In Memory Of
Harold V. Cordry, Iii
1943
2020
Harold V. Cordry, Iii
July 27, 1943 — February 22, 2020
Harold V. Cordry III, 76, of Tecumseh, passed away on Saturday, February 22, 2020, with his wife Janice by his side. He was born July 27, 1943, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Harold V. and June (Parks) Cordry, Jr.
Harold graduated from North Kansas City High School in 1961, where he played bass clarinet, and studied music at the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory. He played briefly with the Kansas City symphony before continuing his education at the University of Kansas, earning bachelor's degrees in English and International Relations (1965), Language Arts(1966), and a master's degree in education (1968).
Harold's early years were also filled with a variety of jobs. He worked as a roofer one summer, earning the nickname "Slim" or "The Kid," as he scurried up the ladder with heavy bundles of tile; on the assembly line at Fisher Body; as a helper at a university farm, feeding and bonding with livestock; and as a writer for a company that promoted farm equipment. He began his career in professional journalism in the 1960s as a reporter in the metro dailies for the Kansas City Star and an editor for the Star's Sunday Magazine.
He later returned to academia and earned a PhD in Soviet Studies and International Communications from the University of Missouri in 1977. While there he also wrote speeches for the chancellor and taught advanced writing classes.
His journalism career spanned 15 years, including several as an op-ed editor at the Manhattan Mercury, Manhattan, KS. His achievements there included coauthoring a series of articles on soldiers missing in action in Viet Nam that was nominated for a Pulitzer prize. He was a humorist and a staunch upholder of the United States Constitution. His editorials were enjoyed by many, except, of course, those who were the subject of the piece. He was always fair, had the utmost integrity in his reporting and remained impartial in politics.
His heroes were Abraham Lincoln and Albert Schweitzer, and his favorite author was Charles Dickens. He loved jazz, books, and all of earth's creatures, whom he helped in any way he could, whether writing editorials, assisting a turtle across a highway, or adopting many kittens and cats needing a loving home.
His greatest joy was teaching. His university teaching career spanned 20 years, and other than MIZZOU included stints at the University of Central Missouri, where he taught print journalism and advised the student paper, The Mule Skinner; at the University of Nebraska, Kearny, where he was a visiting professor; as an adjunct professor at Kansas State University; and at Baker University, where for several years he taught print journalism and advised the student paper, The Orange.
In addition, he authored four books: The Multicultural Dictionary of Proverbs: Over 20,000 Adages from More Than 120 Languages, Nationalities and Ethnic Groups (1997); A Dictionary of American English Pronunciation (1998); The Everything Crossword and Puzzle Book (1998); and Tobacco: A Reference Handbook (2001).
Harold is survived by his wife, the former Janice L. Cruce , whom he married July 15, 1991.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at Shawnee Heights United Methodist Church, 6020 S.E. 44th St., Tecumseh, Kansas 66542. Private inurnment will take place in East Slope Cemetery in Riverside, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Shawnee Heights United Methodist Church, where Harold was a member.
Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Ave. is assisting the family.
To leave the family a special message, please select the Share Memories option listed above.
Harold graduated from North Kansas City High School in 1961, where he played bass clarinet, and studied music at the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory. He played briefly with the Kansas City symphony before continuing his education at the University of Kansas, earning bachelor's degrees in English and International Relations (1965), Language Arts(1966), and a master's degree in education (1968).
Harold's early years were also filled with a variety of jobs. He worked as a roofer one summer, earning the nickname "Slim" or "The Kid," as he scurried up the ladder with heavy bundles of tile; on the assembly line at Fisher Body; as a helper at a university farm, feeding and bonding with livestock; and as a writer for a company that promoted farm equipment. He began his career in professional journalism in the 1960s as a reporter in the metro dailies for the Kansas City Star and an editor for the Star's Sunday Magazine.
He later returned to academia and earned a PhD in Soviet Studies and International Communications from the University of Missouri in 1977. While there he also wrote speeches for the chancellor and taught advanced writing classes.
His journalism career spanned 15 years, including several as an op-ed editor at the Manhattan Mercury, Manhattan, KS. His achievements there included coauthoring a series of articles on soldiers missing in action in Viet Nam that was nominated for a Pulitzer prize. He was a humorist and a staunch upholder of the United States Constitution. His editorials were enjoyed by many, except, of course, those who were the subject of the piece. He was always fair, had the utmost integrity in his reporting and remained impartial in politics.
His heroes were Abraham Lincoln and Albert Schweitzer, and his favorite author was Charles Dickens. He loved jazz, books, and all of earth's creatures, whom he helped in any way he could, whether writing editorials, assisting a turtle across a highway, or adopting many kittens and cats needing a loving home.
His greatest joy was teaching. His university teaching career spanned 20 years, and other than MIZZOU included stints at the University of Central Missouri, where he taught print journalism and advised the student paper, The Mule Skinner; at the University of Nebraska, Kearny, where he was a visiting professor; as an adjunct professor at Kansas State University; and at Baker University, where for several years he taught print journalism and advised the student paper, The Orange.
In addition, he authored four books: The Multicultural Dictionary of Proverbs: Over 20,000 Adages from More Than 120 Languages, Nationalities and Ethnic Groups (1997); A Dictionary of American English Pronunciation (1998); The Everything Crossword and Puzzle Book (1998); and Tobacco: A Reference Handbook (2001).
Harold is survived by his wife, the former Janice L. Cruce , whom he married July 15, 1991.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at Shawnee Heights United Methodist Church, 6020 S.E. 44th St., Tecumseh, Kansas 66542. Private inurnment will take place in East Slope Cemetery in Riverside, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Shawnee Heights United Methodist Church, where Harold was a member.
Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Ave. is assisting the family.
To leave the family a special message, please select the Share Memories option listed above.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Harold V. Cordry, Iii, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Memorial Service
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
United Methodist Church
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