Early Life and Education
Earl Gentry "Ken" Kendrick Jr. was born in Princeton, West Virginia, on September 2, 1943. Growing up in a small town, he developed a strong work ethic, fostered by his father who owned a gas station and later a retail store. Kendrick's mother was a school teacher. He graduated from West Virginia University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Rise to Success
Kendrick's professional journey began at IBM. In 1968, he founded Datatel, Inc., a software development company specializing in infrastructure technology for colleges and universities. Datatel became a leader in its field before being sold in 2015. During the 1980s, he served as president of a Texas-based financial services technology company. In 1989, Kendrick became the principal investor in Woodforest National Bank, which has grown into a major financial institution.
Key Business Strategies
A significant part of Kendrick's business strategy has been his investment in the Arizona Diamondbacks. He became a part-owner in 1995 and the managing general partner in 2004. Under his leadership, the Diamondbacks have achieved National League West titles in 2007 and 2011 and reached the NLCS in 2007 and 2023. He has also been instrumental in eliminating over $350 million in team debt through equity and debt restructures.
Philanthropy
Ken Kendrick is actively involved in philanthropy, serving as Chairman of the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, which has donated over $80 million since its inception. He has supported various causes, including education, healthcare, and youth sports. Kendrick and his wife founded the Freedom Center at the University of Arizona. He has also funded advancements in prostate cancer research.