Bill Graves

Bill Graves
43rd Governor of Kansas
In office
January 9, 1995  January 13, 2003
Lieutenant Sheila Frahm
Gary Sherrer
Preceded by Joan Finney
Succeeded by Kathleen Sebelius
28th Secretary of State of Kansas
In office
January 12, 1987  January 9, 1995
Governor Mike Hayden
Joan Finney
Preceded by Jack Brier
Succeeded by Ron Thornburgh
Personal details
Born (1953-01-09) January 9, 1953
Salina, Kansas, U.S.
Nationality American
Political party Republican
Spouse(s)

Linda Richey (1990-present)

[1]
Children 1 daughter
Alma mater Kansas Wesleyan University

William Preston Graves (born January 9, 1953), is a former American politician who was the 43rd Governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003.

Career

Graves was born in Salina, Kansas, in 1953 to parents who owned a trucking firm. After graduating from Kansas Wesleyan University with a business degree, he worked in human resources. In 1990, he was elected Kansas Secretary of State and in 1991, he was appointed as a representative of state governments to the Competitiveness Policy Council.

He defeated Democratic Congressman Jim Slattery in the Republican sweeping elections of 1994 at the age of 41, and became one of the youngest governors in Kansas history. A moderate Republican, Graves was known for his disputes with the conservative wing of the Kansas Republican Party. His term of office saw strong economic growth for Kansas after years of recession, and a continued excellence and emphasis on education. In 1997 Graves served as the Chairman of the Midwestern Governors Association.

He won re-election in 1998 with 74% of the vote, which was the largest margin of victory by any governor up for election in 1998, and one of the largest margins of victory in Kansas gubernatorial history. Graves was barred from running for a third term as governor by Kansas state law, and was succeeded by Democrat Kathleen Sebelius in January 2003. Serving with him as lieutenant governor were Sheila Frahm (1995–1996), whom he appointed to fill Bob Dole's seat in the Senate, and Gary Sherrer (1996–2003).

Following his tenure as governor, he has served as president of the American Trucking Associations.[2]

Graves was one of five former governors of Kansas interviewed for the public television documentary, The Kansas Governor.

Personal life

Bill Graves married Linda Richey in 1990, they have one daughter named Katherine (born 1995).

References

Political offices
Preceded by
Jack Brier
Secretary of State of Kansas
1987–1995
Succeeded by
Ron Thornburgh
Preceded by
Joan Finney
Governor of Kansas
1995–2003
Succeeded by
Kathleen Sebelius
Party political offices
Preceded by
Mike Hayden
Republican nominee for Governor of Kansas
1994, 1998
Succeeded by
Tim Shallenburger
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