Dr. William Eli Minor MD, 32°
(Jun 8, 1865 - Dec 15, 1928)
Member, Rural Lodge #316

1899 - 32° Consistory of Western Missouri, Kansas City

Member, Ararat Shrine

Occupation: Physician, Chief of Staff of the Thornton and Minor Hospital.
Alum: Brothers College, Kansas City University Medical College of Kansas City - 1889.
Minor Park was donated to Kansas City in honor of of Dr. Minor.
Recommended: J Lee Porter, HH Allen

Dr. Minor underwent a major operation, the last of a series of operations that year, on December 11, 1928 at Harbor Hospital in New York and was recovering in that hospital until December 15, 1928 when he lost consciousness and died that same day. Dr. Minor was a leading expert in rectal and abdominal surgery, had recently published a book on surgery and was consulted by physicians around the world. He was survived by his daughter, Marie, and his brothers, Dr. James C. Minor MD, and J.A. Minor.

Dr. William Minor was born in Chillicothe, Missouri on June 8, 1865, the son of a cattleman widely known for breeding Shorthorn cattle. He attended the public schools and seminary in Chillicothe and at the age of 17 began study under a local physician during the summers. He studied at Kansas City University Medical College, graduating in 1889. He continued in post graduate studies in St. Louis, Chicago and New York. He later studied extensively in Europe engaging in much research work there. He practiced for a time in St. Louis before returning to Kansas City. In 1888 Dr. Minor married Laura Thornton, whose father was a physician and Dr. Thornton shared his practice with Dr. Minor until Dr. Thornton's retirement in 1898. Dr. Minor continued the practice retaining the name of Thornton and Minor Clinic and was on staff at Research Hospital until his own death at which time he was in partnership with Dr. Maris. Moving from its first location in 1890 and twice more in 1900 and 1909, the Thornton & Minor Sanitarium company bought the Lucerne apartment hotel at Linwood and Harrison. The organization converted the six-story building into a 300-bed hospital for patients who had previously been forced to stay in hotels during treatment. The Thornton & Minor Hospital merged its medical facilities with the McCleary Clinic and Hospital and moved to Excelsior Springs in November 1957. The next year the vacated building became the regional office facility for the Veterans' Administration.

Dr. Minor strove to promote the welfare of the community. He gave liberally of time and money to the Christian Hospital and contributed liberally to all needed buildings at the Research Hospital. He often extended professional aid to patients in instances where he knew there would be no chance of payment. He became a large owner of real estate in the city and constructed the Reliance Building, occupied by the Thornton and Minor Institute, the first fully concrete building in Kansas City.

Dr. Minor formed an important link in a group of public-spirited citizens who have built up the business district of Kansas City and assisted materially and financially in locating many of its large buildings, such as the Young Men's Christian Association building, the Interurban Station and the Federal Reserve Bank. He was also instrumental in promoting the construction of the Automobile Club building on Oak street, a pioneer building in concrete construction and is the first building in the United States in which was used a fifty-foot concrete girder without steel supports or reenforcement in 1913.

Dr Minor was well-known in Masonic circles having received the degrees of the Scottish Rite, the Knight Templar Degree in the York Rite and was a member of the Mystic Shrine.

His funeral services were conducted at Linwood Boulevard Christian Church. Pallbearers were largely comprised of the Directors of Research Hospital and the Round-table Club, noon luncheon group founded by Dr. Minor, that was a familiar guest of the Emily, Bird & Thayer Tea Room. He was also a member of the Kansas City Club, the Kansas City Athletic Club, the Blue Hills, Mission Hills and Los Angeles Country Clubs. He had taken up residence in his country home on Red Bridge Road after the death of his wife.

When Dr. Minor's daughter, Marie Minor Sanborn (Mrs. Thor Sanborn) died in 1941, she willed 200 acres of the farm that she and her husband owned just south of Kansas City, at Red Bridge Road on Holmes, to the City of Kansas City as a park upon her husband's future death. Mrs. Sanborn directed that the park be named for her father, Dr. William E. Minor, who had bequeathed the property to her. She also willed that the City of Kansas City be required to spend $2,500 annually for 10 years on the property. Thor Sanborn died on March 1956 and the property was turned over to the City on September 1, 1956. Two years later, Kansas City's city limits were extended to include the gifted acreage which had been located outside of the city. Work began on a golf course in 1965, and it was dedicated in June 1967. A history of the property shows that the Santa Fe Trail once passed through part of what is now known as Minor Park.