Don Enoch
Encyclopedia
Donald Kirk Enoch was an American
politician
who served as the 61st Mayor
of Wichita, Kansas
, from 1969 until 1970. Enoch also served as Wichita's City Commissioner for three separate terms: (1967-1968, 1968-1969, 1970-1971). He is credited as one of the key people who established the Wichita River Festival.
. He moved to Wichita with his family when he was an elementary school
student. Enoch graduated from Wichita North High School
. He received a bachelor's degree
in music from the University of Wichita (now called Wichita State University
), graduating magna cum laude.
Enoch began his career as a band director at Atwood High School during the late 1930s. The school's band won Kansas and national awards. Enoch left his teaching position to enlist in the United States Army Air Corps
at the beginning of World War II
. He worked as an aircraft instructor and test pilot
in the Air Corps during the war.
He left the Army Air Corp following the end of World War II. Enoch moved back to Wichita and acquired the Wichita Brush Company, his family's business. The company, which would later be renamed the Wichita Brush and Chemical Company, became a maintenance and cleaning supply business under Enoch. By the 1960s, Enoch had all of his company's chemicals into biodegradable products, including the cleaning solutions, soaps and waxes.
waterfront to celebrate Wichita's centennial. Enoch, who became Wichita's 61st mayor in 1969, oversaw the Centennial of Progress Pageant, which evolved into the annual Wichita River Festival. Enoch envisioned the Wichita River Festival as a vehicle for potential urban renewal and economic growth for the city.
Don Enoch died on June 24, 2010, two days after his 94th birthday. He was survived by his wife of 54 years, Margery Trively; three sons - Craig T. Enoch
, a retired Texas Supreme Court
justice, Dr. Rolland Enoch and Mark Enoch and one daughter - Dawn Moore; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as the 61st Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, from 1969 until 1970. Enoch also served as Wichita's City Commissioner for three separate terms: (1967-1968, 1968-1969, 1970-1971). He is credited as one of the key people who established the Wichita River Festival.
Early life
Enoch was born on June 22, 1916, in Neosho, MissouriNeosho, Missouri
Neosho is the most populous city in and the county seat of Newton County, Missouri, United States. Neosho is an integral part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. He moved to Wichita with his family when he was an elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
student. Enoch graduated from Wichita North High School
Wichita North High School
Wichita North High School, known locally as North, is a fully accredited high school located in Wichita, Kansas, USA, serving students in grades 9-12. Wichita North was founded in 1929 on the site where the United States government sent Company 'A' of the 10th Division to the forks of the Arkansas...
. He received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in music from the University of Wichita (now called Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
), graduating magna cum laude.
Enoch began his career as a band director at Atwood High School during the late 1930s. The school's band won Kansas and national awards. Enoch left his teaching position to enlist in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
at the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He worked as an aircraft instructor and test pilot
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
in the Air Corps during the war.
He left the Army Air Corp following the end of World War II. Enoch moved back to Wichita and acquired the Wichita Brush Company, his family's business. The company, which would later be renamed the Wichita Brush and Chemical Company, became a maintenance and cleaning supply business under Enoch. By the 1960s, Enoch had all of his company's chemicals into biodegradable products, including the cleaning solutions, soaps and waxes.
Politics
Enoch was first elected to the Wichita City Commission in 1967. Enoch soon developed an idea to hold a parade and festival along the city's Arkansas RiverArkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
waterfront to celebrate Wichita's centennial. Enoch, who became Wichita's 61st mayor in 1969, oversaw the Centennial of Progress Pageant, which evolved into the annual Wichita River Festival. Enoch envisioned the Wichita River Festival as a vehicle for potential urban renewal and economic growth for the city.
Don Enoch died on June 24, 2010, two days after his 94th birthday. He was survived by his wife of 54 years, Margery Trively; three sons - Craig T. Enoch
Craig T. Enoch
Craig Trively Enoch is a former associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court, having served from 1993 until his retirement in 2003....
, a retired Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
justice, Dr. Rolland Enoch and Mark Enoch and one daughter - Dawn Moore; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.