Kurt Ebner

1931 - 2021

Kurt Ebner
March 30, 1931 - January 29, 2021
Overland Park, Kansas - Kurt E. Ebner was born 3/30/31 in Canada to Seby A. and Martha Ebner. He was raised in Pitt Meadows. B.C. He received a BSA [Honors] in 1955 & MSA in 1957 from the Univ. of British Columbia followed by a Ph.D from the Univ. of Illinois in 1960. He received a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship in 1960 to study at N.I.R.D [Reading, England w/Dr. H. Gutfreund, F.R.S. and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Univ. of Minnesota with Dr. P.D. Boyer [Nobel Laurate] prior to joining the faculty as an Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State Univ. in 1962. He became a Professor in 1969 and was appointed Regent Professor in 1971. From 1974-1994 he was Chairman of the Dept of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the Univ. of Kansas Medical Center and Professor Emeritus in 1998. In 1963 he was the recipient of National Institute of Health Career Development Award. In 1969 received the Borden Award from the American Chemical Society. He was a member of numerous professional societies including the American Society of Biological Chemists and the American Chemical Society. Dr. Ebner was a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners. He chaired the Biochemistry Test Committee, and the committee which revised the format of the National Board Exams for Med Students. He represented the Biochemistry Chairs Org. on the Council of Academic Societies, American Assoc. of Medical Colleges. His research focused on enzymology and the structure-function of the hormone, prolactin. Dr. Ebner trained 16 Ph.D students and 6 became Professors at various academic universities. In 2011 former students and colleagues formed the Kurt E. Ebner Discovery Lectureship at the Univ. of Kansas Med Center in his honor. In 1957 Dr. Ebner married Dorothy C. Reader a graduate of the U.B.C. in Nutrition. They have 4 children: Roger (Beth) [Chicago] Michael [Overland Park], Colleen (Duane) [Iowa] & Paul (Tonya) [Shawnee]. Grandchildren: Benjamin & Khava [Wisconsin], Emily & Julia [Omaha], Katie [Utah], Jessica (Adam) [Leawood], Melanie [Leawood], Ashley & Sydney [Shawnee]. He was preceded in death by his brother Norman [Phoenix] and sister Marlene in Vancouver, B.C. Dr. Ebner was an avid sports fan and participant. He played amateur baseball and captained the volleyball team that won the British Columbia high school championship. He was active in Troop 387 at Rolling Hills Presb. church and all 3 of his sons are Eagle Scouts. After retirement in 1998 he played golf in a number of senior leagues. Dr. Ebner and his wife traveled extensively. They also enjoyed camping in the mountains and the yearly drive to Vancouver to visit friends and relatives. Dr. Ebner is an elder and member of Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church in Overland Park where he was deemed the official photographer of the functions sponsored by the Friends of Music and the Arts. Memorial donations may be made to the University of Kansas Cancer Center or the church.