Miguel Pascual Madrigal

Miguel P. Madrigal, Sr., also known as “Mike” Madrigal, passed away on September 2, 2025 at the age of 95. Mike was a loyal husband, excellent father, superior leader, true friend, great mentor, and magnificent provider. He was born in the Argentine section of Kansas City, Kansas on December 9, 1929. Miguel was the husband of Virginia Madrigal and father of Miguel P. Madrigal, Jr. and Christina Renee Madrigal. He was the third child of Pascual Madrigal and Luisa Madrigal (maiden name Guitierrez), who had seven children. His parents were originally from the State of Guanajuato, Republic of Mexico. Miguel P. Madrigal attended Clara Barton Elementary School (a segregated school) before graduating from Argentine High School in 1948. As a child, he was nicknamed “Buckwheat” by his friends, which eventually morphed into the more serious nickname of “Buck”. He was an excellent student and a member of the National Honor Society. While in high school Miguel varsity lettered in a number of sports (track and football), but especially excelled as a track runner, specializing in “the Mile”.

Upon graduation, he joined the United States Army in 1948, While in the U.S. Army he earned and was awarded both the Parachutist Badge (“Jump Wings”) and the Glider Badge. He was a member of Company K of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Upon the eve of the Korean War he assisted in reconstituting and completing the Ranger School. He later served in Korea as a member of a Ranger Company and then returned to the 82nd Airborne from which he was Honorably Discharged in 1952 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. Immediately upon his discharge and prior to attending college on the GI Bill, Miguel worked as a cartographer with the Corps of Engineers from 1952 to 1953. He subsequently attended the University of Kansas City and graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in both History and Government. He also attended one year of night law school at the University of Kansas City.

Miguel married Virginia Arredondo in 1964 and on the same day they both flew to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania where Miguel began his graduate school program. Miguel attended the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburg (“Pitt”) at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and graduated with a Masters in Public Administration Degree (emphasis was Urban Development, Economic Development and Public Financing and Budgeting).Subsequently upon their return to Kansas City, Miguel and Virginia had two children. Miguel P. Madrigal, Jr. was born in 1966 and Christina Renee Madrigal in 1967. Both attended and graduated from Sumner Academy in 1984 and 1985 respectively and later attended and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1993 after completing their respective undergraduate studies. Both children became attorneys. Regarding his exceptional career, Miguel initially worked for the Urban Renewal Agency of Kansas City, Kansas from 1957 through 1976. He was one of the original members who formedthe first such agency in the State of Kansas. He held various positions, starting Cartographer, Chief Cartographer, Senior Research Assistant, Assistant Director of Development to Director of Development, with his last 10 years being Deputy Executive Director until 1976. During that time he developed a specialty in federal urban legislation. During the course of his time at Urban Renewal he worked on numerous public improvement projects, including, but not limited to schools, sewers, and residential and commercial property redevelopments. Some of his projects included the Gateway Project (commercial, residential, and industrial redevelopment) Armourdale Industrial Park, Argentine Heights, Center City,Villa Argentine, Armourdale N.D.P. and Jersey Creek projects. He also worked on the Huron Cemetery.

Miguel left Urban Renewal in 1977 to become Executive Director of Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of Kansas City, Missouri. His principal duties were the overall management over the Neighborhood Development Program of approximately 5,000 acres in size involving seventeen different Urban Renewal Project area which included residential, commercial and industrial projects. Miguel left the Land Clearance in 1980 to become Director of Community Planning and Development for the City of Manhattan, Kansas, but was soon hired in December 1980 as the Director of the Office of Regional Community Planning and Development for HUD Region VII (Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska). He served in this position from 1980 until his retirement in November 1994. During his nearly 14 years in this Federal position as a GS -15, he had much responsibility and the number of projects he was involved with are too numerous to list.

In terms of his civic activities, Miguel was heavily involved in many different boards, some of which included, but were not limited to being a two Time Past Commander of American Legion Post 213, a Past Vice-Chairman of the American GI Forum, Past Board Member of the Model Cities Policy and Planning Board, past Vice-President (and Member) of the Wyandotte County Mental Health Center, Past Member of National Housing Conference, Past Member of National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, Pat Member of the National Subcommittee on Legislation and New Regulations, Past Member of N.A.A.C.P., National Council for Urban Economic Development, Washington, D.C., Clara Barton Reunion Organizer and Past Den Leader, Cub Scout Den 6, Pack 3007.

Miguel, Sr. was survived by his wife of 61 years, Virginia Madrigal, his son Miguel P. Madrigal, Jr. (married to Margaret Madrigal) and their two children, Miguel P. Madrigal, III (a Junior studying Metallurgical Engineering at Missouri S & T in Rolla, Missouri) and Micaela Madrigal, a Senior at Van Horn High School, his daughter Christina Renee Madrigal with her two children Meredith Yuman (a Sophomore at the University of Missouri at Columbian) and Joel Yuman (a Freshman at Rockhurst High School). Miguel P. Madrigal was preceded in death by his parents Pascual and Luisa, brother Juan Madrigal, sisters Julia Robles and Guadalupe “Lupe” Pacheco. He was survived by his brother Jesus (Jessie) Madrigal (wife Linda) and two sisters Mary North and Mary Lou Balandron, along with a tribe of nieces and nephews on both the Madrigal side of the family and with the Arredondos. Two Bible verses describing how Mike lived his life are 2 Timothy 1:7, which states “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self discipline” and Joshua 1:9, which says “Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”. Mike was truly a humble man for his many achievements and having helped so many people without asking for anything in return.

Roman Catholic Mass will be held on January 3, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church located at 2910 Strong Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas 66106, preceded by a Visitation with the family starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Church. A Celebration of Life Event will immediately follow the Church service at the hall located at 2646 South 34th, Kansas City, Kansas.