Genuine Kansas - John Anderson Jr.

John Anderson, Jr., was born on May 9, 1917 in Olathe, Kansas to John and Ora Bookout Anderson. He graudated from Olathe High School in 1935. From there he went on to Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science, and later transferred to the University of Kansas.

In 1943 he graduated from the University of Kansas, and from the KU Law School the following year. He did not qualify military service during WWII because of physical reasons. Instead, he spent two years, from 1944 to 1946, on the staff of Federal Judge Walter A. Huxman. Later in 1946, Anderson opened his own law practice in Olathe. Soon after establishing his law practice, Anderson entered politics by running for county attorney of Johnson County as a Republican. Anderson won this election, as well as two following elections and served in this capacity until 1953. Beginning in 1952, Anderson sought to elevate his political career by running for a seat in the Kansas Senate. Again he was successful, holding his office until March 1, 1956. At that time, he was appointed to fill the unexpired term as attorney general. Once in this elective office, Anderson won the two following elections in 1956 and 1958. By 1960, Anderson was ready for bigger ambitions and entered the race for the office of Governor in the election of that year. He defeated the Democratic incumbent, George Docking, 511,534 to 402,261 (the Prohibition candidate received 8,727). In keeping with his tradition for winning elections in pairs, Anderson also won the 1962 Gubernatorial election. Anderson and his family became the first governor of Kansas to occupy Cedar Crest, which had just been renovated at a cost of one hundred thousand dollars. In 1964, Anderson chose not to seek re-election, but instead, went back to his law practice in Olathe. He remained active in public service after leaving the governor's office, serving as an attorney for the Board of Healing Arts and the Kansas Turnpike Authority. In addition, he served as the director of the Citizens' Conference on State Legislatures from 1965 to 1972. He was nominated for federal judgeships on a number of occasions, but was never appointed. Again, in 1972 he tried for the Republican Party nomination for governor, but was defeated by Morris Kay.