The close-knit roofing community was unmoored after news broke that Kevin Gwaltney, 45, owner and president of Diamond Roofing, passed away on Jan. 29, 2023. Known for his love of family, youthful leadership and unyielding passion for his trade, Gwaltney was a beloved figure in the industry.

The husband and father of three died surrounded by family and friends at his home in Dodge City, Kan., following a brief illness. He was honored at a memorial and graveside service on Feb. 2 in his hometown, according to his obituary.

Gwaltney is survived by his wife of 19 years, Dr. Jordan Gwaltney; daughters, Madison, 16, Alyssa, 13, and Raegan, 8; his mother, Patricia Gwaltney; sisters Laura Gwaltney Mead, Monica Cameron (Marc) and Andrea Platt (Ryan); and several nieces and nephews. Reactions of shock and grief quickly poured in following the loss of a bona-fide young and emerging industry leader.

A fifth-generation native of Dodge City, Gwaltney proudly represented his hometown during successful athletic pursuits at high school and collegiate levels. A giant in so many ways, at 6 feet 8 inches tall, Gwaltney made his presence known on the basketball court. He was a pivotal member of his Amateur Athletic Union team throughout high school and, his obituary stated, helped lead Dodge City Community College to a Jayhawk Conference championship. He played for one season of NCAA Division I basketball at Wichita State University and then two years at Division II Fort Hays State University before focusing on another passion — roofing.

After earning his business degree at Kansas State University, he fulfilled his childhood goal of joining the family business. He said he planned to establish a “roofing legacy” in and around his hometown. That opportunity was thrust upon him far sooner than he expected following the death of his father, Rick.

And no moss grew under his feet, jumping into the business with an unbridled drive right from the start. That has now become his legacy, said Kevin Kennedy, CEO and founder of Beacon Exit Planning, who consulted with Gwaltney shortly after his father’s tragic passing.

“Kevin, who was 34 at the time, was left to run two roofing operations, and I remember him saying ‘I not only lost my father but my best friend and mentor,’” Kennedy recalled. “’Dad would call me every day at 4 p.m. and we would talk for about an hour about my day, and he would coach me.’”

After the senior Gwaltney’s untimely passing without a succession plan, colleagues and competitors — essentially the roofing industry, writ large — came together to help the young entrepreneur. Diamond continued to grow, as did Gwaltney, professionally. He became active in local and national roofing associations, ascending to the presidency of the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association in 2019. He remained an active board member of the MRCA and joined the National Roofing Contractors Association board, where he served on several committees.

“The rest is history,” Kennedy said. “Kevin grew into a very astute businessman, growing his companies into a regional player [and] being a well-respected industry leader.”

Kevin Gwaltney (center) shared the ups and downs of taking over Diamond Roofing following his father’s death with Beacon Exit Planning’s Joe Bazzano (left) and KPost President Steve Little at the 2013 Best of Success in Phoenix.

Personal Passion

Many noted how Gwaltney’s fervor for innovation propelled him to push the roofing industry forward as a profession.

“I knew Kevin for a number of years through the MRCA,” wrote attorney Gary Auman, long-time counsel for the MRCA, on Roofing Contractor’s LinkedIn page after news broke of Gwaltney’s death. “He was a dynamic leader in his years in multiple leadership positions. I will miss his fresh ideas and passion for this industry.”

Many of Gwaltney’s peers echoed similar sentiments via social media after news of his passing circulated.

“He was a dynamic, young leader. I know he’ll be sorely missed,” posted Ryan Groth, president of Sales Transformation Group.

Gwaltney’s unyielding ability to turn tragedy into success — through cooperation with his fellow industry leaders — helped inspire the creation of RC’s “Best of Success” conference and crystalized the event’s mission.

“Everyone jumped in to help (Kevin) any way they could,” noted RC Publisher Jill Bloom. “They helped guide his decisions and helped the entire family through an unbelievably difficult time.”

Bloom shared with the audience Gwaltney’s influence while on stage during the Best of Success conference kickoff last December in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“It was all about the relationships Kevin, his dad and his family fostered,” Bloom added.

Gwaltney (center) accepts a safety award from the MRCA on behalf of his company.

Gwaltney was part of RC’s inaugural Young Guns class, an annual feature highlighting emerging industry leaders under age 40. He noted how vital the roofing industry was to him and how he wanted to be part of the family business since his dad launched it when he was 2 years old.

“Roofing is in my blood and is my trade and I am very proud of that,” he told RC for that feature in 2012, barely a year after taking the reins of the company.

He also recognized the importance of setting an example to draw young talent into the profession.

“It is important, as a roofing professional, [that] we run our companies with the highest integrity and professionalism,” he said. “We all have the responsibility to improve the industry and make it attractive to the next generation to become involved with integrity and professionalism.”

In addition to his leadership roles within the industry, Gwaltney’s obituary highlighted his community spirit, remarking on the generosity he showed toward his church and his sense of civic engagement through the Dodge City Chamber of Commerce, as well as participating in local sporting events, including the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo.

While his drive for success and business acumen are duly recognized, perhaps Gwaltney’s greatest strengths were his inner calm and humility, which left lasting impressions on all who knew him.

“One of the things I loved most about Kevin [was his] humble and kind energy,” posted Elizabeth Marcus, director of marketing at EagleView Technologies on RC’s LinkedIn page.

In place of flowers, the family encourages people who would like to honor Kevin’s memory to consider donating to the Hospice of the Prairie in Dodge City.