Dwight Dierks Sutherland

Mr. Sutherland was born in Kansas City, MO, on October 25, 1922, the son of Robert and Mae Sutherland. He graduated from Pembroke Country Day and The Lawrenceville School. After attending Princeton University for two years, he transferred to the University of Kansas in 1942. At KU, he played varsity football, was president of Sigma Chi fraternity, and majored in Mechanical Engineering. He left college to serve in the Navy and Merchant Marine in World War II. After the war, Mr. Sutherland returned to Kansas City to join his brothers in the family business, Sutherland Lumber Company. He married Norma Trine Henry in February 1946. At the time of his death, Mr. Sutherland was Treasurer and a Partner of Sutherlands. His other business interests included ranching, thoroughbred racing and breeding (he was a member of The Jockey Club racing's government body), and oil and gas exploration. He served on numerous other corporate boards including the American Automobile Association, the Canal Randolph Corporation, and the First National Bank of Kansas City. In addition, Mr. Sutherland served as president of the American Royal Board of Governors, the Board of Cowboy Hall of Fame, the KU Alumni Association (from which he received the Fred Ellsworth Medallion for Distinguished Service) and as Chairman of the Linda Hall Library. He also served on the board of several local hospitals, including St. Luke's, Baptist Memorial, and Children's Mercy Hospitals. Mr. Sutherland created the Sutherland Institute at the University of Kansas Medical Center, dedicated to facial reconstruction of children through plastic surgery. He also served on the Boards of the KU Endowment Association, the Kansas City Crime Commission, and the Heart of America Council of the Boy Scouts. Mr. Sutherland is survived by his wife Norma; son Dwight Jr. and his wife Cindy of Mission Hills; daughter Martha and husband Barnaby Conrad III of Chevy Chase, MD; son Perry and wife Nancy of Spring Hill; and son Todd and wife Laura of Lawrence. He is also survived by nine grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to the KU Endowment Association, the American Royal, or the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Museum. Following a private memorial ceremony, a visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. the afternoon of Tuesday, October 28, at the Kansas City Country Club. (Arr. Newcomer's Stine and McClure Chapel, 3235 Gillham Plaza, Kansas City, MO, 64109, 816-931-7777)