Kemel G. Dawkins, 91, retired president of construction company

Kemel G. Dawkins was the retired president of Kemrodco Development & Construction Company and KD Builders and Managers, Inc.

He died on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. He was 91.

He was born on June 27, 1923 to the late Pauline T. and Levi H. Dawkins in St. Catherine, Jamaica.

Dawkins began his educational journey at the Burnt Savannah Elementary School in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. After graduating from high school, he received a builder’s certificate from the Kingston Technical School in Kingston, Jamaica.

After migrating to the United States from Jamaica in 1946, he met Doris Pride and they were married in September 1947. Now settled in America with his wife and son, he continued his education. Dawkins received a certificate for construction technology and a certificate for layout engineering from the Spring Garden College and a certificate in estimating and blue print reading from Temple University. He also completed courses in science and art at the University of Pennsylvania and in architectural engineering at Drexel University.

Dawkins, and his business partner Herbert Pennicott, founded the Kem-Her Construction Company in 1972. One of the first construction contracts came as a result of a recommendation by Marcus Foster to Charles Bowser for the renovation of a neighborhood school. From there, the Kem-Her Construction Company grew by leaps and bounds.

In business for more than 30 years, Kem-Her Construction successfully completed a myriad of building projects throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan area including the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the University of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Amtrak, the Philadelphia Gas Works, St. Christopher Hospital, the Philadelphia International Airport and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Kem-Her Construction is recognized as being a pioneering company. The company was among the first small minority businesses to receive contracts from the city of Philadelphia.

Dawkins served as chairman of the Philadelphia Municipal Authority for 30 years. He was one of the co-founders of United Bank of Philadelphia and served on its board of directors for more than 10 years.

Dawkins also served as a member of Philadelphia Minority Business Enterprise Council, the board of directors of the Philadelphia Coalition of Minority Contractors, the Democratic National Committee’s Small Business Executive Council, The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Small Business/Agriculture Advisory Council, General Building Contractors Association and the board of trustees of the Osteopathic Medical College of Philadelphia. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Cyprian Catholic Church.

Dawkins was a member of the Democratic National Committee for close to 50 years. His family said he worked tirelessly to make the political process work better for all citizens.

He was preceded in death by his wife.

He is survived by his son Kemel W. Dawkins; daughter-in-law Dr. Susan C. Taylor; granddaughters Morgan and Madison Dawkins and other relatives and friends.

Services will be held Jan. 21 at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, 6361 Lancaster Ave. Viewing is at 9 a.m. Services will follow at 10 a.m. Burial is in Rolling Green Memorial Park in West Chester.

Wood Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Source: The Philadelphia Tribune