A Brief History of Kemper Military School

Kemper Military School and College was founded as The Kemper Family School on Monday, 3 June 1844. For more than 150 years it has produced "Old Boy" alumni who have become leaders throughout the nation and the world. As the oldest Military School west of the Mississippi it remains dedicated to providing a structured environment where self-discipline, time management, duty, academic excellence and leadership are the primary goals. Its "Old Boys" are located throughout the world in leadership positions in every field and profession.

Frederick Thomas Kemper was born in Madison County, Virginia. His family arrived in the first great wave of German immigrants to America in the early 18th Century. Professor Kemper's early academic experiences were through private tutors and small schools in the Tidewater area of Virginia. He left the family farm in 1836, to complete his education at Marion College, located near Palmyra, Missouri. He studied there for five years and graduated as valedictorian in the class of 1841. He remained at Marion for three years as an instructor.

In 1843 he opened a private boarding school with his uncle in Philadelphia, Missouri. The school lasted only one year in its Marion County location, as Mr. Kemper was induced to move to Boonville in the spring of 1844.

The first school was a one-room affair on the corner of Spring and Main Streets where the current United Missouri bank is located. Founded by Frederick Thomas Kemper (1816-1881) as an all-male school to educate the sons of the frontier west. The Kemper Family School opened with just five students, but by the fall of 1844 it had a student population of 50. The first year being such a success, Mr. Kemper had the south wing of the current Administration Building constructed in 1845 and utilized the site as both boarding and classroom building. Operating the school essentially by himself as a boarding school for local boys, it changed its name with great regularity.

From 1845 through 1856 it was known variously as the "New Boonville Academy", "The Boonville Boarding School and Teacher's Seminary", and the "Male Collegiate Institute".

In 1856 the school was temporarily closed when Professor Kemper left the school and accepted a teaching/administrative position at the newly established Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, serving as the professor in Greek. Professor Kemper was instrumental in assisting in the early stages of Westminster's growth.

In 1861 he returned to Boonville and rejoined the school (September 16, 1861) in partnership with his wife's brother, Edwin H. Taylor. The school now was called the "Kemper and Taylor Institute." This was one of the only schools in the state to remain open throughout the Civil War, due to Professor Kemper's willingness to accept female students for the first time, calling it the Kemper Family School. Additionally he opened his classrooms to young day students.

Professor Kemper's brother, Brigadier General James Kemper, Army of Northern Virginia, Confederate States of America (CSA), was one of the three Brigade Commanders for Major General George S. Pickett. During the Battle of Gettysburg, on 4 July 1863, Brigadier General James Kemper personally led his brigade in the famous "Pickett's Charge" against Union forces that were entrenched on Cemetery Ridge. Suffering nearly 90% causalities, General Pickett's Division was repulsed. General James Kemper, who was severely wounded, survived the Civil War and later went on to be the governor of Virginia.



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Professor Kemper chose to keep guarded neutrality throughout the war. Although the school remained neutral during the war, graduates of Kemper joined both armies and served courageously. Two of F.T. Kemper's best students, Jeff B. McCutchen, MD, and William M. Quarles, MD, served as surgeons on the staff of General Sterling Price, Missouri Brigade, CSA. Dr. McCutchen died of wounds received during the Battle of Boonville on 16 June 1861. The battle was fought less than a mile from the school grounds.

Following the war, Mr. Taylor returned to the east, the day school program was discontinued and female students were no longer admitted. It would be over one hundred years before female students again filled Kemper's halls and classrooms. Professor Kemper and his wife, Susan regained sole management of the school until Professor Kemper's death in 1881.

About 1871, to differentiate Kemper students from the local populace, Professor F. T. Kemper placed his students in military uniforms as a way of insuring the student's safety and the local population's respect. Little else was added to Kemper programs for the next 14 years.

Following the death of Professor Kemper, Thomas A. Johnson, a former student (1867-1871) was named as President (1881-1928) and placed in control of the school. It was under the leadership of Col. Johnston that the campus was significantly changed and became the outstanding institution it is today. He added the military training program and structure in 1885 and changed the name to "Kemper Military School" in 1899. For nearly 50 years, Col. Johnston, "The Builder of the School," guided and enlarged the school through its greatest period of growth.

The period from 1900 through 1925 saw an unprecedented expansion of the student population and campus structures. The student population averaged 145 students per year until World War I began in Europe, and by 1919-20 the student population had soared to 502. The major growth in the physical plant began in 1904 when "B" barracks was enlarged, "Math Hall" (originally a gymnasium) was built in 1906, "A" Barracks (today known as Harvey Barracks) was erected in 1909, the KEMPER NEWS began publication as a student newspaper in 1912. The "Standard of Honor" ceremony was introduced in 1915, the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program was established in 1916, "D" Barracks was erected in 1917, the Junior College was added in 1923-1924 and at the same time Johnston Field House and the indoor pool were constructed.

In 1928, Col. Johnston announced his retirement and selected Colonel A.M. Hitch, his son-in-law, as the next President. Col. Hitch had originally come to Kemper in 1899 as the Professor of Latin, English, German and Elocution. Under his tenure as President, Kemper was guided through its most dangerous economic struggles during the Great Depression of the 1930's and its second major period of expansion during World War II. The years 1934-1935 were a sad time for the school as it witnessed the death of Col. Johnston in 1934 and the death of one of its most famous alumni, humorist Will Rogers (Old Boy 1897-1898) in 1935.

During Col. Hitch's presidency the new stadium and football fields were constructed in 1937, Academic Hall was constructed in 1939 and Science Hall was erected in 1941. Enrollment reached its peak during World War II with nearly 600 cadets in 1942, rivaling the peak reached in 1919-1920 of 502. A five-day period of celebrations was held to commemorate Kemper's Centennial. One of the speakers during the celebrations was Senator Harry S. Truman, soon to become the President of the United States. Col. Hitch retired in 1948 and selected the son of T. A. Johnston, Harris Johnston as the new president. As president Harris Johnston continued the heritage and traditions of excellent educational experiences coupled with the discipline and training inherent in a military structured environment.

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In 1956, following the deaths or retirement of most of the school's "Old Guard," a new direction for the school was established with its conversion from a privately held for profit to a nonprofit corporation in 1957. The first president under this new structure was Old Boy (1918-1921) and former PMS&T (1936-1938), Major General Joseph P. Cleland. After overseeing the complete transformation of the school's administrative and financial structure, Gen. Cleland stepped down in 1959. The Rev. Samuel E. West, Old Boy (1933-1936) was appointed as president from 1959-1962. During his tenure, faculty and academic programs were enhanced and upgraded.

Following President West, Senior Vice-President and long-time Academic Dean, Frederick J. Marston, served as the interim president from 1962-1964. He was followed by yet another Kemper Old Boy (1925-1931) and former State Senator, Colonel James P. Kelly. President Kelly served from 1964-1969. During his term there was a third peak in student enrollments (544) and "K" Barracks (now known as Windsor Barracks) was erected. During this period the name was changed to the current "Kemper Military School and College". Kelly was replaced at the end of the 1968-69 school year by Dr. Joseph B. Black (Old Boy 1940-1942). Enrollment decreased significantly during this period due to the anti-military feelings generated by the Vietnam War. Dr. Black resigned in the middle of the 1972-1973 school year to be temporarily replaced by Colonel Carroll Meek, the PMS&T.

During the 1973-1974 school year, Wilbur Windsor Jr. took over as the Chairman of the Board assuming Meek's position as the Chief Administrator of the school. During this year he reorganized the board and instituted stringent economic measures, raised funding and assisted the school through this bleak period.

Following the period of restructuring under Mr. Windsor, Major General William H. Blakefield, retired Deputy Commanding General of the 1st U.S. Army, was appointed president. Under his administration and those who followed; Brigadier General Lloyd P. Rhiddlehoover, Jr. and Lieutenant Colonel Roger D. Harms, the rejuvenation process and the drive to improve programs and build to the future continued.

In the spring of 1993, Col. Harms was replaced by Dr. Charles W. Stewart (Old Boy 1959-1961). For six years Dr. Stewart worked to improve and develop Kemper Military School into one of the finest Military Schools in the nation. In July 1998, Dr Stewart announced that he would not be renewing his contract after the 1998/99 school year and the search for a new President was begun. During May 1999, Dr. Edward Ridgley a former six year cadet at Kemper (1960 through 1966) and Corps Commander during 1965-66 school year replaced Dr. Charles W. Stewart as the President of the institution.

Dr. Ridgley received his commission in the Army from Kemper in 1966 and immediately went into the Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. During his eight years in the Army he spent two tours in Vietnam where he was twice awarded the Silver Star for valor as well as the Purple Heart. In 1973, Dr. Ridgley left the Army and joined the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) retiring in 1996 after 23 years of service to our nation. While in the FBI, Dr. Ridgley received his PHD from the University of Southern California. In his role as President, Dr Ridgley plans to continue to improve the school's fine academic programs, greatly improve all the facilities of the school and to develop Kemper Military School into the finest military school in the nation.

As F. T. Kemper stated in 1844, "The object is to develop in harmony the physical, mental and moral powers, not to make mere scholars but to make men." Today, Kemper Military School and College provides the instruction, tools, and environment for young men and women to become scholars and leaders in both the civilian world as well as for the Military Service of the United States. After a century and a half of dedicated service and education, Kemper "Old Boys," trained to be leaders, schooled in duty, and self-discipline, are one of our nation's most valuable and scarcest resources.