photo by: City of Lawrence screenshot

Robby Steinhardt, one of the founding members of the band Kansas and a Lawrence native, was recognized during the Lawrence City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3. The Robby Steinhardt Foundation, a charitable organization founded last year, visited the meeting to present an "interactive memorial" — the bronze-coated violin to the right — and a platinum "Point of Know Return" record the foundation will auction to support a new scholarship fund through the Lawrence Schools Foundation.

The Lawrence City Commission made a proclamation honoring Lawrence native Robby Steinhardt, one of the founding members of the band Kansas, at its meeting on Tuesday.

Steinhardt, who graduated from Lawrence High School in 1968 and attended the University of Kansas, died in 2021. He was buried in Lawrence at Pioneer Cemetery and, in 2022, the Robby Steinhardt Foundation was created in his honor to promote education in music and the performing arts.

The foundation has been in Lawrence this week as it announced an auction benefiting a new scholarship through the Lawrence Schools Foundation. The Robby Steinhardt Foundation is auctioning a platinum “Point of Know Return” record donated from Steinhardt’s private collection, and the proceeds will go toward setting up the scholarship fund. Those interested in bidding in the auction or donating to the foundation can do so at rsfi.betterworld.org. Bidding ends Oct. 6 at 8 p.m.

Glen Caristinos, who works with the foundation, also presented the city with an “interactive memorial” — a bronze-coated violin mounted on a pedestal adorned with photos of Steinhardt and the band. The pedestal includes a QR code that, when scanned, will open a link to the video for the song “Carry On Wayward Son.”

“… Lawrence is Robby’s forever home — Pioneer Cemetery, KU,” Caristinos said.

Steinhardt wasn’t just recognized at Tuesday’s City Commission meeting. Over the weekend, he was also inducted into the Lawrence Lions Alumni Association Hall of Honor.