With deep sadness and profound gratitude, we share the passing of Kent Garlinghouse, one of the founders of Topeka Collegiate. Kent & Susan’s vision, generosity, and belief in the potential of every child helped build a school where students are known, challenged, and cared for. That vision continues in every classroom, on every playground, and in every child who walks through our doors.
Bradley “Kent” Garlinghouse, 85, of Topeka, Kansas, passed away peacefully at home on October 22nd, surrounded by his family.
Kent was a loving and inspiring father and devoted husband. Amongst his many accomplishments for which he will be remembered, his commitment to philanthropy within the Topeka community was unparalleled.
Kent was born in New York City and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned a BA from Wesleyan University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, then worked briefly as an investment analyst at Irwin Management Company in Columbus, Indiana, before beginning the career that would bring him to Topeka.
In 1970, Kent became President and CEO of M-C Industries, now Polo Custom Products, and moved his young and growing family to Topeka. He turned around the failing company and grew it from a few dozen to several hundred employees. He remained involved with the company for more than five decades and always credited its success to its employees. He was involved in a number of other entrepreneurial efforts over his life - the most significant of which was the founding of Heritage Bank.
Kent and his wife of 63 years, Susan, made Topeka their home and gave back to it generously. Their commitment to children, learning, and curiosity are demonstrated by the two legacies of which he was most proud. In 1982, they founded Topeka Collegiate School, an independent school for preschool through eighth grade. Kent was also the founding board chairman of the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, which opened its doors in 2011 with the purpose of making joyful learning accessible to children.
He chaired the board of St. Francis Health Center and served on the boards of Merchants National Bank, the Kansas Policy Institute, and the Washburn University Foundation, and taught as an adjunct instructor at the Washburn University School of Business. His many honors included Topeka’s Executive of the Year in 2004, induction into the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame in 2009, and honorary doctorate from Washburn University in 2017.
Kent was generous with his time and resources and mentored many entrepreneurs and small business owners over the course of his life. He was also a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO), a community that allowed him to continue to be a lifelong learner.
Kent had a warm heart, humble demeanor, and an infectious sense of humor - that remained with him even in his last days. He was curious, thoughtful, and loved to engage deeply in meaningful conversations and had an amazing ability to take a complicated subject and explain it clearly.
Kent also had an adventurous spirit that he passed on to his children - he loved snow skiing, scuba diving, and travel. Earning his pilot’s license at 16, he loved to fly, with more than 3,300 hours of flight time over his life.
Kent is survived by his wife Susan; his children, Kim, Meg, Mark, Brad and Matt; his 13 adoring grandchildren, as well as his two brothers, Webb and Whitney.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to Topeka Collegiate School.
Honor Kent’s memory
If you wish to honor Kent, the family has invited gifts in his name to the Kent Garlinghouse Memorial Endowment Fund. Every gift, large or small, helps carry Kent’s vision into the next generation of Topeka Collegiate students.
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We invite you to share a story, photo, or message of remembrance. Your words will be shared with the family and may appear on this page.
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Thank you, Kent, for believing in this school and in the children it serves. You will be deeply missed and always remembered.