George Docking (February 23, 1904 – January 20, 1964) was an American businessman who served as the 35thgovernor of Kansas (1957–1961). He was a member of the Democratic Party.
Docking changed party affiliations when Franklin D. Roosevelt was first nominated for president. In 1952, he became the fundraiser for the presidential campaign of Adlai Stevenson.
Docking was elected Governor of Kansas in 1956 and reelected in 1958, making him the first member of the Democratic Party to serve more than a single term as governor in Kansas.[2] In the election of 1960 he lost to Republican candidate John Anderson, Jr. perhaps in part because of his stance on the death penalty. He was known to say "I just don't like killing people." His tenure was marked by his battles with a Republican controlled legislature, and a three-year dispute with the University of Kansas Chancellor Franklin Murphy was settled, resulting in Murphy's resignation.[1]
Docking died from emphysema in 1964 in a hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, and is interred at the Highland Park Cemetery in Kansas City.[3] Docking's son Robert served four terms as Governor of Kansas, from 1967 to 1975, and his grandson Thomas served one term as Lieutenant Governor of Kansas, from 1983 to 1987. The Docking family remains one of the most prominent in Kansas politics. Docking was a champion amateur tennis player and a master bridge player.
Referencesedit
^ ab"George Docking". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
^ ab"George Docking". Kansapedia. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
^"George Docking". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
george, docking, february, 1904, january, 1964, american, businessman, served, 35th, governor, kansas, 1957, 1961, member, democratic, party, 35th, governor, kansasin, office, january, 1957, january, 1961lieutenantjoseph, henkle, preceded, byjohn, mccuishsucce. George Docking February 23 1904 January 20 1964 was an American businessman who served as the 35th governor of Kansas 1957 1961 He was a member of the Democratic Party George Docking35th Governor of KansasIn office January 14 1957 January 9 1961LieutenantJoseph W Henkle Sr Preceded byJohn McCuishSucceeded byJohn Anderson Jr Personal detailsBornFebruary 23 1904Clay Center Kansas U S DiedJanuary 20 1964 aged 59 Kansas City Kansas U S Political partyDemocraticSpouseMary Virginia BlackwellChildren2 including RobertEducationUniversity of KansasProfessionBond salesman banker gas businessman Contents 1 Biography 2 Career 3 Death and legacy 4 References 5 External linksBiography editBorn in Clay Center Kansas Docking was educated in the public schools of Lawrence Kansas He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1925 He married Mary Virginia Blackwell and they had two children 1 Docking was a Presbyterian Career editDocking changed party affiliations when Franklin D Roosevelt was first nominated for president In 1952 he became the fundraiser for the presidential campaign of Adlai Stevenson Docking was elected Governor of Kansas in 1956 and reelected in 1958 making him the first member of the Democratic Party to serve more than a single term as governor in Kansas 2 In the election of 1960 he lost to Republican candidate John Anderson Jr perhaps in part because of his stance on the death penalty He was known to say I just don t like killing people His tenure was marked by his battles with a Republican controlled legislature and a three year dispute with the University of Kansas Chancellor Franklin Murphy was settled resulting in Murphy s resignation 1 Docking was a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention In 1961 President John F Kennedy appointed him Director of the Export Import Bank in Washington D C 2 He served in that office until his death Death and legacy editDocking died from emphysema in 1964 in a hospital in Kansas City Kansas and is interred at the Highland Park Cemetery in Kansas City 3 Docking s son Robert served four terms as Governor of Kansas from 1967 to 1975 and his grandson Thomas served one term as Lieutenant Governor of Kansas from 1983 to 1987 The Docking family remains one of the most prominent in Kansas politics Docking was a champion amateur tennis player and a master bridge player References edit a b George Docking National Governors Association Retrieved October 4 2012 a b George Docking Kansapedia Retrieved October 4 2012 George Docking The Political Graveyard Retrieved October 4 2012 External links edit nbsp Biography portalGeorge Docking at Find a Grave Kansapedia National Governors Association The Political Graveyard Publications concerning Kansas Governor George Docking s administration available via the KGI Online LibraryPolitical officesPreceded byJohn McCuish Governor of Kansas1957 1961 Succeeded byJohn Anderson Jr Party political officesPreceded byCharles Rooney Democratic nominee for Governor of Kansas1954 1956 1958 1960 Succeeded byDale E Saffels Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Docking amp oldid 1128518611, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
