Vincent Crimmins, Kansas City (1901-1992)

Vincent Crimmins was a pioneer in the dairy industry that saw all of the revolutionary changes of the twentieth century. He was part and parcel of the change from horse drawn milk wagons delivering fresh raw milk to customers for their early morning breakfast (a very short shelf life product) to carefully protected pasteurized milk products that were weekly grocery store purchases from mechanically refrigerated facilities. …first dairy processing companies in the Kansas City area. This group included J.V. and C.B. Quigley, Frank and Kirk Wood, Carl Peterson, and the Porter Family. All of these people played a vital role in the milk industry in the Kansas City area for the next half century. In his position as Sales Manager, Mr. Crimmins played an important part in not only the growth of his company but in the changes in the milk marketing industry – particularly during and after World War II. Consumers saw the change from glass to paper to plastic containers and the introduction of a full line of dairy products sold through grocery stores such as frozen desserts, cultured products, and flavored drinks. All this was possible because of improved equipment, increased sanitary standards, and cooperative marketing techniques. Vince Crimmins was recognized as an astute but highly principled businessman not only by his co-workers, but equally so by his competitors. If Vince Crimmins said it, you could rest assured that was the way it was. When the Country Club Dairy joined the Fairmont Foods Company, Vincent Crimmins continued as Sales Manager of Fairmont Country Club Dairy until 1961 when he became Public Relations Manager for the Fairmont Country Club Dairy. He retired in 1970.

Mr. Crimmins’ abilities and services were used by the industry in many capacities. He served as Secretary-Treasurer for the Missouri Milk and Ice Cream Institute and after his retirement at Fairmont Country Club, he was hired as part time consultant for the Institute. He was active in the Kansas City Dairy Tech Society. He served a number of years as President of the Dairy Council of Greater Kansas City where his quiet persuasive ways saw this organization become one of the most active and effective Councils in the nation.

Vincent Crimmins was married to Cecilia Papst in 1928. Their family consists of two sons: Leonard, a retired official from IBM and Ed, who operates a dairy and grocery products distribution business in Lawton, Oklahoma.

Throughout his life, Vincent and his wife contributed many hours and days of community service to numerous institutions in the Kansas City area devoted to helping less fortunate people. Both were involved in many activities of their beloved Catholic Church. Vince served as President of the Kansas City St. Joseph Diocesan Council of Catholic Men. After his retirement from the workplace, he was Associate Director of St Joseph Catholic Diocesan of Kansas City. He and his wife spent several days a month working in the Good Shepherd Thrift Store to raise funds to operate Good Shepherd Manor – a home for mentally handicapped men. They were also instrumental in founding Immaculota Manor – a home for mentally handicapped girls in Liberty, Missouri.