United States Senator Pat Roberts will deliver the inaugural Docking Lecture in Leadership and Public Affairs at Southwestern College next month.
The event is set for at 11 a.m. on Oct. 11 in Richardson Auditorium. The public is invited and welcomed to attend. The series is being underwritten by William Docking of Arkansas City, Thomas Docking of Wichita, and Union State Bank.?
“We seemed to have a meeting of minds when I discussed this project with Bill and Tom Docking,” says Southwestern College president Dick Merriman. “One of the college’s roles in this part of the state is to provide a forum for discussion of the challenges of leadership in public affairs. ?It seemed natural to ask for leadership from a family that has been so important in public life in Kansas.”?
William Docking, CEO of Union State Bank, said of the lecture series: “my family is excited to help Southwestern bring speakers on the key issues of the day to south central Kansas.”?
Roberts has been a member of the U.S. Senate since 1997.? He has provided leadership in the Senate on issues related to national security and intelligence, and agriculture. He often has been a key figure in Washington as the United States developed its strategy in Iraq.
The Docking family has played a prominent role in Kansas government and politics for over half a century.? In 1956, George Docking was elected governor of Kansas.? He served two terms, leaving office in 1961.? His son, Robert Docking, was elected governor in 1966 and served four terms, more than any other Kansas governor, leaving office in 1975.?
Robert Docking’s sons have continued the family’s commitment to public service. William Docking was appointed to the Kansas Board of Regents in 1995, and served as its chair.? Thomas Docking was lieutenant governor of Kansas from 1983 to 1987, during the governorship of John Carlin.? His wife, Jill Docking, ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1996.?
She was recently appointed to the Kansas Board of Regents by Governor Kathleen Sebelius.
As the lecture series develops, Merriman adds, the college will host one or two lectures each school year.?
“The Landon Lecture at Kansas State University and the Dillon Lectures in Hutchinson have provided us a model,” Merriman said.?
Where it is appropriate and can be arranged, a second presentation of a Docking Lecture may be offered in Wichita.
