09/11/2026
As the charismatic president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) in Kansas City’s historic 18th & Vine district, Bob Kendrick has evolved from a dedicated volunteer under baseball legend Buck O’Neil into one of the region’s most prominent cultural architects.
Under Kendrick’s visionary leadership, the NLBM has become a dynamic, internationally recognized powerhouse. He successfully orchestrated a massive $20 million financial turnaround for the institution. Today, he spearheads the ambitious “Pitch for the Future” campaign—a $50-plus million capital project to construct a state-of-the-art, 35,000-square-foot museum campus.
By framing the Negro Leagues not simply as a byproduct of segregation, but as a triumphant story of economic empowerment and raw excellence, he has fundamentally changed how sports history is taught.
To learn more about Kendrick—and 11 other innovators and influencers in Kansas City—go to the link in the comments.
📸: Kenny Johnson Photography
✍️: Katie Van Luchene
