Former construction company owner dies at 73

Courtesy Greenlawn Funeral Home

Cliff Kennedy led Kennedy Contractors for nearly 30 years.

A Springfield construction industry veteran who led his own company for nearly 30 years has died.

Cliff Kennedy died Nov. 27 at age 73, according to an obituary posted to GreenlawnFuneralHome.com. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Kennedy founded Kennedy Contractors in 1981 with his wife, Kathy, according to Springfield Business Journal archives. The company was purchased in 2008 by Emery Sapp & Sons Inc.

Kennedy Contractors' work included site construction for Springfield-Branson National Airport, site and underground utilities construction for the Missouri National Guard facility and site construction for Branson Intermediate School, according to past reporting.

Cliff Kennedy additionally was involved with the Springfield Contractors Association, for which he was a past board president.

"Over the years, Cliff never met a stranger," his obituary reads. "He had a great gift of making people feel included, understood and heard."

A celebration of life is scheduled Dec. 3 at Greenlawn East, 3540 E. Seminole St.