Kit Bond remembered for deep roots, legacy in Mexico, Missouri
MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ)
Kit Bond, a sixth-generation Missourian with deep family and civic ties to Mexico, has died at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of public service and community impact.
Born in St. Louis, Bond was raised in Mexico and remained closely connected to the Audrain County community throughout his life. His obituary says that after earning his law degree in 1963, he moved to Georgia to work as a law clerk. By 1967, he had returned to his hometown, just a year before launching his campaign for Congress.
Following his passing, Bond’s family requested that donations be made in his memory to organizations and causes he cared deeply about, including the Handi-Shop, a community organization that has operated in Mexico for more than 50 years. The organization provides job opportunities and support for individuals with disabilities, a mission that resonated strongly with Bond.
Bond was also known for his passion for chestnut trees. At one time, he maintained the largest chestnut orchard in the state of Missouri at his home in Mexico, his obituary says. Community groups would often be invited for visits to the home.
His connection to the community runs even deeper, tied to his family’s role in shaping the city’s industrial past. In 1910, Bond’s grandfather, A.P. Green, invested $85,000 to purchase Mexico Fire and Clay, according to the Missouri State Historical Society. The region was then known for its rich clay deposits, and that investment led to the creation of the A.P. Green Refractories plant—one of the city’s largest employers for decades.
The company’s firebrick products played a crucial role in American manufacturing, particularly during both World Wars, and earned formal recognition from the U.S. military during World War II.
After A.P. Green retired in 1946, the plant changed ownership several times. A failed revival effort in recent years left the City of Mexico saddled with unpaid bonds. In late 2022, the city sold the property.
Though Bond’s life included public service on a national level, his contributions and roots in Mexico remain part of the fabric of the community he called home.
