Biography of Kenneth E. Baughman

Kenneth Eugene Baughman was born on November 18, 1939, in Ft. Dodge, IA, to Catherine (Pratt) and Jess Baughman. Raised on the family farm in Center Township, Calhoun County, IA, alongside his brother Alan, Kenneth developed a strong connection to rural life and community values.  

He attended Center Township Number 3 Country School before graduating from Manson Community High School in 1958. While in high school, Kenneth was active in debate, served as the basketball team manager, and held the position of president in his FFA chapter. His early involvement in 4-H activities included showing cattle at the Calhoun County Exposition and serving as a grain judge at the Iowa State Fair. 

Kenneth’s commitment to service extended beyond his school years. In 1957, during his junior year of high school, he joined the Iowa Air National Guard 133rd A.C. & W. Flight based in Ft. Dodge, IA. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1963.

Kenneth’s academic journey took him to Iowa State University, where he studied agricultural business and economics on a scholarship from the Iowa Grain Dealers Association. During his time there, he became a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. He was active in the Block and Bridle Animal Science Club, the Agricultural Business Club, and the Alpha Zeta agricultural honorary fraternity.

Kenneth held leadership roles, serving as Business Manager for the Interfraternity Council and Alpha Gamma Rho, and was initiated into Gamma Gamma Greek honorary fraternity. He also lettered in intercollegiate debate and worked as a farm market news reporter for WOI Radio and Television, the ISU Agricultural Extension Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture.

Kenneth then pursued legal studies at the University of Illinois College of Law, graduating in 1965 with an J.D.. While in law school, he worked in the Agricultural Law Department at the University of Illinois College of Agriculture and was initiated into Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity.

Upon graduating, Kenneth was admitted to the bars of Iowa and Illinois. He later gained admission to the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois, the Northern District of Iowa, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth and Seventh Circuits.

Kenneth’s legal career was distinguished by service as an Assistant State’s Attorney in DeWitt, Tazewell, and Champaign Counties. From 1968 to 1971, he served as First Assistant State’s Attorney in Champaign County. Throughout his 40-year legal career, Kenneth maintained offices in Springfield, Decatur, Monticello, Champaign, and Danville, Illinois, serving over 20,000 clients and handling a wide variety of legal matters.

In 1978, Kenneth became the Democratic Nominee for Congress from Illinois’ 21st Congressional District, which included major cities such as Champaign, Bloomington, and Decatur. In 1980, he appeared on the 60 Minutes television show with Harry Reasoner, contributing to the production with Paul Loewenwarter. Kenneth also played a key role in legal action that helped save Allerton Park from a flood control project, ensuring its preservation.

Beyond his legal work, Kenneth has written numerous articles for the Illinois Mennonite Historical Society and has traveled extensively on Mennonite Way trips to Germany, France, and Switzerland.

Kenneth has always valued community involvement. He is a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Urbana, the Piatt County Farm Bureau, the Champaign Urbana Kiwanis Club, the Western Star Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Champaign, the Ansar Shrine in Springfield, the Hamm-Burke American Legion Post in Monticello, IL, and The World Jewish Congress.

While attending Iowa State University, Kenneth met Ann Louise Smith, a farm-raised woman from West Bend, Iowa, and a graduate of Algona High School. They were married on June 7, 1964, at the Methodist Church in Algona, Iowa, and were together for 36 years until Ann’s passing in 2000.

Ann was a Home Economics teacher at Monticello High School for 23 years and served as president of the Illinois Home Economics Teachers Association. Together, Kenneth and Ann had one daughter, Marguerite, who now resides in Redlands, CA. 

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