“We are all saddened by the passing of Mr. Beach,” said Ted Haggart, president and CEO of Douglas County Bank. “He set the example and the expectations of high ethical values and business standards. For over four decades, he has been committed to building the financial strength and stability of Douglas County Bank and its support of our community.

“His friendship and affection will be missed by all, yet his memory will sustain us in continuing the traditions of excellence at the Bank and service in our community.”

Mr. Beach has supported Fort Hays State, the Beach Art Museum at Kansas State University and the Sternberg Natural History Museum in Hays.

In Lawrence, he and his wife endowed the Beach Center on Disability at Kansas University, which started in 1988. For this, the Beaches were honored with the Bob Dole Humanitarian Award in 2009.

Another gift from the couple helped fund a Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies at KU program studying families and those with disabilities.

Mr. Beach has received several awards, including the Kansas Council of Economic Education’s Founders Award in 2004. Former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius honored him with this award for his work improving education in Kansas, especially during his time as president of the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce in the late 1950s. During that time, he promoted teaching economics in Kansas schools.

He also received the honor of Kansan of the Year in 2002, given by the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas. Previous winners were Rep. Jim Ryun, Dean Smith and Bob Billings.

Nelson Krueger knew Mr. Beach from his time in Hays, and Krueger’s wife, Judy, grew up two blocks from Mr. Beach.

“He just always had time for you,” Krueger said.

Krueger remembers gassing up Mr. Beach’s Baron airplane, named N23S — November 23 Sugar — while working as a teenager in Hays.

“I just remember how nice he always was,” Krueger said. “Ross was a very meaningful person.”

Mr. Beach most recently served as director emeritus of the Douglas County Community Foundation Board of Directors. He was also chairman of the board for Douglas County Bank and president of Kansas Natural Gas, Inc.