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Starks K. Vincent, 54, Topeka, died Sunday, July 11, 1999, at a Topeka hospital. He had been ill.
He was born September 12, 1944, in Topeka, to Jack Hathaway and Ethna Green Vincent. He graduated from West High School in 1962, attended Kansas State University in Manhattan and graduated from Washburn University in 1968. He began working part-time for Vincent roofing company at age 9 and worked for the company since. He purchased the firm from his parents in 1972.
He was president of the Topeka Jaycees in 1971-72, president of the Kansas Jaycees in 1974-75, vice president of the National Jaycees in 1975-76 and was a Jaycees International Senator. The annual outstanding chapter president award was named in his honor in 1976.
He was a member and past director of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Topeka Halfway house and president of the Greater Topeka United Way in 1984-85. He was a member of the Topeka Rotary Club since 1975 and a former member of the Club's Board of Directors.
He was a member of Topeka Country Club and a former member of the Club's Board of Directors. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited and a former member of the Board of Trustees of Stormont-Vail Foundation.
He was a member of the Association of General Contractors, having served on its board of directors and the Kansas State University advisory committee. He was a member of the Kaw Valley Catbackers Association.
He married Tamara Dee Armstrong in 1967. She survives. Other survivors include daughters Angela K. Nordhus, Lenexa and Amy V. Newell, Plano, Texas; his mother, Ethna G. Vincent, Topeka; brothers, Jared H. Vincent and Miguel W. Vincent, both in Topeka; a sister, Ellen V. Martinez, Albuquerque, New Mexico and two grandchildren.
Cremation is planned. Memorial services will be at 9:30 AM Thursday at St. David's Episcopal Church.
Contributions may be made to the Starks K. Vincent Memorial Fund to benefit men's basketball at Washburn University, Athletic Department, 1700 College, 66612 or to the Starks K. Vincent Memorial Fund for the United Way of Greater Topeka, 1315 Arrowhead Rd., 66604. Penwell-Gable; Mid-Town Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Published in the Topeka Capital-Journal, July 12, 1999.
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James A. McHenry
Starks and I were in Miss Gertrude Wheeler's homeroom, so we got acquainted by virtue of that circumstance. To be honest about it, we didn't exactly hit it off. I think it was our intramural basketball team that put us on a better footing.
When I went to work for the Greater Topeka United Way in 1979, I discovered that Starks was an active member of our Allocations Committee. He was an outstanding volunteer, and I greatly enjoyed working with him. I recall him saying that he never second guessed the time he spent assisting United Way. He became a public citizen in the best sense of that term.
William T. Fader
Knew Starks in grade school and later high school in Topeka - in the 90's I was working for the City of Junction City, Kansas in the building office and Starks came in to get a roofing permit - his name reminded me that I knew him and we had a short and enjoyable conversation - an unlikely crossing of paths - was sorry to discover he passed at too early an age.