The
University of Missouri-Kansas City (abbreviated
UMKC) is an institution of higher learning located in
Kansas City, Missouri. The university got its start as
an independent university in 1933, and was originally known as the
University of Kansas
City. In 1963 it became part of the University of Missouri system, and by 2002 its active
enrollment had grown to over 13,000 students.Its student body has included future mayors of Kansas City, such as Ilus Davis and Charles Wheeler, and a future U.S.
president, Harry Truman. A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Casey Stengel, attended, as did a former Lieutenant Governor of Missouri, Hilary Bush. H&R
Block, the tax return preparation and financial services company, was
co-founded by Henry W. Bloch (sic), another former student. The School of Business is named after Block and is ranked high
nationally. Also, John Ciardi, the poet and etymologist, taught here.UMKC's mascot is Kasey Kangaroo and their teams go by the nickname the
Roos.