Ark Valley News - ‘Mr. Kechi’ left lasting impact on community

‘Mr. Kechi’ left lasting impact on community
By Matt Heilman
Last Updated: December 24, 2014

Rick Eberhard was active in and around the town he called home for 26 years. His contributions to the local business community and senior population earned him the nickname of "Mr. Kechi."

Eberhard, a retired Boeing employee who had moved to Kechi in 1988, died Dec. 3 after losing a fight with cancer. He was 62 years old.

He left a lasting impact on the community that friends and colleagues say will be difficult to replace.

"He will be missed," said Kechi City Administrator Bob Conger, who attended Eberhard's funeral on Dec. 8 with several Kechi representatives.

In an article shared with The News last week, Kechi resident and Eberhard's friend, Dennis McKay, highlighted several of Eberhard's volunteer efforts and accomplishments.

"He loved the city he was a part of and never hesitated to volunteer whenever there was a need," McKay wrote.

Through the years, Eberhard served on the Kechi City Council, the Kechi Economic Development Committee, the Kechi Chamber of Commerce and the Kechi Fair Committee.

Kechi City Clerk Laura Hill, who began working for the city during Eberhard's first term on the city council in 1994, said Eberhard was diligent about how the city spent its money and being transparent with taxpayers.

"He made me a better city clerk," Hill said. "He kept me on my toes."

After completing his service on the council, Eberhard continued to attend meetings to stay plugged in with what was happening at City Hall.

"He deeply cared about the issues he was involved with," former Kechi Mayor Bob Jackson said.

Among the issues closest to Eberhard's heart was the well-being of the local senior citizens. Eberhard was the founder and president of the Kechi Senior Club, which evolved into the Kechi Senior Center, McKay said.

"He loved to organize events and spend many hours planning activities for seniors such as a bus trip to Kansas City to stop and enjoy the Plaza Christmas lights and a trip to Abilene to take a train ride while enjoying a meal in the dining car," McKay wrote. "He was always up for a game of pitch and provided transportation to others that wanted to play but had no way to get to the game."

Outside of Kechi, Eberhard was the senior director for the City of Bel Aire and senior director at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita.

In August, he received the Bonnie Lynch award for his commitment to helping the elderly population, McKay said.

In Bel Aire, Eberhard was the founder and leader of a health initiative called TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) and a member of the Bel Aire Lions Club. He also served as the executive director of the Sedgwick County Association of Cities and was a member of the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging.

In Kechi, some of Eberhard's most lasting contributions were on the economic development front. Patty Karg who owns Kechi's Karg Art Glass with her husband, Rollin Karg, said Eberhard was instrumental in helping the business find a home in Kechi in 1992. He also helped to support Karg as it outgrew its original space in the community and moved its current spacious home at 61st North and Oliver.

"He was very delightful," Karg said. "He would do just about anything for businesses. He had very good marketing skills. He was very pro-business. He did a lot for just about everyone."

McKay indicated Eberhard's legacy could be defined by his generosity.

"Rick was a kind and giving man and will be greatly missed by his family, friends, City of Kechi, and numerous officials in Sedgwick County," McKay wrote.

Eberhard is survived by his wife of 36 years, Debbie Eberhard, his son, Mike (Jeni) Eberhard, a sister, his stepmother, two stepbrothers, two stepsisters and four grandchildren with one more on the way.