Governor George Docking

GEORGE DOCKING, the thirty-fifth governor of Kansas, was born in Clay Center, Kansas on February 23, 1904. His education was attained in the public school system of Lawrence, Kansas, and at the University of Kansas, where he graduated in 1925. Docking entered public service in 1952, serving as the fundraiser for the presidential campaign of Adlai Stevenson. In 1954, he ran unsuccessfully for governorship, but two years later he was victorious. He was sworn into the governor’s office on January 14, 1957. He was reelected to a second term in 1958, becoming the first Democratic governor to serve two terms. During his tenure, he battled with the Republican controlled legislature over raising taxes and increasing expenditures. Also, a three-year disagreement with Kansas University Chancellor Franklin Murphy was dealt with, resulting in Murphy’s resignation. After Docking left office on January 9, 1961, he secured an appointment as director of the Export-Import Bank in Washington, D.C. He served in this capacity until his death on January 20, 1964. Governor George Docking was buried at the Highland Park Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas.