SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): August 12, 2002 THE MONARCH CEMENT COMPANY (exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) KANSAS 0-2757 48-0340590 (state or other jurisdiction Commission (I.R.S. employer of incorporation or organization file number identification no.) P.O. BOX 1000, HUMBOLDT, KANSAS 66748-0900 (address of principal executive offices) (zip code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (620) 473-2222 (former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant On August 12, 2002, the audit committee of The Monarch Cement Company (the "Company"), approved the appointment of BKD, LLP ("BKD") to serve as the Company's independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2002. The Company previously reported on Form 8-K filed May 15, 2002, the appointment of KPMG LLP ("KPMG") to serve as the Company's independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2002; however, the Company never engaged KPMG to perform the 2002 audit. The appointment of BKD is effective August 12, 2002. The decision not to engage KPMG was not due to any disagreement with KPMG on any matter of accounting principle or practice, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure and there were no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K. The Company provided KPMG with a copy of the foregoing disclosures. Attached as Exhibit 16 is a copy of KPMG's letter, dated August 12, 2002, stating their agreement with the above statements. During the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 and through August 12, 2002, the Company did not consult BKD with respect to the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's consolidated financial statements, or any other matters or reportable events as set forth in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K. Item 7 - Financial Statements and Exhibits (c) Exhibits. 16 - Letter from KPMG to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated August 12, 2002. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. The Monarch Cement Company Date August 12, 2002 /s/ Lyndell G. Mosley Lyndell G. Mosley, CPA Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Exhibit 16 Office of the Chief Accountant Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 August 12, 2002 Dear Sir/Madam: We have read Item 4 included in the Form 8-K dated August 12, 2002, of The Monarch Cement Company to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are in agreement with the statements contained in the first two paragraphs of Item 4, except that we are not in a position to agree or disagree with the first and last sentence of the first paragraph. Very truly yours, /s/ KPMG LLP KPMG LLP