Richard B. Stevens Collection

Sunflower Ordnance Works was commissioned by the United States War Department in 1942 as a rocket propellant factory. It was constructed in the northwest section of Johnson County close to the town of De Soto. The factory was built and managed by the Hercules Powder Company. The factory drew large numbers of people to the area and created population booms in De Soto and other surrounding towns. During its operation during World War II, 12,000 employees worked 24 hours to meet the military’s demand. After the war, Sunflower Ordnance Works was closed until the Korean War caused it to reopen. It subsequently closed again after that conflict. During the Vietnam War, it reopened again and was renamed Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in 1963. The plant continued to make ammunition until production was stopped in 1992. The U.S. Army sold the land to private developers in 2005.

Richard B. Stevens was born in Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas in 1899. His father, William Stevens, was a professor at Kansas University, now the University of Kansas. Richard attended and graduated from Kansas University. He became an attorney and served as county attorney and in the Kansas state legislature. Richard married Sarah Jane Griffiths on July 13, 1929 and together they had 3 children. In 1942, Stevens started work at The Sunflower Ordnance Works. This plant was commissioned by the United States War Department as a rocket propellant factory. The factory was built and managed by the Hercules Powder Company. Stevens was hired by Hercules Powder Company and stayed with the company into the 1980s. As a member of the legal department, Stevens worked with construction contracts and labor regulations. Richard died in Lawrence on January 15, 1991.