Ross E. Kendell

Former President and Chief Executive Officer
KeyBank of Utah
North Salt Lake City, Utah
Distinguished Executive Alumnus Award – 2005 

Ross E. Kendell

Ross E. Kendell retired in 1995 from a career with KeyBank of Utah that spanned almost four decades. He started out as a junior executive trainee for Commercial Security Bank (CSB) in Ogden, Utah, while he was still attending Utah State University. In 1987 while Ross was serving as the bank’s president and chief operating officer, CSB was acquired by Key Corp. Two years later Ross became the president and chief executive officer of KeyBank of Utah. Following his retirement from KeyBank, he served as a consultant for R.C. Willey for several years.

Ross also guided many other organizations during his lengthy career. His professional service included acting as Utah’s director of the Bank Administration Institute as well as serving as the chairman and director of the Utah Bankers Association. Additionally, Ross supported a number of community service organizations including the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, the Pioneer Theater Company, United Way of the Great Salt Lake Area, March of Dimes, Junior Achievement of Utah, and the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority. Ross was also a member of Utah State University’s Board of Trustees, the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business Dean’s Council, the School of Accountancy’s Advisory Council, and he served as the Alumni House Fund Drive chairman.

He grew up in Cornish, Utah, and graduated from North Cache High School. After a short stint as a cryptographer for the United States Air Force, Ross attended Utah State University. In 1960 he graduated as valedictorian of his class and was named the Scholar of the Year. Ross majored in accounting and minored in economics and commercial law maintaining a 4.0 GPA during his entire academic career. In 1963 he graduated from the University of Wisconsin’s School of Bank Administration.

Ross and his wife, Nancy, were married in 1996. They currently reside in North Salt Lake, Utah. Ross and Nancy’s combined family includes nine children.