Tom Houlehan has built a career as an award-winning entrepreneur and business leader in Kansas City, Kansas. Active in his community, Tom Houlehan has provided direction to local charitable organizations, including the O.E. Ellis Society of Greater Kansas City, which as a board member he has helped raised funds for the local Ronald McDonald House.
Since its founding in 1984, the O.E. Ellis Society of Greater Kansas City has brought together local businesspeople who share a commitment to bettering Kansas City, Missouri, and the surrounding metropolitan area. The society carries the name of “One-Eyed” Ellis, a 19th-century pioneer who played a key role in the establishment of Kansas City.
In 1838, O.E. Ellis hosted a meeting at his log cabin along the Missouri River. A colorful character with a mirthful personality, Ellis was also a shrewd entrepreneur who made his living as a fur trader on the Missouri frontier. It was through his business dealings that he became known to the 14 founders of Kansas City.
Each of these founders attended the meeting at Ellis’ cabin, and it was there they decided to incorporate the Town of Kansas, so named for the indigenous Kansas Indians and the nearby Kansas River. The town became known as the City of Kansas in 1853 before finally assuming the Kansas City moniker in 1887.
Today, the legacy of O.E. Ellis lives on through the society that bears his name. Each year, the O.E. Ellis Society raises funds for the Greater Kansas City community by organizing and presenting a variety of popular events. To learn more about the work of the society, please visit OEEllis.com.
