Norman E. Klein ’60 was named a distinguished alumnus of Wichita State in 1977 for his accomplishments and support of the WSU Center for Entrepreneurship.
Klein became a Certified Public Accountant even before he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wichita. He took the two-and-a-half day CPA exam in November 1959 and passed all four parts in one sitting, something only a small percentage of accountants do.
He began his career with the Wichita accounting firm of Cory, Webster & Lawrence, where he served as staff accountant and was promoted to senior accountant in charge of major oil accounts. The firm later merged with Fox & Co., one of the nation’s largest accounting firms with Wichita roots going back to 1918.
After comptroller positions with Frontier Oil Co. and Nationwide Trailer Rental Systems Inc., Klein joined Fox & Co.’s Wichita office in 1970 and within two years was named partner-in-charge of the Kansas City office. In 1977, he became eastern regional partner out of New York City. His next move, in 1980, was to Denver to take up the role of managing partner and chairman of the board.
In 1985, after 25 years with Fox & Co., he became regional managing partner and later national director of mergers and acquisitions for Grant Thornton Co. He retired in 1991, but continued working as a business consultant until his full retirement at the age of 63.
Norman Klein died July 7 in Denver.
