Laurence James Finn

Laurence (Mickey) Finn, 85, Kansas City, MO passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 1, 2014. Visitation will be 6-8 PM Friday, March 7th at the McGilley Antioch Chapel. There will be a private memorial mass and burial.

He was born in Paola, Kansas, on March 13, 1928. Mickey graduated from Rockhurst High School and attended Rockhurst College before joining the navy for 2 years.

After the navy, Mickey worked in the bowling industry for nearly 50 years. He first worked for King Louie, managing both King Louie East and King Louie West bowling centers in Kansas City. In 1967 he relocated to North Kansas City where he began a 30-year relationship with the North Kansas City Development Company managing then owning NKC Pro Bowl. A gifted promoter, Mickey built NKC Pro Bowl into one of the country's top entertainment centers. He was nationally recognized and elected to the Greater Kansas City Missouri Bowling Hall of Fame in 1988. He also served as President of the Women’s International Bowling Congress, the forerunner of the Professional Women’s Bowling Tour.

Mickey was a tireless advocate for North Kansas City, working for the North Kansas City Business Council after his retirement from the bowling business. He was the founder of Snake Saturday, a family oriented, St. Patrick’s Day parade in North Kansas City and one of his proudest moments was leading the parade through the streets of Northtown.

Mickey is survived by his wife Judith, sisters Virginia Cleary of Kansas City, MO, Mary Aileen Corrigan, of Wichita KS, four children; Cindy Archer of Mission, KS, Larry Finn of Lenexa, KS, Kelly Finn of Kansas City, MO, and Robin Gillespie of Liberty, MO. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Northland Meals on Wheels.