John "Jack" Reardon, '63
A native of Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County, John “Jack” Reardon dedicated his life to serving his community. Jack graduated from Bishop Ward High School in 1961 and continued his education at Donnelly College, earning his associate degree in 1963.
Jack was the youngest person ever to be elected as the Mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, (at age 31) and he served in that position for twelve years, from 1976-1987. As mayor, Jack worked diligently to bring new economic development to his urban core community. One of his biggest accomplishments was his successful negotiations with General Motors to bring a new auto plant to the city.
Suffering from cardiomyopathy, Jack underwent a heart transplant in February 1987. In November 1988, he was elected to the Wyandotte County Commission. He died of heart failure in November 1988 at age 45. Jack’s beloved wife Helen, passed away in 2017. Jack is survived by his son Joe, former mayor of Kansas City, KS and president of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and by his daughter, Katy Rottinghaus, a Kansas City, Kansas teacher, and by many grandchildren and extended family.