Commerce Trust Building

Posted on by Karla Deel

The Kemper Family, Banking services, Harry S. Truman, Commerce Tower

 

 

National Bank of Commerce Building

 

 

Generations of the Kemper family date as far back as 1906, when William Thornton Kemper was appointed the Commerce Trust Co.’s first president.  Still to this day, William Thornton Kemper’s great-great-grandson, Jonathan Kemper, remains CEO and chairman of Commerce, Missouri’s largest bank.   Constructed in 1965, the Commerce Tower, a 30-story building  built to adjoin the original 922 Walnut location, stands as the ninth tallest habitable building in Kansas City. Harry Truman, along with 18,000 other Kansas Citians, signed the buildings last beam, put in place in 1965.

 

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