KAIA Executive Directors
1946-1952
1953-1968
Dr . Alpha Kenna was the first paid employee of the association . Dr . Kenna was hired on November 1 , 1946 , as the executive / secretary manager . He retired on October 31 , 1952 . Dr . Kenna was a Chaplain in both World I and World War II , serving in Europe . He attained the rank of Lt . Colonel during that time . He retired from the military in July 1946 . Alpha was noted for his increase in membership , extraordinary financial reports , and remarkable success in the education programs , and good co-operations between company representatives and the association . Alpha was awarded an Honorary Life Membership upon his retirement . Dr . Kenna died on September 15 , 1974 .
Colonel Frank Dunkley was hired on January 1 , 1953 , as the executive manager of the association . In 1966 he was promoted to executive vice president . Colonel Dunkley was a World War I and World War II veteran . He was born on May 30 , 1897 . Dunkley enrolled on February 11 , 1915 , in Company H , 1st Kansas Infantry , and served with the unit on the Mexican border as private and corporal . In the interim period between World War I and World War II , Colonel Dunkley served as a member of the Kansas National Guard in Company H , 137th Infantry ; Troop I , 114th Calvary ; and the Headquarters Detachment , 2nd Squadron , 114th Calvary , as second lieutenant , first lieutenant , and captain . At the outbreak of World War II , Dunkley was in Company D of the 137th Infantry in Dodge City , Kansas . During World War II , his services were battalion executive officer , regimental S-3 , battalion commanding officer , and regimental S-4 in the 137th and 134th Infantry , 35th Division . He was chosen as task force commander for the first operation of the war , the landings in Western Aleutians . After spending a year in the Aleutians , where he served under General Joe Nickell , Dunkley was given a new assignment : He was assigned to the 65th Infantry Division , 260th Infantry . There , Dunkley served throughout the war in the campaign in Central Europe , Germany , France , and Austria as Commanding Officer of that regiment in General George Patton ’ s Third Army . When the war was over , he was the military commander of the Linz , Austria , Land Kreis . He had charge of administering hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war .
He returned to the United States with General Dwight Eisenhower and made the tour with the Eisenhower party in June of 1945 . In 1946 , Dunkley returned to Kansas where reorganized the 137th Infantry at which time he was appointed commanding officer . On May 1 , 1949 , he was recalled to active duty as a member of Plans Division , G-3 , D / A General Staff . In 1957 Gen . Dunkley retired after 43 years of active duty in the army .
His military career had given him a keen sense of judgment and personal respect for all who know him . As the director , his enthusiasm and interest brought KAIIA to a new high standard and membership from 300 to 800 members . Frank retired in 1968 with 15 years of service to the association . He received an Honorary Life Members . Frank died on October 7 , 1982 .
James ( Jim ) D . Wallace was hired as the assistant executive manager in August 1966 . He was made the executive director when Frank Dunkley retired in 1968 . He had a Bachelor ’ s of Business degree from Washburn University and an MBA from Florida Atlantic University . Jim was formerly an audit supervisor for the Kansas Inspection . He also worked as an underwriter and agent for Kansas City Fire & Marine . Jim received his CPCU and CLU designations and held a Risk Management diploma from Michigan State University . Jim worked closely with the Insurance Department in developing the study manual for the Agents ’ License Examination . In May 1980 , he resigned to take over the Big “ I ” Association in California . Jim died on August 9 , 1994 .
96 Kansas Association of Insurance Agents