Howard C. Breen, 83, of Kansas City, MO, APTA chair in 1997-98 and a 35-year member of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) Board of Commissioners, died March 11.

“Howard Breen was a giant in our community,” said KCATA General Manager Mark Huffer. “He was very active in the community and served on numerous boards and commissions throughout his career. He believed in public transportation and was active in APTA. KCATA and the entire ­Kansas City region are better because of ­Howard’s efforts.”

Breen was a real estate developer who joined his ­family’s firm while in his 20s, and had played a significant role in the development of Parkville, MO. He was named to the KCATA board when it was created in 1965. In 1991, KCATA honored Breen by naming its newly opened administration building after him.