Goodbye, Old Friend

With the passing of Kevin Fern, Shawnee has lost a staunch advocate.

By Jean Teller

Photos courtesy Visit Shawnee and the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce

Shawnee lost a top advocate on December 11, when Kevin Fern passed away at the age of 65.

William Butler Yeats wrote, “Think where man’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends.”

That’s the quote Tonya Lecuru, director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Shawnee, brings up when asked how she thinks Kevin would like to be remembered. “As a great friend. That was one of his favorite Irish quotes. He was a friend to Shawnee, to anyone he met, a friend to me. … It’s been hard not having him here with us.”

Mickey Sandifer, owner of Sandifer Leasing, has known Kevin since they were teenagers. “Kevin was a wonderful friend to me. He was like a brother, helping me with anything I needed advice on. I miss him so much, just wanting to pick up the phone and ask his advice on something. In the community, he was the driving force behind everything good that happened in Shawnee. He will be greatly missed.”

During the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce annual dinner in 2019, Kevin Fern (far left) poses with colleagues (from left) Dustin Wolfe, Amy Niemann, and Brandon Wilcox.

His Career Accomplishments

Kevin attended school in Shawnee and at the University of Kansas before moving on to work in various roles in Kansas politics, including a stint working for Gov. John Carlin. He was known for his political savvy and his roles behind the scenes in several campaigns for well-known candidates. Following that work, he spent 15 years managing hotels in Kansas City. It was 2008 when Kevin started his dream job as executive director of Visit Shawnee and he returned to the community he loved.

Among his many professional accomplishments as director of Visit Shawnee, Kevin was instrumental in the improvements at the Mid-America Sports Complex, recognizing its potential to draw visitors to Shawnee. He was particularly proud of all the family-friendly events he and other city officials created over the years.

“I saw firsthand how he used his gifts from youth to adulthood to make his community more welcoming,” says Sandifer.

When asked about Kevin’s greatest contribution to Shawnee, Mayor Michelle Distler says, “There are so many, but all of them stem from his heart for this community. Whether it was being the friendly smiling face with balloons at all of the events, his relentless devotion to the valley of champions, building relationships with our sister cities, or bringing tourism to Shawnee, it was all done from his heart. He was a friend to all.”

A leg injury didn’t stop Kevin from participating in events; here, he and Mayor Distler staff the Visit Shawnee tent at Moonlight Market.

Kevin was active in the Shawnee and Kansas tourism industry, serving as sponsorship chair for Old Shawnee Days, board member for the Friends of Shawnee Town, founding member and past president of the Johnson County Irish American Club, grand marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day parade, board member for the City of Shawnee Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbecue Committee, member of the Shawnee Sister City Committee, commissioner on the Johnson County Park and Recreation District Board, member of the Governor’s Council on Tourism, and as president of the Travel Industry Association of Kansas. Most recently, Kevin received the prestigious Governor’s Tourism Award, which recognizes Kansans for outstanding contributions to the state’s travel and tourism industry.

“Kevin served on the JCPRD Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners for the last two years,” says Jeff Stewart, executive director of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District. “Through his passion, leadership, support, and efforts, it was clear that he cared deeply about the city of Shawnee and the Johnson County community. He understood the local appreciation and economic impact that JCPRD facilities— Mid-America Sports Complex, Okun Fieldhouse, Theatre in the Park, etc.—have on the community.”

October 6 was proclaimed “Kevin Fern Day” by Mayor Distler, and Kevin was given the key to the city. He retired November 15.

“Kevin had a contagious personality and was a true pleasure to be around,” Stewart says. “The Johnson County community is better because of Kevin’s passion and many years of service.”

“I feel those of us that loved him have a responsibility to carry his memory forward to future Shawneeans,” says Mayor Distler. “We need to have his friendly disposition to every stranger we meet and welcome them. Kevin was such a gift to us. I am so lucky, and we are all so lucky, to share his stories and love. His love for people. His love for Shawnee.”

Kevin Fern and Mayor Michelle Distler at Kevin’s retirement party.