Final Farewell to JOE KIRVEN
Joe Kirven passed away on July 5th, 2021 at the age of 90. He graduated from Booker T Washington High School, attended Wiley College on an athletic scholarship in football and track, and graduated with a Bachelors in Science. After college, Joe started ABCO Maintenance Company with only $500 and it built into a million-dollar company, acquired J & S Chemical, and invested in real estate.
He was the youngest president of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, was appointed to the Dallas City Council, and ran for the Dallas School Board. Joe served as a special assistant to Governor Clements, a groundbreaking appointment where he steered black candidates to appointments on Texas state commissions. He liaised between the Governor’s office and Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M University and all Texas HBCUs. Joe worked on minority business issues for Presidents Nixon and Carter. In 1968, The Texas Chamber of Commerce named him as one of “Five Outstanding Young Texans,” and in 1972 Ebony magazine named him as one of the Outstanding Businessmen of the Southwest.
Joe was a trustee and deacon of the St John Missionary Baptist Church and was involved in many civic activities. He was the first Black member of the Board of Trustees for the Hockaday School in Dallas and a member of the Board of Regents of University of North Texas. Joe was most proud of his endowed scholarship at Wiley College. He was also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Devoted to his family and friends, Joe helped countless people obtain jobs. He was a true pioneer and inspiration to all. Joe is preceded in death by his parents Lafayette Kirven and Derutha Kirven and siblings Lafayette Kirven, Jr., Howard Kirven, sisters Alverine Taylor, Helen Waurine Spencer and Jessie Mae Johnson. Joe is survived by his wife of 63 years, Gloria Kirven, his daughter Josette and her husband Gregory Valtierra III, his grandsons, Gregory Valtierra IV and Michael Valtierra, and many friends and relatives. He will be missed by all. Services will be held July 24, 2021, 2PM at Laurel Land Funeral Home. Visitation will be on July 23, 2021 from 4 PM to 8PM at the same location. Masks are strongly encouraged by the family.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Wiley College for the Joe Kirven Scholarship Fund. Please make checks payable to Wiley College and note the Scholarship fund in the memo (Mail to: Wiley College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 711 Wiley Ave., Marshall, Texas, 75670) or contribute digitally via https://www.wileyc.edu/donate in memoriam to Joe Kirven.
