 Wade Kurtz |
 William Baird |
 Claire Dobson |
1914 - Clinton H. Montgomery, a CPA from Philadelphia, arrives in Wichita to audit a bankrupt company. He likes Wichita and decides to stay, forming Clinton H. Montgomery & Co., the first public accounting firm in Kansas.
1918 - Montgomery hires another Pennsylvanian, Wade Kurtz, and almost immediately sends him to Kansas City to scope out the opportunities there.
1919 - Kurtz recruits another CPA, William Baird, away from Arthur Young & Co. The two set up an office in the Scarritt Building, later home to BKD through 1934.
1921 - Kurtz goes on another scouting expedition, this time to the mining center of Joplin. He opens an office there in the Frisco Building.
1922 - Kurtz transfers another Montgomery employee, Claire Dobson, from Wichita to help with the new Joplin office. Late that year, the Montgomery firm breaks up.
January 2, 1923 - Founder's Day! On this date, the former Montgomery offices in Kansas City and Joplin become those of Baird, Kurtz & Dobson, which opened for business with $1,700 in the bank.
1925 - The new firm moves to the Liberty Building in Joplin, home to BKD for the next 73 years.
1939 - Kurtz is stricken with Parkinson's disease, and Dobson takes over the leadership of the firm.
1940-1948 - World War II makes staffing extremely difficult. War veterans like Hearld Ambler, Jack Longenecker, Frank Evans and Bob Meyer join the firm and become a core group of future leaders.
1945 - Bob Meyer transfers to Kansas City to take charge of the office there, leaving Baird free to concentrate on his tax practice.
1948 - The Springfield office opens in the Landers Building downtown, with Wayne Henderson in charge.
1953 - The first formal partnership agreement of the firm admits five new partners, including Ambler, who will later become the firm's first managing partner.
1954 - A uranium boom in western Colorado leads to the opening of a Grand Junction office, which eventually closes in 1960.
1958 - Dobson suffers a series of strokes in this year and is forced to retire, leaving the firm without a designated leader. In Kansas City, Meyer leaves the firm, and with the clients there "up for grabs," Longenecker transfers from Joplin to hold on to what he can.
1964 - A new partnership agreement in 1964 gives each partner an equal place and vote in the partnership. Among the new partners is Jim Glauser, later to become the firm's second managing partner.
1965 - The passage of the Medicare act lays the groundwork for BKD's health care practice. A key decision is to represent clients instead of intermediaries.
1967 - On the brink of dissolution, BKD joins The American Group (TAG). A series of painful lessons follows as the firm's leaders learn the basics of management, staffing and profitability in the 1970s.
1969 - BKD opens its first office outside Missouri in Fort Smith, transferring Glauser from Springfield as its partner in charge (PIC).
1970 - The management committee is created, consisting of Ambler, Glauser, Henderson, Longenecker and Jim Meador. The Wichita office opens (closes in 1974).
1971 - Pine Bluff office opens.
1972 - Ambler is named administrative partner while continuing to serve as PIC of Springfield.
1973 - Little Rock office opens.
1974 - St. Louis office opens. The firm designates Larry Ellison as a part-time accounting and auditing specialist, a position that will later become director of accounting and auditing.
1976 - Ambler is elected the firm's first managing partner.
1979 - Miami office opens. 1980 - Wichita and Enid offices open.
1981 - Tulsa and Branson offices open.
1982 - Dallas office opens (closes in 1988). Glauser drafts the firm's first marketing plan.
1983 - Fayetteville office opens (closes in 1998). Steve Bullard joins BKD as first director of tax.
1985 - Lincoln office opens.
1986 - Glauser is elected BKD's second managing partner. Omaha office opens.
1987 - Bowling Green office opens. Positions of office directors of accounting and auditing and tax are created.
1988 - Mission statement written.
1989 - BKD joins Moores Rowland International.
1992 - Pittsburg office opens. Firm adopts the Fast-Tax GoSystem of internal tax return preparation.
1993 - Colorado Springs and Denver offices open.
1994 - BKD Corporate Finance, LLC, BKD's first subsidiary, is created.
1997 - Bill Fingland is elected the firm's third managing partner.
1998 - BKD celebrates 75 years of service and growth. BKD Investment Advisors, LLC formed.
1999 - BKD passes the $100 million mark in revenues. BKD Foundation formed.
2000 - BKD personnel, including partners, top 1,000.
2001 - June 1 merger of Baird, Kurtz & Dobson and Olive LLP creates BKD, LLP. BKD Investment Advisors, LLC changes to BKD Wealth Advisors, LLC. New subsidiary Mazars Central, LLC formed.
2002 - The firm formalizes its values as BKD PRIDE: passion, respect, integrity, discipline and excellence.
2003 - BKD opens office in Owensboro, Kentucky.
2004 - BKD forms Public Interest Council and introduces the BKD Experience of unmatched client service.
