Al Kerth

Who was Al Kerth?

Alfred Henry "Al" Kerth III was a St. Louis civic leader and public relations executive; his projects included bringing the St. Louis Rams NFL team to St. Louis, the St. Louis MetroLink light rail public transit system, St. Louis 2004, Forest Park Forever, the X Prize, Civic Progress, the Scottrade Center, and the Edward Jones Dome. He also served on the boards of numerous civic groups, including the United Way, The Salvation Army, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Area Resources for Community and Human Services, and Forest Park Forever.

At the time of his death, former U.S. Sen. John Danforth with whom Mr. Kerth often collaborated on public projects, was quoted as saying: "Al Kerth was St. Louis' most important civic resource," "He was the person who, first of all, could conceive big ideas for St. Louis. He was also the person who could sell those ideas -- to civic leaders, the broader community, to politicians."

Kerth, a member of the fifth generation of the Kerth family of Saint Louis, received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a master's degree in urban studies from Occidental College in Los Angeles.

From 1977 to 1987, he worked for the former Centerre Bank in public relations, marketing and community affairs. His grandfather, Al Kerth, had founded Chesterfield Bank, which eventually became part of Centerre Bank.