JAMES E. NUGENT (1938-1940) #52As part of #KCParks125, we are featuring all 104 Park Board Commissioners in order of their service.James Edward Nugent (1883-1947) was born on a farm near Paris, Missouri which is northeast of Columbia, Missouri. A go-getter from a young age, he came to Kansas City at age 17 after his high school graduation and worked for two years before attending the University of Missouri where he graduated from law school in 1905 with high honors. Moving back to Kansas City, he started a law firm with Edwin Morrison and Frank Walsh.In 1916 Mr. Nugent was appointed to the Kansas City Board of Education and served there until 1928, the last two years as President of the Board. The promotion of public education was important to him as was free access to libraries for all. In 1919, Mr. Nugent married Ada Cochran of Kansas City. They had no children. In the 1930s they purchased property in Clay County near Smithville and spent much of their time there while maintaining a residence in the Brookside area.Mr. Nugent was an avid and excellent golfer. As a member of the Hillcrest Country Club, he was a semi-finalist in the Trans-Mississippi tournament in 1919. He was later club champion at the Mission Hills Country Club.In May 1938 Mr. Nugent was appointed to the Park Board as President by his friend Mayor Bryce Smith, replacing Frank Cromwell. He served until 1940. In 1946, Mr. Nugent was appointed to the Missouri State Board of Education for a two-year term. His health declined and he suffered a fatal heart attack in 1947. #KCParks #FromTheArchives