Robert Frederick Bennett
Encyclopedia
Robert Frederick Bennett (May 23, 1927 October 9, 2000) was an American lawyer and the 39th Governor of Kansas
from 1975 to 1979.
Bennett was born May 23, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri
. He married Joan Gregory, whom he met at Shawnee Mission Rural High School while participating in debate
. They had four children: Robert F. (junior), Virginia L., Kathleen, and Patricia. In 1952, Bennett began his own law firm with Robert Lytle. The firm continued for more than 40 years until it merged with Lathrop & Gage in the mid-1990s. From 1957 to 1965, Bennett served as mayor of Prairie Village, Kansas
(a suburb of Kansas City). He then served as a member of the Kansas State Senate from 1965 to 1975, just prior to his term as governor. Bennett also served in the U.S. Marine Corps
during World War II and during the Korean War
. He was a member of the American Bar Association
, the American Judicature Society
, the Freemasons
, and the Optimist Club
.
Bennett was known for his classic cowboy boots, cowboy hat, and beard. He was an eloquent speaker and would often send reporters scrambling for dictionaries. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman.
Bennett died October 9, 2000 of lung cancer at the St. Joseph's Medical Center
in Kansas City and was buried in Corinth Cemetery, Prairie Village, Kansas
.
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 1975 to 1979.
Bennett was born May 23, 1927 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...
. He married Joan Gregory, whom he met at Shawnee Mission Rural High School while participating in debate
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
. They had four children: Robert F. (junior), Virginia L., Kathleen, and Patricia. In 1952, Bennett began his own law firm with Robert Lytle. The firm continued for more than 40 years until it merged with Lathrop & Gage in the mid-1990s. From 1957 to 1965, Bennett served as mayor of Prairie Village, Kansas
Prairie Village, Kansas
Prairie Village is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States, and is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 21,447.- History :...
(a suburb of Kansas City). He then served as a member of the Kansas State Senate from 1965 to 1975, just prior to his term as governor. Bennett also served in the U.S. Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
during World War II and during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He was a member of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
, the American Judicature Society
American Judicature Society
The American Judicature Society is an independent, nonpartisan, national organization of judges, lawyers, and interested members of the public whose mission is to improve the American justice system - to "secure and promote an independent and qualified judiciary and fair system of justice." ...
, the Freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, and the Optimist Club
Optimist International
Optimist International is an international service club organization with 3,200 clubs and almost 100,000 members in more than 35 nations throughout the world. The international headquarters is located in St...
.
Bennett was known for his classic cowboy boots, cowboy hat, and beard. He was an eloquent speaker and would often send reporters scrambling for dictionaries. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman.
Bennett died October 9, 2000 of lung cancer at the St. Joseph's Medical Center
St. Joseph Medical Center (Kansas City, Missouri)
St. Joseph Medical Center is a 310-bed facility providing a wide range of acute care and outpatient services from a 24-hour emergency department to state-of-the-art cardiovascular care. St. Joseph has earned the Magnet designation from The American Nurses Credentialing Center for excellence in...
in Kansas City and was buried in Corinth Cemetery, Prairie Village, Kansas
Prairie Village, Kansas
Prairie Village is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States, and is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 21,447.- History :...
.