Robert Docking
Encyclopedia
Robert Blackwell Docking, (October 9, 1925 October 8, 1983), was the 38th Governor of Kansas
from 1967 until 1975.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri
, Docking attended public school in Lawrence, Kansas
, before attending the University of Kansas
, and served in the Air Force
during World War II. After the war, Docking moved to Arkansas City, Kansas
, where he became a successful banker, and was elected mayor.
Docking was elected governor in 1966 as a member of the Democratic Party
over the incumbent Republican, William Avery
, whom Docking harangued for leaving the state when there was work to be done in Kansas. Docking served more terms than any Kansas governor, but is tied for length of service because of a constitutional amendment approved during his final term which provided that Kansas governors serve four-year terms, and are constitutionally barred from running for more than two terms. He was known for his commitment to farmers, small business owners, and the environment.
The son of former Gov. George Docking
(1957–1961), he was married to Meredith and they had two sons, William and Tom, the latter of whom served as lieutenant governor and ran unsuccessfully for the governorship in 1988. After his service as governor, Docking resumed his former profession of banking in Arkansas City. He donated his papers to the University of Kansas rather than give them to the Kansas State Historical Society, where the papers of his 34 predecessors are stored, with the exception of his father, who burned his gubernatorial papers.
in 1983 in Arkansas City the day before his 58th birthday, and is interred in Highland Park Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas
, in a plot adjoining his parents'. A State Office building across the street from the capital in Topeka, Kansas
bears his name, and his bank in Arkansas City (Union State Bank
), which is still owned by the Dockings, is on the National Register of Historic Places
. His son, Thomas Docking, was Lt. Governor of Kansas during the tenure of John Carlin
as governor. His daughter-in-law, and Thomas' wife, Jill Docking, was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee to replace Bob Dole
in the US Senate election, 1996, losing to Sam Brownback
.
Governor of Kansas
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
from 1967 until 1975.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Docking attended public school in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, before attending the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, and served in the Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
during World War II. After the war, Docking moved to Arkansas City, Kansas
Arkansas City, Kansas
Arkansas City is a city situated at the confluence of the Arkansas and Walnut rivers in the southwestern part of Cowley County, located in south-central Kansas, in the central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,415....
, where he became a successful banker, and was elected mayor.
Docking was elected governor in 1966 as a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
over the incumbent Republican, William Avery
William H. Avery (politician)
William Henry Avery was an American Republican Party politician who served as the 37th Governor of Kansas from 1965 until 1967.-Life and career:...
, whom Docking harangued for leaving the state when there was work to be done in Kansas. Docking served more terms than any Kansas governor, but is tied for length of service because of a constitutional amendment approved during his final term which provided that Kansas governors serve four-year terms, and are constitutionally barred from running for more than two terms. He was known for his commitment to farmers, small business owners, and the environment.
The son of former Gov. George Docking
George Docking
George Docking was the 35th Governor of Kansas, .Docking was elected to two terms as governor, but failed to win against Republican candidate John Anderson, Jr. in part because of his stance on the death penalty. He was known to say "I just don't like killing people." Was a delegate to the 1960...
(1957–1961), he was married to Meredith and they had two sons, William and Tom, the latter of whom served as lieutenant governor and ran unsuccessfully for the governorship in 1988. After his service as governor, Docking resumed his former profession of banking in Arkansas City. He donated his papers to the University of Kansas rather than give them to the Kansas State Historical Society, where the papers of his 34 predecessors are stored, with the exception of his father, who burned his gubernatorial papers.
Death
He died of emphysemaEmphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
in 1983 in Arkansas City the day before his 58th birthday, and is interred in Highland Park Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
, in a plot adjoining his parents'. A State Office building across the street from the capital in Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
bears his name, and his bank in Arkansas City (Union State Bank
Union State Bank
Union State Bank may refer to one of the following banks in the United States:*Union State Bank, Alabama *Union State Bank, Omaha, Nebraska *Union State Bank, Texas, 1947 *Union State Bank, Florence, Texas, 1928*Union State Bank, Wisconsin...
), which is still owned by the Dockings, is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. His son, Thomas Docking, was Lt. Governor of Kansas during the tenure of John Carlin
John W. Carlin
John William Carlin served as fortieth Governor of Kansas from 1979 to 1987, and Archivist of the United States from May 30, 1995, to February 15, 2005.-Biography:...
as governor. His daughter-in-law, and Thomas' wife, Jill Docking, was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee to replace Bob Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
in the US Senate election, 1996, losing to Sam Brownback
Sam Brownback
Samuel Dale "Sam" Brownback is the 46th and current Governor of Kansas. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a U.S. Senator from Kansas from 1996 to 2011, and as a U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district from 1995 to 1996...
.