EDIT

Building Legacy: USC Marshall Alumnus Ken Boyd ’69 Shapes Communities with Vision and Heart

For more than five decades, Ken Boyd ’69, who leads Boyd Real Estate & Development, has been building homes and developing communities.

10.29.25

Ken Boyd ’69

[Photo courtesy of Boyd]

Stay Informed + Stay Connected

MARSHALL MONTHLY BRINGS YOU ESSENTIAL NEWS AND EVENTS FROM FACULTY, STUDENTS, AND ALUMNI.

For more than five decades, Ken Boyd ’69, who leads Boyd Real Estate & Development, has been building homes and developing communities. A lifelong resident of Kerman, California, Boyd has played an impactful role in the city’s growth, carrying forward the family real estate firm founded in 1950.

“I’m a country boy,” Boyd said with a laugh, describing his deep roots in the small town he’s called home for 75 years.

Today, as he launches Legacy, a groundbreaking new development, Boyd continues to embody the values of leadership and integrity he cultivated at USC Marshall.

A USC Foundation

Boyd first arrived on the university’s campus in the mid-1960s. Though initially set on attending Stanford, fate and his mother’s guidance led him to USC. It was here that Boyd discovered business fundamentals and character-driven leadership that would guide his career.

“When I first started at USC, I was scared, I thought I was going to get kicked out,” Boyd admitted. “But I worked hard, and USC taught me that every person has equal value, whether you’re a judge, a lawyer, or a farmworker digging a ditch. That respect for others has shaped how I do business, how I lead, and how I live.”

In his senior year, Boyd completed an appraisal project for a home in Kerman under the guidance of Dr. Racster. Soon after, a Los Angeles appraiser impressed by his work offered him a job. Though it was a promising opportunity, Boyd chose to return home after graduation to join the family business.

Building Community

In 1969, Boyd joined J.H. Boyd & Son, becoming a partner in 1971 and purchasing the firm from his father in 1990. Over the years, he has developed or marketed more than 24 subdivisions and built more than 25% of all homes in Kerman. His firm, Boyd & Associates, consistently ranks among the top in Fresno County for transaction volume per capita.

Legacy is Boyd’s newest endeavor and represents a leap forward in community design. The subdivision will feature walkable green spaces, streams, waterfalls, water-saving innovations, and advanced health-conscious technologies. Nearly half the homes will face landscaped common areas rather than streets, encouraging neighborly connection.

USC taught me that every person has equal value, whether you’re a judge, a lawyer, or a farmworker digging a ditch. That respect for others has shaped how I do business, how I lead, and how I live.

— Ken Boyd ’69

Boyd Real Estate & Development

“We’re trying to bring back that community feeling where every neighbor knows a neighbor, so we even put porches back on the houses, which hasn’t been done in a long time,” Boyd explained.

With plans for more than 1,000 homes and several apartment complexes, the Legacy community will unfold over the next 10 to 15 years.

Living with Purpose

In addition to his business, Boyd has dedicated decades to Rotary International, traveling to 89 countries to speak on leadership and the importance of service. He and his team developed a Rotary program credited with generating 7 million hours of humanitarian service over five years. His faith has also been central in shaping his values during a two-year mission during college and subsequent leadership roles in his church.

Family remains his greatest source of pride. He and his wife, Susan, raised four children in Kerman and now celebrate 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

“The most important thing I’ve built is my family,” Boyd said.

A Trojan Through and Through

Boyd cherishes the connections forged through the Trojan Family, from fellow alum who supported him early in his career to a passion for USC football.

For younger Trojans, Boyd’s advice is simple: live with honor.

“One of the things I’ve learned in business is if we make a mistake, we correct it and pay for it without any questions. That’s what honor is. And if you live your life that way, you’ll have peace. People will trust you, and you’ll trust yourself,” Boyd said.

Boyd’s life reflects a blend of vision, faith, and integrity. With Legacy, he is not just developing homes, he is building the future of community.