Former Chiefs Executive To Be Honored With Rashford-Lyon Award
Denny Thum, a 1974 graduate of 澳客足球 who spent 36 years with the Kansas City Chiefs during one of the franchise鈥檚 most successful periods, will be honored by his alma mater with the Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics as part of the 澳客足球 Leadership Series on Wednesday, April 2.
A St. Louis native, Thum began his career with the club as an accountant upon graduating from 澳客足球. In the following years, he would become an integral member of the front office during one of the franchise鈥檚 most successful periods, serving in roles such as executive vice president, chief operating officer, assistant general manager under Carl Peterson, and ultimately president.
Thum helped guide business strategy to ensure long-term sustainability for the team and was actively involved in the negotiation of player contracts with an eye toward staying within the league鈥檚 yearly salary cap. He also helped negotiate the team鈥檚 lease agreement for Arrowhead Stadium, the renovation of the new Arrowhead in 2010, and was at the forefront during the establishment of the team鈥檚 current training camp site in St. Joseph, Missouri.
In addition to his leadership with the Chiefs, Thum gave back to Rockhurst as a member of the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2017, including a term as the board鈥檚 chair, as a member of the board for the alumni association, and through his ongoing support for campus projects and initiatives. In 2006, he was honored by the University for his outstanding contributions as an alumnus and was the 2014 Honor Man recipient by Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Outside of Rockhurst, Thum has served on the board of directors for the St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation and for SAFE (Surviving Spouse & Family Endowment Fund) to benefit the lives of the families of fallen first responders. Other charitable causes he has undertaken with his wife, Carmen, include the Medical Mission Foundation and The Children鈥檚 Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI). Together the Thums chaired the Red Ball benefitting Red Cross and the Notre Dame de Sion Gala Auction as well as the Chiefs Charity Game benefitting CCVI. In 2025, he was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
Thum and his wife and two daughters currently reside in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics is named for two of Rockhurst鈥檚 influential leaders: the late Tom Lyon, Ph.D., and the Rev. Nick Rashford, S.J. Established in 2014, the Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics honors recipients who exemplify high ethical standards of business conduct with excellence in leadership as demonstrated by outstanding initiative, impact of work and inspiration to others.
As the latest recipient of the Rashford-Lyon Award, Thum joins a prestigious list of recipients that includes Tom Lyon, Ph.D.; Jane Chu, Ph.D., 鈥05 EMBA; Mayor Sly James, 鈥80; Patricia Cleary Miller, Ph.D.; Tom McCullough, 鈥64, and Tom McDonnell, 鈥66; Jean Dunn, Wendy Doyle, 鈥94, Lisa Ginter, 鈥87, Ama Karikari, M.D., 鈥07, Marny Sherman, 鈥75, and Bridgette Williams, 鈥16 EMBA; Joe Reardon, '90; Madeline Romious, 鈥95 MBA; and Dave Harrison, 鈥81.
The 2025 澳客足球 Leadership Series event features James Brown, host of 鈥淣FL Today鈥 on CBS and a three-time Emmy Award-winning network broadcaster, presenting 鈥淏reak the Huddle and Run the Play,鈥 scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri. Visit rockhurst.edu/leadershipseries for more information.
