Helmut Vogel

Helmut Vogel, 88, of Knoxville, TN, formerly of Kansas City, MO, Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, AZ, passed away Wednesday, March 15, 2006. Funeral services will be 11:00am Friday, March 17, at The Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64131. Burial at Rose Hill Cemetery. Kindly omit flowers, family suggests contributions to the Margery R. Vogel Scholarship Fund of the National Council of Jewish Women, 5750 W. 95th St., Suite 118, Shawnee Mission, KS 66207. Mr. Vogel was born in Kirn, Germany on April 12, 1917. He learned the food and hotel business through apprenticeship in Trier, Luxembourg and Antwerp. He came to the United States in 1938 and went to work at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. In 1941, as a Technical Sergeant, Mr. Vogel assumed the responsibility for the Commanding General’s Mess for the U.S. 2nd Army Headquarters, moving to the same position for 8th Army Headquarters. He returned to Memphis and the Peabody Hotel as head Pastry Chef in 1945. In 1952, he became acquainted with Kemmons Wilson and became founding Vice President of Operations of Holiday Inns. He remained with Holiday Inns until 1958 when he moved to Kansas City to found the Prom Sheraton. The Prom was the first Sheraton franchise hotel. Mr. Vogel later became Chairman of the Sheraton Motor Inns Franchise Association. Under Mr. Vogel, Prom Motor Inns grew as an owner and manager of hotels in the Midwest. He has served as President of the Kansas City Hotel and Motel Association and on the Kansas City Tourist and Convention Council. In 1977, he joined Ramada Inns as a consultant and helped develop the Ramada Management Institute. He later joined Bordman/Hutchings Real Estate in Kansas City as an agent, where in 1992 he became a member of the Two Million Dollar Club of the Johnson County, KS Board of Realtors. In 1994, he became an agent with Prudential Arizona Realty in Scottsdale, AZ and became a Volunteer Advisor to the City Manager for the City of Scottsdale. Mr. Vogel was preceded in death by his wives: Elizabeth Lewis Vogel, Margery Rosenstock Vogel and Adele Pollack Vogel. He is survived by his daughter: Karen E. Vogel, Denver, CO; son and daughter-in-law: William G. and Dinah M. Vogel and grandsons: H. Gustav Vogel and Charles M. Vogel, all of Knoxville, TN. Mr. Vogel is also survived by his close friend, Edith Rosskam, Scottsdale, AZ.