Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has died at the age of 78.
The theatre producer spent 34 years in the Goodison Park hierarchy, starting as a board member in 1989 before ascending to chairman 15 years later.
Kenwright was also the Blues’ majority shareholder between 1999 and 2016, when he yielded that position of power to current supermo Farhad Moshiri.
Goodison officials confirmed in news of his death on Tuesday afternoon that the Wavertree native passed away ‘surrounded by family and loved ones’.
“Everton’s longest serving chairman for more than a century, Bill Kenwright led the club through a period of unprecedented change in English football,” read a club statement.
“A lifelong Evertonian, he became a board member on October 23, 1989, and then on Boxing Day 1999 his True Blue Holdings consortium acquired the club. Initially vice-chairman, he succeeded his close friend Sir Philip Carter as chair in 2004.
“In his 19 seasons as chairman, the club secured 12 top eight finishes, including a top four finish in 2005, a run to the 2009 FA Cup final and European qualification on 6 separate occasions.
“The club has lost a chairman, a leader, a friend, and an inspiration.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Everton are with his partner Jenny Seagrove, his daughter Lucy Kenwright, grandchildren and everybody who knew and loved him.”