Since 1936
Our Story –
Kansas City Golden Gloves
Our Story –
Mission Statement
The KC Golden Gloves is dedicated to amateur boxing as a way to develop discipline, respect, and wellness in its athletes and empower the next generation of leaders and citizens in the Kansas City area.
Our Vision
With a rich history, the sport of boxing provides an environment for teaching and inspiring confidence, work ethic, physical and emotional well-being, sportsmanship, social development and a culture of citizenship. Our vision is to create a community of dedicated athletes, coaches, officials, spectators, and supporters of amateur boxing to achieve our mission.
History
The KC Golden Gloves regional championship is the longest-running sporting event in Kansas City history, with the first regional Golden Gloves tournament held February 1936 at the Old Convention Hall on 13th and Central, sponsored by the Kansas City Star Newspaper. Only newspapers or radio stations were permitted to sponsor a Golden Gloves franchise during this era. Ernie Mehl, a sports writer and later Sports Director, was appointed Golden Gloves Director. Under his direction, many successful tournaments were held.
In 1937, the new Municipal Auditorium was completed, and the Second Regional tournament was held with approximately fifteen boxing clubs from the franchise area, including Chillicothe, Joplin, Springfield, and St. Joseph participating.
During World War II, under the leadership of Charlie Myers and assistance from Tom McHugh, the franchise prospered by support from the Teamsters Union, National Alliance of Businessmen and the Kansas City, Missouri Welfare Department (now the Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation), Hayes A. Richardson, Director. The Kansas City Star relinquished sponsorship of the Golden Gloves in 1947 and Charlie continued his tenure until his death in 1966.
After Charlie Myer’s death, one of the Golden Gloves supporters, Dr. James DiRenna assumed duties as the Director and was instrumental in reorganizing into a non-profit corporation in the State of Missouri and was its first President.
All revenues generated by the Kansas City Golden Gloves are turned back into our program to purchase boxing equipment for new and existing clubs, for team travel, and to fund scholarships for our boxers.
Make a Change
Board of Directors
Chris Walden
Walden Management, Inc.
President
As a certified USA Boxing official in the ring and President of the KC Gloves, Chris Walden stays involved with amateur boxing because of its unique ability to grow kids into outstanding men and women. He works as an Investment Advisor at Heartland Capital Advisors.
Phone: 816-665-1114, Email: chris@hcadvisorslc.com
Rick How
SS&C Technologies
Vice President
Rick is one of our KC Golden Gloves volunteer officials. He joins the board with 20 years of experience as a Manager and senior implementation specialist at DST. Rick will facilitate our fundraising efforts and has taken on the monumental position of Tournament Director.
Ken McAlpin
Retired – Black & Veatch
Treasurer
Ken McAlpin started as a certified USA Boxing official in 2008. In the years since then, Ken has judged more than 3000 amateur bouts. Away from the ring, Ken works full-time as a sourcing Specialist with Black & Veatch. He also volunteers as a tour guide and docent at the KC Automotive Museum in Olathe, KS.
Erin Taylor
Secretary, AthletePound 4 Pound Boxing Club
Secretary, Athlete
Craig Cummings
KCMO Fire Dept, Garrison Boxing Club
Head Coach
Craig Cummings brings his lifelong boxing expertise to the KC Golden Gloves as our Head Coach. Cummings began boxing at age 5 and enjoyed a highly decorated career as an amateur under his father’s coaching, Tom Cummings, who had been a boxing staple for many years. The father-son duo would transition into the professional ring, where Craig would forge an illustrious career. Eventually, Craig would follow his father’s path and began coaching up-and-coming professional and amateur boxers, establish his own boxing promotion company, and serve his community as a KCMO Firefighter.
Tino Camacho
M&A Youth Athletics
Chief of Officials
Cam F. Awesome
Awesome Talks
At-Large, Athlete
Thomas Huitt-Johnson
Johnson Brothers Boxing Club
At-Large, Athlete, Curator
Tommy is a multi-KC Golden Gloves champ and is now a volunteer official. He is a two-time national bronze medalist and a former boxer on Team USA. Tommy received the Thomas Sarge Johnson scholarship awarded by USA Boxing and the KC Golden Gloves scholarship for multiple years, which helped him earn a bachelor’s degree in convergent media. He is a coach at Johnson Brothers Boxing in St. Joseph along with his four brothers.
Jacob Hobbs,
Community Boxing Club
At-Large, Athlete
Katelyn Lavigne
Pound 4 Pound Boxing Club
At-Large, Athlete
Matt Priest
Signature Retirement Group
At-Large
Matt, who recently served as Treasurer to the KC Golden Gloves, now serves as a member at large. Matt has also served as the Tournament Director for the Regional Championships. Matt is the father of Eric Priest, a KC Golden Gloves Champion, a legendary 2017 National Golden Gloves Team Champions member, and is now an undefeated professional boxer.
Matt Tomasic
Executive Director, KCK PAL
At-Large
Matt was born and raised in Strawberry Hill and served on the Kansas City, Missouri, police force for 23 years. Now retired, he feels it’s an honor to lead the PAL of KCK. During his time on the police force, he saw firsthand the lasting benefit of strong relationships between officers and their communities.
Angel Obert
At-Large
Angel started working with KC Golden Gloves in 2015. She currently works for Unified Government of Wyandotte County, KCK, Kansas Parks and Recreation Department as the Recreation Division Manager. Previously oversaw the TBA boxing program and has been involved with KCGG ever since, as it provides an excellent opportunity to work with the amazing youth of our community.
Pedro Martinez
Turner Boxing Academy
At-Large
Stephen St. John
Sports Radio 810 WHB
Honorary
Steven is well known as a radio personality at 810 WHB, the largest all-sports station in the nation. Passionate about all sports, he has a special affinity for boxing. Steven is a KC Golden Gloves Boxer who stepped through the ropes as a pro boxer and a ring announcer for ESPN2, Fox Sports Net, and CBS Sports. He supports the community by supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kansas City Downs Syndrome Guild, and many others. Steven has been a long-time supporter of the KC Golden Gloves.