Melvin L. Kenley

Born prior to the Great Depression of 1929, Melvin Kenley received a stern introduction to the world. The harsh experiences of the 1930s provided a level of reality that shaped his life.

Upon graduating from high school at Holland, MO, in 1939, Mel attended the University of Missouri in Columbia. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics in 1943. At MU Mel participated in ROTC and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He served in the Field Artillery at Fort Sill, OK. He received a medical discharge in 1945 after contracting tuberculosis.

Upon moving to the Chicago area Mel found employment as an accountant with the Curtiss Candy Company. Since the company needed milk for its candy they established a dairy herd about 40 miles west of Chicago. They bought the best of the Guernsey and Holstein breeds including the famed Dunloggin herd at dispersal.

This was at the beginning of artificial insemination. Since bulls of Curtiss Candy Company were deemed superior, semen from them was widely sought. Although Curtiss had fine bulls, success in breeding was poor until Mel was put in charge. He became general manager and president of the firm and worked for Curtiss for 18 years.

Among the superior bulls he purchased were Arlinda, Chief, Paclamar, Astronaut, Pride Admiral, Skyliner, and Forty-Niner. According to the Holstein Association’s US Genes in Common, the genes of Curtiss Breeders sires represented the first 10 generations of active AI sires at an outstanding 19%. Mel led improvements in semen collection, processing, preservation, storage, marketing and distribution–not as the authority, but as the leader who employed and developed experts. His foresight in changing from vials to straws for holding frozen semen led to improved conception rates.

1. Douglas Wilson, CEO of Cooperative Resources International and its division Genex, wrote, “Mel had a quiet but powerful influence. Those of us who competed against Curtiss (as his firm, ABS, did) often used Mel as a spokesman to communicate his view of our industry.”

David C. Thorbahn, President and CEO of Select sires wrote, “As general manager of Curtiss Breeding Service, Kenley led the company to unprecedented growth in genetic bull power as well as in semen sales.”

Maurice E. Core, of the Curtiss Breeding Company, wrote “He kept the company in the forefront through his leadership, management ability, vision and character. Few people in the dairy industry have been so highly respected and deeply admired.”

Joe W Armstrong, who worked for Mel from 1959 to 1965, made the following observations:

• Kenley operated with a style that made the five of us breeding technicians supervisors compete with each other, and he gave bonuses for performance.
• Kenley was an innovator of financing who negotiated for top bulls while using small down payments and paying the balance over time to manage cash flow.
• In his search for talented people, Kenley hired Morris Ewing, a well-trained sire analyst, who began a young sire development program. Kenley also employed a person who, with expertise in merchandising and advertising, produced some of the most appealing sales brochures in the industry.
• Kenley was one of the first in the industry to use multiple pricing levels based on the genetic worth of bulls to dairymen.

Kenley served as president of the National Association of Animal Breeders, the National Dairy Shrine Club, and of his local Lions and Rotary Clubs.

Mel married Elaine Palmer in 1944 and they had two sons, Richard and Rodney. Elaine died in 1996. Kenley then married Ann Howell, who survives him. Arizona was his home for his last 20 years.

In addition to the persons listed above, nominators were Donald P. Solberg, Retired V.P of Genex/CRI; Edward P. Call, Professor Emeritus, Kansas State University; Ray Schooley, Owner, Schooley Jerseys, Marshfield, MO; Judine M. Wood of Dane, WI who worked for ABS Global, Inc for 31 years; and Curtis Hobson who managed Marlu Fannin New Jersey when he first met Mel in the 1960s.