William Dunn Sr., JE Dunn Construction Leader and Kansas City Philanthropist, Dies at 102

Posted June 1, 2026

William H. Dunn Sr., who helped lead JE Dunn Construction for 73 years, has passed away at the age of 102.

William Dunn, also known to many as Bill, passed away on Sunday, May 31.

He was the son of John Ernest “Ernie” Dunn, who founded JE Dunn in 1924 as a small construction company. Bill Dunn started working alongside his father in the early 1940s. During that time before World War II, Bill Dunn would work with his father and would learn lessons that would shape him as a leader.

In December 2017, Bill Dunn was named Ingram’s first Philanthropist of the Year. In an interview conducted for the feature, Bill Dunn recalled working with his father amidst the war.

(L to R) Bob Dunn, Bill Dunn Sr. and Steve Dunn celebrate during the Ingram’s Magazine Philanthropist of the Year event in 2017.

“Dad gave us the need to be patriotic, but he also told me when I started working full-time 71 years ago that you’re no better than the people working for you. If you’re doing well, be sure to treat your employees the same way you want to be treated, treat clients the way you’d want to be treated, and the same with the subcontractors, architects and designers,” Bill Dunn said in the 2017 interview.

When he was of age, Bill Dunn would go on to serve in WWII as a U.S. Navy pilot.

Ernie Dunn would pass away in 1964. Ten years later, Bill Dunn bought out the company from his brother and also set up the 10 percent giving standard for the company, which would see JE Dunn donate a portion of pre-tax earnings to hundreds of charities.

“His philosophy was simple yet profound: ‘It’s important to leave the world in better shape than when you came into it,’” the company wrote on its website Monday afternoon. “His impact extends far beyond the buildings he helped construct. Mr. Dunn was a true believer in the power of giving back. His passion for helping those in need and his unwavering generosity have positively impacted countless lives across Kansas City and beyond.”

Bill Dunn was succeeded by his son and former CEO, Terry Dunn, in 1989, who was succeeded by the current CEO, Gordon Lansford, in 2014.

Today, JE Dunn Construction is Kansas City’s largest general contractor and reported generating $8 billion in revenue in 2025. According to Ingram’s 2026 Edition of The Power Book, JE Dunn Construction ranks No. 1 in Top Area General Contractors and No. 5 in Top Private Companies. The company operates with over 1,500 local employees and over 5,000 employees company-wide.

Bill Dunn joins his wife, Jean, and his daughter Mary. He is survived by his five sons: Bill Jr, Terry, Steve, Kevin, and Bob, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.