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Kent Delano Kitts ’52

Born in Hot Springs, Montana, Kent attended Reed before transferring to the University of Oregon, where he earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. Kent quickly took an interest in computers, which at the time needed to be stored in large buildings. While working for IBM, he wired the switchboard for the city of McMinnville. He was the Clackamas County data processing director and was instrumental in implementing an IBM data-reading computer for payroll, school achievement testing, cost accounting, and even dog licensing. He assured county employees that no one would lose their job to the computer and helped train new and current employees to use the computer.

Kent had a passion for music, playing clarinet and saxophone, and loved to sing, both formally as a member of various choirs and informally while listening to favorite music with his wife, Darlene Keller Kitts, whom he met at the McMinnville United Methodist Church, where they shared an appreciation for the music program. In addition to Darlene, he is survived by his children David Kitts, Dan Keller, Debbie Gamble, and David Keller.

Appeared in Reed magazine: December 2017