BKD partner Hayworth, 51, found dead in office

Daniel A. Hayworth, partner and accountant with BKD LLP, was found dead in his office on Sunday afternoon. He was 51.

According to a Joplin Police Department's incident report, officer Andrew Blair was dispatched to the BKD offices at 3230 S. Hammons Blvd. Sunday afternoon, and Hayworth was pronounced dead at the scene.

A message left for the Newton County coroner requesting further details and a cause of death has been as-of-yet unanswered.

Hayworth joined the Joplin office of BKD in 1986 and had been a partner in the firm since 1996.

"Dan was such a great guy, and this is such an unexpected and untimely event," said John Wanamaker, managing partner of the Southern Missouri unit, which covers Springfield, Joplin and Branson. "He was my point person over there in terms of leadership."

Hayworth also held several positions of firmwide leadership, serving as a member of the company's national construction and real estate group, national manufacturing and distribution group and chair of the manufacturing and distribution committee.

Hayworth devoted much time to civic pursuits, having served since 2006 on the board of directors for the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. He also served as vice chairman of JACC's economic development board and was chair-elect for the Joplin chamber's board of directors.

He is survived by his wife, Lynn.

"He was clearly a great man, a great husband to his wife, Lynn, a great BKD partner, and a great friend, and he will be unbelievably missed," Wanamaker said.  

Read more about Daniel Hayworth in Joplin Tri-State Business Journal's June 28 issue.[[In-content Ad]]