Carina Smith
Reporting Correspondent
csmit367@jccc.edu
On Aug. 5, Benjamin D. Craig Jr. passed away after a short battle with cancer at the age of 87. Craig had spent 52 years in Overland Park after being offered a job at Metcalf Bank in 1964 and was a highly influential community figure in Overland Park and Johnson County alike.
In 1969, Craig — who worked as a small bank president — was appointed as the chairman of a citizens’ committee to decide whether to award a $12.9 million bond to create Johnson County Community College. This was just a start for Craig’s involvement with the college, which continues to carry on even after his death.
“So there came a time in the ‘60s when people in the community thought we needed a community college,” President Joe Sopcich said. “Ben was one of those guys behind the scenes that made that happen. He worked to get people lined up to run for trustee positions, he worked past a bond referendum to pay for our campus, but it was always behind the scenes. He was just that kind of a person.”
Craig worked hard to support the college to the best of his abilities after its creation, donating to the school and becoming a chairman for the Foundation. Craig supported the Some Enchanted Evening gala for many years to help raise money for the college. In 1999, the Ben and Evadean Craig Scholarship was created to support single parents who wanted to complete their education through the college. 369 students have been supported from the scholarship since it was created.
“Ben often shared that there were few things he found more rewarding than reading the thank you notes from the JCCC students who benefitted from a Craig scholarship,” Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement Kate Allen said.
Craig also supported his community outside of the college. He founded the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, served as president of the Kansas Bankers Association and was involved in various community groups such as Deanna Rose Farmstead and Salvation Army. Craig’s name is linked to a number of different awards and community projects and he has even been dubbed “Mr. Johnson County” by Sun Publications.
Craig spent 52 years putting his all into multiple parts of Johnson County and many major landmarks wouldn’t be the same without his efforts. Craig requested that a portion of his ashes be thrown alongside Metcalf Avenue — the street where the bank that brought him to Johnson County sits.
“Ben was a big part of raising money and making all this stuff happen so you can enjoy it and I can enjoy it and children and grandkids and everyone else,” Sopcich said. “All because of his vision and his tireless effort to make this community one of the best communities in the country.”