I was really sorry to hear about Kent. I missed him at the annual golf tournament back in June,” Spaar said. “Kent was a real pro. I always enjoyed his views on the newspaper industry and politics. He will be greatly missed.”
In addition to his wife, Sharon, Ford is survived by a son, Justin, and a daughter, Kathryn; six grandchildren; five siblings; and many more family and friends across Missouri. A private family burial was held, and a Celebration of Life is planned for this fall.
Memorial contributions honoring Kent Ford can be made to the Missouri Press Foundation or to the KidsFirst Optimist Club in Columbia.
Additional information is available at www.mopress.com/obituaries/.
