Early Life and Education
Earl Gentry "Ken" Kendrick Jr. was born on September 2, 1943, in Princeton, West Virginia. Growing up in a small town, Kendrick developed a strong work ethic and a passion for baseball. He attended West Virginia University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1965.
Rise to Success
Kendrick's business career began at IBM. In 1968, at the age of 24, he co-founded Datatel, Inc., a software development company that became the worldwide leader in providing software solutions for managing technology infrastructure for colleges, universities, and foundations. Kendrick led Datatel until he sold his interests in 2005 and 2009. In the 1980s, he served as president of a Texas-based financial services technology company. In 1989, Kendrick became the principal investor in Woodforest National Bank, transforming it into a $9 billion entity and one of the largest employee-owned banks in the United States.
Key Business Strategies
Kendrick's key business strategies involved identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in both the technology and financial sectors. His vision led Datatel to dominate the market for higher education software, and his investment in Woodforest National Bank proved to be highly successful. Kendrick joined the Arizona Diamondbacks ownership group in 1995 and became the managing general partner in 2004, navigating the team through financial challenges.
Philanthropy
Kendrick is actively involved in philanthropy through the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, which has donated over $80 million to charity since its inception. He and his wife, Randy, support various causes related to education, healthcare, and youth sports. They founded the Freedom Center at the University of Arizona and pledged $20 million to West Virginia University in 2022. He also funds prostate cancer research.
