Honoring Governor John Anderson

May 2, 2006

Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor the work of Governor John Anderson, a man who chose a life of public service.  His service to Kansas and the United States was spread across the middle part of this century and spread across the three branches of our government.

After being educated by both Kansas State University and the University of Kansas he began his career as a public servant by joining the staff of U.S. District Court Judge Walter Huxman.  Continuing with the judicial branch, Governor Anderson was elected as Johnson County Attorney in 1947.  His election to Kansas State Senate in 1953 gave him the opportunity to serve as one of Kansas' state legislators for three years.  Governor Anderson was appointed as Kansas Attorney General in 1956 and was then elected Governor in 1960. 

During his two years in the state's top position, Governor Anderson used his diverse government experiences to help reform and restructure several institutions, including: the state's pardon and parole systems; the public welfare system; and the state's public school system.

I would encourage my colleagues in the House to join me in honoring this public servant by passing H.R.4674, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 110 North Chestnut Street in Olathe, Kansas, as the "Governor John Anderson, Jr. Post Office Building."