In Memory of Kenneth Boyd (Ken) Silliman
Thank You and Goodbye to the Champion of Downtown Kennewick
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ken Silliman. It has been said that Ken’s three main priorities in his life were his family, Farmers Exchange, and downtown Kennewick. Ken has been involved in the downtown association from its very inception as the Downtown Kennewick and Columbia Drive Association and remained active in the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership as our Ex Officio Member of the board until COVID kept the Partnership from meeting in person.
Ken Silliman.
Mentor, Friend, Downtown Kennewick Champion
A true champion of downtown, Ken was awarded the very first “Downtowner of the Year” award in 1989. He served as President of both the Downtown Association and the East Benton County Historical Society and was named the Kennewick Man of the Year in 1991.
Ken Silliman, wearing his work uniform of a red Farmers Exchange shirt can be seen seated in the old, original fire truck from the first days of the Kennewick Fire Department. Ken was a natural storyteller and a treasured local historian of Kennewick's history.
Ken’s contributions to our community are numerous and the magnitude of his influence and hard work for the greatness of downtown will be felt for years to come. He was active in supporting the Partnership and kept focused on the organization's finances, which is one of the reasons the Partnership has money in the bank, even during challenging times. Ken worked to minimize conflict in downtown, working with building owners, merchants, the City of Kennewick, and the Port of Kennewick. He was an honest broker of information. Ken was accessible and continued to work in downtown Kennewick because he loved downtown and loved people. He was a fount of knowledge about downtown and the history of the community. That knowledge can't be replaced.
Ken, an avid Husky fan, could be seen driving his silver pick-up with the purple W’s on the doors. When out and about or picking up the mail from the post office, he was almost always seen wearing his official work uniform, a red button-up or red polo t-shirt featuring the Farmers Exchange logo. He loved running his business, but mostly he loved his customers.
Ken was a mentor to many downtown business owners. He was approachable and kind while always being forthright, mindful, and could be counted on for good, common-sense advice. He worked hard for his business, for honoring the history of our community, and for building a strong, sustainable future for downtown Kennewick.
Ken leaves behind a legacy of community, hard work, and dedication. May his memory be a blessing and an example for us all.
Thank You, Ken. We Love and Miss You.
—HDKP Staff, Board, & Volunteers.