Biography of Wendell Lady, former Speaker of the Kansas House of Represenatives
Interviewed by Edward Flentje
A version of an oral history interview was posted on KansasMemory.org, the website of the Kansas Historical Society prior to the KPHP Board's decision not to publish the interview. Instead of publishing the interview, the obituary from McGilley State LIne Chapel is posted here.
Department of Transportation (KDOT); Development of legislative leaders; Governmental reorganization; Highway Commission; Kansas Constitution; Leadership style; Legislative leadership; Legislature, interactions with governor; Political campaigns; School finance; Severance tax; State Budget; State sales tax on utilities
Wendell Lady, former Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives graduated from Kansas State University in 1952 with a degree in Architectural Engineering. He was first elected to the Kansas House of Representatives from Overland Park in 1968 and reelected to six additional terms, serving from 1969 through 1982. He was Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee in 1975-1976, Minority Leader of the House in the 1977-1978 sessions, and Speaker of the House for two terms, 1979-1982. Lady lost the Republican primary gubernatorial nomination race in 1982. Mr. Lady, from Overland Park, worked for Black & Veatch as a consulting engineer and project manager during his career. Prior to election to the House of Representatives, he served one term on the Overland Park City Council. In a 2017 unpublished oral history interview, Lady recalled identifying early in his tenure that the important decisions were made in the Ways and Means Committee which he chaired prior to becoming Speaker of the House. Lady mentioned the group of young legislators who he mentored and who became his committee chairs when he was speaker. He also put in some historic context the long-term debate over school funding. Lady had good relationships with Governors and with legislators and leadership across the aisle. Despite being from the State's largest suburban county, Lady established close ties with representatives from very rural districts.
December 12, 1930
September 22, 2022
Republican
State Representative, State of Kansas 1969-1982
Chair, House Ways and Means 1975-1976
Minority Leader, Kansas House of Representatives 1977-1978
Speaker, Kansas House of Representatives 1979-1982
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Statehouse, Topeka, KS