Mr. Dwayne Crompton

A Pioneer's Journey

Dwayne Anthony Crompton was born on September 26, 1946 in Kansas City, Kansas to the union of James Noble Crompton, Sr. and Eleanor Lee Crompton.  He was the third born of three children.   He was reared in a deeply religious family and community.  The church was his first training ground.  Dwayne attended public school in Kansas City, Missouri, graduating from Central High in 1964.  

For over fifty years, Dwayne A. Crompton dedicated his career and life to the advancement of educational and social issues, and has worked to improve the lives of young children and struggling families of all races.  Since graduating from Lincoln University in 1968, he has worked in the field of education in Kansas City.  Mr. Crompton holds degrees from Lincoln University, where he served on the Board of Curators for many years, and a Master's Degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  In 1992, Lincoln University presented Dwayne with an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities.

After serving as a preschool teacher, elementary school teacher, and public school administrator he was selected in 1977 as the second Executive Director of KCMC Child Development Corporation, which he transformed over a 30-year tenure.  A fledgling non-profit organization founded in 1970 under the federal Model Cities Demonstration Act to provide child development services for inner city residents, KCMC became a nationally-recognized model of quality, excellence, community partnership, innovation, and leadership.  At its peak, the agency served over 3500 children annually in schools throughout the greater Kansas City area.  

Mr. Crompton was past president of the Housing and Economic Development Financial Corporation of Kansas City, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and a Member of the Advisory Board of Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.  He was also a board member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from the mid 80's through early 90's, and a member of the Friends of Bruce R. Watkins Board of Directors

Mr. Crompton’s accomplishments in early childhood development have been acclaimed.  He was frequently invited to give testimony on child care issues before non-governmental and governmental bodies, including the U.S. House of Representatives and the Missouri General Assembly, and to many other community and education groups throughout the country.  He traveled internationally to conferences on early childhood development in the former Soviet Union and Cuba.   

Mr. Crompton served as a past president of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the largest professional child care organization in the world.  Mr. Crompton was re-elected to be President of the Child Development Associate® (CDA) Council for Professional Recognition, which is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education.  

He devoted his life to church and community activism, advocating and leading in the areas of education, housing, parenting, and economic empowerment.  He served on and chaired various civic, governmental and business boards and councils.  Mr. Crompton was the recipient of many awards and distinctions.  He was a tireless and devoted member of his congregation, Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church for over 40 years, having served as Chairman of the Board, Superintendent of Sunday School, Chairman of Trustee Board, and many more positions of leadership. 

For over 20 years, Mr. Crompton led the awarding-winning Kansas City Freedom School Initiative, a six-week summer program blending literacy, social action, leadership, parenting and cultural awareness for children (5 to 13), in partnership with the Children’s Defense Fund. The popular program served over 20,000 scholars and trained over 2000 servant leaders.  He formerly served as Chairman of the Board of the Mt. Pleasant Education and Development Corporation, which operated the Kansas City Freedom School Initiative, the Saturday Reading Academy, as well as a Teen Leadership Academy.  He was a lifelong advocate for universal quality and affordable early childhood education.  

He was preceded in death by his father, James Noble Crompton, Sr.; mother, Eleanor Crompton Rucker; sister, Angela Crompton; brother James “Jimmy” Crompton; niece, Antoinette Lindesay Harrington; and aunts, Olga Jean Everson and Jacqueline Nichols-Coleman.  

He leaves to cherish his memory: Freda Crompton (wife) of Kansas City, MO; two sons Anthony Crompton (Tonya) of Kansas City, MO; and Shannon Crompton (Angie) of Clovis, California; four grandchildren; Logan, Noble, and Lyric Crompton of Kansas City, MO, Tatum Crompton of Clovis, California; three step-grandchildren; Brendon, Darrian, and Erriel Tota of Kansas City, MO; sister, Carroll Ann Rucker of Kansas City, MO; uncle, Elliott Nichols of Kansas City, MO; mother in law; Leola Witt of Kansas City, MO; brother in law, Lawrence Witt (Ceolia) of Kansas City, Kansas; nephews, Lawrence Witt II of Lee’s Summit, MO; Darnell Witt (Faye) of Kansas City, MO; and Paul Johnson of Kansas City, MO; nieces, Lori Majors of Kansas City, MO; Eleanor Hill of Shawnee, KS; and Alexis Williams (Nick) of Lee’s Summit, MO, a host of great nephews and nieces, relatives, and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 18, 2022, at 11:00 am at St. James UMC. Private Disposition. Service conducted by Watkins Heritage Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website. Livestream    https://sjumckc.org/worship-online/ Worship Online – St. James - sjumckc.org.

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