Kenneth Douglas Hill

Born February 8, 1934, in Traverse City, Michigan, he was the son of Douglas and Margaret Hill. A native of Traverse City, Michigan, Ken graduated from Michigan State University in 1956, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional management.

His first job out of college brought him to the Golden Ox Restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri, where he was employed from 1956 to 1958. At this renowned Midwest steak house, Ken met Paul Robinson, who would co-found Gilbert/Robinson, Inc., in 1961. Robinson would tap the young food prodigy in 1967 to be Vice President of Operation of the Kansas City-based specialty restaurant group.

Ken quickly ascended the corporate ladder at Gilbert/Robinson. He was named president in 1973. During his 12-year tenure as Chief Executive, Ken helped transform the restaurant company into a nationally recognized leader, with 79 restaurants in 23 states and the District of Columbia, an employee count of nearly 8,000, and $200,000,000 in sales in 1985.

In mid-1985, Ken resigned as president of Gilbert/Robinson, Inc., to accept the position as President and Chief Executive Officer of T.J. Cinnamons, Ltd., a gourmet bakery concept in Kansas City, Missouri. In May 1990, Ken made a move from T. J. Cinnamons to become president and Chief Executive Officer of Creative Restaurant Management, Inc., a new company created through a leveraged buy-out from Gilbert /Robinson.

In May 1991, Ken accepted the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Applebee's International, Inc., a Kansas City, Missouri ­based casual dining concept, which specialized in developing, franchising, and operating a rapidly expanding national chain of restaurants under the trademark, Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar. In March 1994, Ken was promoted to President of International Development for Applebee's International, Inc.

In March 1995, Ken semi-retired but continued to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of Applebee's International, Inc., and became a Consultant to the company on Government Affairs and Industry Relations, until March 1998.

Ken's devotion to food service has reached throughout the industry. He is a Director Emeritus of the National Restaurant Association, after having served as both a Director of the Association and as Chairman of many of its major committees since 1980. Ken also served on the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association's Board of Directors, as an exchange director from the National Restaurant Association. In addition, Ken served as a Trustee on the Board of Directors of the National Institute for the Foodservice Industry, which is now the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association.

Ken served as President of the Missouri Restaurant Associations' Kansas City Chapter in 1972 and was named president of the Missouri State Restaurant Association in 1977.

Recognized as an industry innovator and humanitarian, Ken has received numerous awards, including Michigan State University's "Alumni of the Year" award in 1978, and, in 1995, was named on their "Wall of Fame''; the "National Spirit of Life" award from the City of Hope; a Distinguished Service Award from the Mo-Kan Fleet; the nomination for the Multi-Unit Foodservice "Man of the Year" award; and was presented the Missouri Foodservice "Hall of Fame" award at the 1989 meeting of the Missouri Restaurant Association in Kansas City.

In retirement, Ken continued his love of travel and now had more time to pursue this passion! Over the years he accumulated an impressive number of cruises and spent many of his days marking so many of the amazing destinations off his bucket list.

Ken was preceded in death by Elizabeth Hill (Michael’s mother) and 2nd wife Patricia A. Hill. He is survived by his son, Michael Hill of Kansas City, Missouri; stepdaughter, Kelley Schuberger of Kansas City, Kansas; stepson, Kevin Duff (Amy) of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; 5 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren; sister, Linda Bunnig (Leroy) of Newville, Pennsylvania.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024, at 11:00 am with a visitation from 10 - 11 am at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131.