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HISTORY OF THE GOLDEN GLOVES IN KANSAS CITY
The first Regional Golden Gloves tournament was held in February 1936 at the Old Convention Hall, 13th and Central, sponsored by the Kansas City Star Newspaper. During this era, only newspapers or radio stations were permitted to sponsor a Golden Gloves franchise. Ernie Mehl, a sports writer and later Sports Director, was appointed Golden Gloves Director. Under his direction, many successful tournaments were held.
The coaches of one of the first clubs in Kansas City were Charles Myers (known as Charlie), who coached the Kansas City Athletic Club, later known as Municipal Boxing Club and Jack Byrd, coach at the Gateway Boxing Club, a training center for black youth. Later, several other minority clubs were started through interest of the Kansas City Star.
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. Also that year a new coach took over the helm of the Gateway Club. Arrington “Bubble” Klice was a driving force of that club from 1938 to 1978.
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.
There have been numerous successors to Dr. DiRenna as President, all with varying degrees of success during their tenure.
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.