More detail on this person: Kenneth J. Cole was
born in Atlanta, Georgia to Kenneth Yager Cole and
Eunice Sanders Cole. His early years were spent in
Atlanta and Washington, DC. After graduation from
Lee High School in Springfield, VA, he attended
Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas on a
scholarship with the famous 96 Guys and A Doll
marching band. In 1967, he enlisted in the U.S.
Army infantry and was selected for Officer
Candidate School. Upon graduation from Infantry
OCS in March 1968, he was commissioned as a
2nd Lieutenant. Two days after commissioning, he
married his OCS sweetheart, Joan Smith. The new
couple began their life adventure by heading to
Ft. Wolters, TX for Army Rotary Wing Flight
Training. Cole deployed to Vietnam from July
1969-July 1970, flying 987 combat flight hours in
the venerable UH-1 Huey. During a year of combat
action in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star
Medal, the Army Air Medal with numeral 26, and
the Army Commendation Medal. Flying U.S. Army
helicopters as an aircraft commander and
instructor pilot, Cole completed his Army career
(active duty and reserve) with more than 3,000
hours, earning the Army's highest aeronautical
designation, Master Army Aviator and promotion to
Major.
Cole began corporate life working for Boise
Cascade in St. Louis, MO. With rapid promotions,
he took his family to Kansas City, New York City
and Chicago, where he worked for Continental Can
as a Regional Sales Manager. In Chicago, he
founded his own business, PRI Group and The
Recruiting and Search Report. He was accepted
into the University of Chicago's Graduate School
of Business Executive MBA program, graduating in
1983. His published works include The Headhunter
Strategy (John Wiley & Sons), The Executive
Search Research Directory, and The Euro
Directory.
Cole's articles on executive search, search
research, and related subjects have appeared in
more than twenty-six national publications. As an
Executive Recruiter, he consulted for diverse
corporations such as SiriusXM, Lucent
Technologies, Perrigo, United Copper, and others.
He completed both U.S. and international
assignments for senior executives around the
world, including Japan, Singapore, Spain, and
Germany. In 1984, Cole moved his family and
business from the Windy City to their dream home
(his childhood vacation destination) in Panama
City Beach. Continuing his work as a publisher and
consultant, he served as the official job hunting
advisor to The Flag & General Officers Network
(TFGON). As a speaker and senior executive job
hunting coach & strategist, he accepted
invitations to speak at graduate schools around
the country, including Kellogg, Stanford,
Columbia, University of Florida, and his alma
mater, the University of Chicago. Throughout his
career, he assisted thousands of senior
executives, managers, and professionals in finding
new positions through individual job campaigns,
published resources, and seminars. He continued
his work until a few weeks prior to his
passing.
Cole was an energetic, active member and leader at
the Woodlawn United Methodist Church, where he
freely dispensed smiles and encouragement to all
he met. He loved to read to his grandchildren,
canoe the Suwanee River, hike the Appalachian
Trail, study the great works, exchange war stories
with his sons and friends on the family's back
deck (including fine cigars and libations), and
enjoy every day of love and life with his wife.
Cole is survived by his wife of 48 years, Joan
Smith Cole, his brother, Richard (Pat), his sons
Kenny (Dailah Mallary) and Cameron (Karyn Gaudy)
and his 6 grandchildren: Hannah, Kenneth, Joseph,
Ella, Mia, and Miles. Rest in peace, beloved
husband, strong father, adoring grandfather, and
friend of Jesus. In lieu of flowers, the family
requests that donations be sent to the Woodlawn
United Methodist Church for a new Educational
Wing.
Funeral services will be held on Friday at 10 a.m.
in the Woodlawn United Methodist Church. The
family will receive friends at the church from
9-10 a.m. prior to the service. Graveside services
will be held on Monday at 11:30 a.m. in the
Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL.
Wilson Funeral Home, Panama City, FL Feb 15,
2017
Burial: Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola,
Escambia County, Florida, USA
Burial information: Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL
This information was last updated 02/18/2017
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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