When The Kansas City Star profiled the 10 greatest departed heroes in the city’s history earlier this year, it started – naturally – with Ewing Marion Kauffman. “Mr. K” launched Marion Laboratories in his basement and nurtured it into a global pharmaceutical giant, brought big-league baseball back to KC with his purchase of the expansion Royals, and promoted education and entrepreneurship through the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

On what would have been his 100th birthday, Library Director Crosby Kemper III discusses Kauffman’s life and monumental legacy with three of the people who knew him best: civic and philanthropic leader Julia Irene Kauffman, his adoptive daughter; former Kauffman Foundation President and CEO Louis (Lou) W. Smith; and Royals Hall of Famer George Brett.

The event is co-sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Truman Library Institute.