James Russell Serviss

Joe was born March 29, 1946, in North Kansas City, Missouri. While a teenager, his family moved to Adrian, Missouri, and Joe graduated from Adrian High School in 1964, playing quarterback for the Adrian Blackhawks. It was a role that would foretell his future life as a leader in the Kansas City political scene. He graduated in 1969 from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri, where he served as President of the Student Body.

According to Joe’s yearbook, he was a member of the Young College Republicans at Missouri Valley. If that was true, he must have been a spy, because when he came to Kansas City after graduation, he immediately became active in local Democratic politics. Joe was elected president of the Kansas City Young Democrats in 1970 and the Missouri Young Democrats in 1972. He was named Missouri’s Outstanding Young Democrat by the Missouri Young Democrats in 1973. He was active in many local and statewide elections on behalf of Democratic candidates, including his political mentor, Lt. Governor Bill Morris.

His name was fitting. He was always “of service” to our community. He had a passion for our town, and he became a crucial part of its development through his work during two terms on the City Council (1975-1983), as a member of city boards (including chair of the City Plan Commission), and as chief of staff for Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes in the early 2000s. Of course, Joe’s imprint on our city was made in areas far beyond elected office. He was a successful entrepreneur, owning the Uptown Theatre, a Budweiser beer distributorship and several bars and restaurants throughout midtown Kansas City. He was a commercial landlord as well.

Joe was a mentor to many Kansas Citians for several generations. He held court at regular breakfast meetings throughout his life, moving to various locations, with the Classic Cup on the Plaza being the venue of choice for the last twenty plus years. His roundtable included people from various walks of life. He even included an occasional Republican, but only on Wednesdays, and with several Democrats surrounding him.

The boy inside Joe loved reading car magazines. He was especially passionate about Corvettes and ’55 Chevys.

We will miss Joe, but the memories of his wit and charm, as well as his legacy of dedicated work for our city, will still be with us. Thanks Joe.

There will be a Celebration of Life at one of Joe’s favorite places, the Twin City Tavern, 1815 Westport Road (southeast corner of Westport Road and State Line), on Tuesday, January 28th from 5 to 7 PM.