The history of Kansas City’s Oakwood Country Club is covered in detail in Ward Katz’s new book, “Oakwood’s Living History: From the Progress Club to a New Future — A Family Story.”
Katz was assisted in the book’s research and writing by Ruth Bigus.
Through most of its history, Oakwood was widely considered to be a Jewish club. As such, it is the second longest continuously running organization in the Kansas City Jewish community (behind only The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah). Today, the club welcomes a diversity of members and celebrates the improvements brought to the facility by a group of members led by Ken Block.
Originally called the Progress Club at its founding in 1881, Oakwood Country Club has long provided a home for recreational and business functions, as well as social functions such as marriages and other significant occasions. “Oakwood’s Living History” tells of that history using archival photographs and recollections from past members.
“(This) history of Oakwood Country Club is an important addition to the many works about the broader history of Kansas City,” said Randee Krakauer, daughter of Kenneth Krakauer, former club historian and author of “When Golf Came to Kansas City.” “It speaks to the community at large as much as to the Jews of this region.
“It is warm, personal, informative and often quite humorous,” she continued. “What a shame the generations before us did not have the opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of these facts and anecdotes that belonged to them. But how fortunate that we, our children and future readers are to have this delightful book. I was smiling while reading along.”
The book’s author, Ward Katz, is a former practicing attorney and real estate developer. He operates a property management company specializing in multi-family housing. A graduate in English at the University of Wisconsin, Katz also earned J.D. and L.L.M. degrees in law from Washington University and the University of Missouri–Kansas City. Katz and his family have been members of Oakwood Country Club and its predecessor for more than a century, with his grandfather, Isaac “Ike” Katz, having become a member of the Progress Club in 1923.
Ruth Bigus, who assisted with the book’s creation, is a freelance journalist and media relations consultant with a history of working with community nonprofits such as Jewish Family Services and The J. She also was managing editor of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle from 1987 to 1993.
“Oakwood’s Living History” is published by Mission Point Press and available in bookstores and online. The author can be contacted for events or signings at .
