Kearney Joseph Kivlin
Kearney Joseph Kivlin
Kearney Joseph Kivlin (c. 1910 – August 1986, age 76). Native of Kingsland, Texas; moved to San Antonio in 1923. Attended St. Edward’s University on a sports scholarship — a four-letter athlete at Main Avenue High School (football, baseball, track, basketball) — and graduated in 1932 with a degree in accounting. Served in the U.S. Army Finance School during World War II.
Role at Hoffmann-Hayman
After working as accountant for Magnolia Oil Co., a pecan shelling company, and Lone Star Brewery, Kivlin joined H & H Coffee Co. as accountant. His 1986 obituary provides the most direct statement of the acquisition in the project’s primary record:
“When Continental Coffee bought out H & H, Kivlin decided to retire.”
This places his H&H tenure through at least the 1962 Continental of Chicago acquisition (confirmed by HH-CLIP-1987-0002, the T. J. Menger feature). His voluntary departure rather than continuing under new ownership documents a generational break at the firm — the same break that retired T. J. Menger after 41 years.
Personal
Member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Alamo Heights Optimist Club, and The Buckeyes. Survived by sisters Noelie Dunsmore and Marguerite Kivlin (San Antonio). Burial with military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.