Jesse Kemp

Jesse Charles Kemp, 74, traded this old life for his new one Thursday, May 27, 2010, at a local care center surrounded by his loving wife and children. Celebration of life: 1 p.m. Saturday, June 5, in the sanctuary of Wedgwood Baptist Church, 5522 Whitman Ave., Fort Worth, Pastor All Meredith. Interment: Mr. Kemp's earthly bed of rest will be in the gardens of Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: Jesse will lie in repose noon to 5 p.m. Friday at Gregory W. Spencer Funeral Directors; the family will receive friends 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jesse Charles Kemp Jr. was born Oct. 14, 1936, in Snook. His family members were longtime ranchers and farmers in South Central Texas near Bryan/College Station. The Kemp family has been a fixture in that part of the state for over 170 years and to this day several relatives still live in the area. Jesse attended the public schools of Burleson County and often told of how all his teachers throughout his education were his relatives. During the fall months, he would be the only student, at the one-room school; his classmates were in the fields working until the first frost of the season. On Aug. 5, 1954, he married his longtime sweetheart, Nannie Lee Wiley, and to their union three boys were born: Jesse III, Larry and Keith. In early 1957 he moved to Fort Worth in hopes of a better future for his young, growing family. He arrived in the city with only $10 and a "tin suitcase," as he liked to say. After working at various manufacturing jobs he followed his entrepreneurial instincts and in 1972 started a small janitorial business, Kemps Janitorial Service. In the mid-1970s he met a young nightclub owner, Spencer Taylor, and over the years serviced entertainment venues throughout the Metroplex that were owned and operated by Mr. Taylor, including Billy Bob's Texas (The World's Largest Honky Tonk). This friendship and business relationship with Mr. Taylor lasted over four decades. Mr. Kemp always operated on a handshake, foregoing the need of a contract. Through the years Mr. Kemp became a vocal and active community leader in southeast Fort Worth. He served on numerous city boards and commissions including Zoning, Planning and Building Standards. Jesse was a City Council and City Hall fixture for nearly two decades. He was a trusted supporter and friend to District 8 Councilwoman Kathleen Hicks, serving on her advisory board for years. Mr. Kemp had appeared in both print media and television news outlets in regards to issues related to the minority community and southeast Fort Worth area of the city he felt was underutilized and underserved. He was a strong advocate for small and minority business opportunities and often attended forums, summits and meetings related to economic inclusion on major projects in the city of Fort Worth, both in the public and private sectors. Mr. Kemp semi-retired in 1999 but remained active with the day-to-day operations of the business he started. Today Kemps and Sons General Services Inc. employs nearly 100 people, services almost 1.5 million square feet nightly in locations throughout Texas and provides commercial lawn care services that cover over 400 acres on a monthly basis. KSGS company officials recently pursued contracts overseas and abroad. This once-small, family-owned business has been recognized and won awards on local, regional and national levels. Articles about the success and achievements of KSGS Inc. have appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Business Press and other business newsletters throughout the North Texas region. Although he lacked a high school diploma, Mr. Kemp was avid reader and read two or three newspapers each day of his adult life. At the age of 71 he enrolled in a computer class at TCCC. Throughout his illness he talked daily about company projects and issues pertaining to the Fort Worth Zoning Commission he counseled, advised and mentored from his hospital bed. A devout Christian, Mr. Kemp believed in hard work and more hard work. He thoroughly enjoyed his fellowship at Wedgwood Baptist Church where he loved his Sunday Bible class, The Encouragers, and his church family. In an effort to honor his memory and legacy, the Kemp Family has made a pledge gift to the new $80 million University of Texas at Arlington Special Event Center, where the assistant varsity basketball coaches pavilion will be named in Mr. Kemp's honor. His sons Jesse III and Larry played basketball at UTA in the 1970s. Survivors: Those left to cherish the memories of Mr. Jesse Charles Kemp Jr. are his wife of 56 years, Nannie Lee Kemp; sons, Jesse III (Gina), Larry (Reggi), Keith (Tamera); grandchildren, Jenard Kemp, Patrick Hackett-Kemp, Peyton Kemp and Madison Kemp; great-grandchildren, Camille, Taiylor, Gavin Hackett-Kemp and Jordan Kemp; and a host of other relatives and friends.