County dedicates bench to Fred Arbanas and wife
Published on August 26, 2022
Jackson County paid tribute to long time legislator Fred Arbanas Wednesday with the dedication of a park bench at the golf course which bears his name.
Arbanas served on the legislature for 42 years following his career as a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. He passed away in April of 2021 at the age of 82. During his time on the legislature, he spent 34 years as head of the Land Use Committee which oversees the Parks + Rec Department.
“Fred contributed to a better quality of life for Jackson County residents, from improved roads in unincorporated Jackson County to transforming our crown jewel, The Jackson County Park System,” County Executive Frank White, Jr. said.
Prior to becoming a Jackson County Legislator, Arbanas was a founding member of the Longview Lake Association. It was through that organization, and working with the Army Corps of Engineers, Representative Richard Bolling and Jackson County Officials, made the decision to turn a hay field into a beautiful golf course. The Longview Lake Golf Course opened in 1986 and has served as the home course for thousands of golfers throughout the years.
In 1999, the Legislature supported changing the name to the Fred Arbanas Golf Course.
“Knowing that Fred is a pretty humble guy and suspecting he would object to the suggestion in a legislative meeting, the legislature waited until Fred’s annual vacation to Cancun to introduce and unanimously pass the name change,” White said. “Fred was both surprised and ecstatic when he heard the news.”
Parks + Rec Director Michele Newman called Arbanas “Mr. Parks” because of his dedication to the Parks system.
“During Fred’s tenure as a Legislator, we saw the creation of Longview Lake, Blue Springs Lake, three Campgrounds, two beaches, ballfields, three marinas, this incredible golf course, and so much more,” she said.
“Fred was extraordinary in so many ways and we are so proud that this outstanding golf course bears his name and is a part of his abundant legacy,” Newman said.
A few years ago, the Parks Department established a Memorial Bench Program.
“Shortly after Fred’s passing, I was thrilled to receive a call from our County Executive, who thought that a bench recognizing Fred and Sharon here at his golf course would be a perfect way to honor all that Fred had done for Jackson County,” she said. “We are delighted to see this day come to fruition.”
The bench is also dedicated to Sharon Arbanas who passed away in July of 2019. The two were married for nearly 60 years.
“Fred loved to greet and engage with golfers when he came to the course,” White said. “This bench is a way for Fred to continue to greet many generations of golfers as they make their way onto the course and it is fitting that his wife, Sharon, is here right by his side.”
The couple’s four children were present for the dedication ceremony along with their spouses, children and a grandchild. Mike Arbanas said his family lived near where the course is, and his father helped to cut hay on the property that is now the golf course. He also shared stories of spending time on the course with his father.
“If one of the grandkids wanted to play golf, he would just call down here and I don’t know who he talked to, but they would ask what time and it would be set,” he said.
Arbanas is a member of the Chiefs’ Hall of Fame. He was a six-time all-AFL selection and was picked to the All-Time AFL Team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Dallas Texans team that won the 1962 AFL title and, after the club moved to Kansas City, helped the rechristened Chiefs reach the Super Bowl in 1967 and 1970, winning Super Bowl IV.