Springfield mayor declares April 23 Kenny DeForest Day in honor of late comedian

Kenny DeForest would have turned 38 on Tuesday, five months after an e-bike accident took the life of the New York City-based comedian and Springfield native.

There was still a birthday celebration in the name of the Kickapoo High School and Drury University alum, but it was in an atypical setting: the fourth-floor conference room at the Busch Municipal Building, with Springfield Mayor Ken McClure.

Like DeForest's stand-up comedy — seen on major network television, Comedy Central, streaming services and in comedy clubs across the country — there was a lively audience.

About 100 friends and relatives — many holding signs and wearing T-shirts with DeForest's face — crammed into the meeting space in the afternoon to witness McClure proclaim April 23 in Springfield as Kenny DeForest Day.

Tears and cheers filled the room that included traveling comics, former Saturday Night Live staff and teammates from his 2003 state championship basketball team.

"Today we're celebrating, but it's also bittersweet," McClure said before reading off a proclamation that also illustrated much of DeForest's young life.

DeForest's father, Roger DeForest, said family opted to wait to have a funeral until the week of his birthday to give friends and family time to make arrangements.

More: Six-day 'DeForeFest' to honor late comedian Kenny DeForest in his hometown of Springfield

The Race Brothers Farm Supply owner couldn't think of a better way for the city to honor his late son.

"It was very uplifting," he said. "This is going to be a very emotional week, so I'm glad we did it this way. (McClure) didn't have to do this, but I think he was aware of the impact Kenny had."

Spingfield has become a small-market gem in the national comedy scene, a trend that began when DeForest, at the genesis of his career while living in Chicago, would bring his friends to the Ozarks to perform. It helped inspire Blue Room Comedy Club, which began in 2016 and continues to attract some of the industry's most notable talent.

Many of those comics — from as far away as New York City and Los Angeles — are in Springfield this week for the inaugural DeForeFest, a six-day comedy festival at Blue Room headlined by comedian and actor Hannibal Buress.

Longtime friend and Chicago native comic Clark Jones, who helped spearhead the proclamation process, said Tuesday was a great way to begin the festival.

"From what I saw in that room today, I couldn't have asked for anything more," said Jones, DeForeFest organizer. The mayor's staff didn't just say yes to this, they were enthusiastic about it, and we fed off that enthusiasm."

Tickets, apparel: For tickets to DeForeFest visit BlueRoomComedy.com and for apparel and more information on the event visit DeForeFest.com.

Ryan Collingwood covers a wide range of topics for the News-Leader with an emphasis on public safety. He can be reached by phone at 417-258-8174 and email at rcollingwood@news-leader.com. You can also follow Ryan on social media at X.com/rwcollingwood

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Mayor proclaims April 23 Kenny DeForest Day in Springfield