Former United States Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole was in Hugoton last Wednesday as a part of his Gratitude Tour through all 105 Kansas counties. Memorial Hall was filled with people eager to meet and visit with Senator Dole.
Bob Dole is an attorney and retired United States Senator from Kansas. He served in the Senate from 1969 to 1996, and set a record as the longest serving Republican leader during his time as United States Senate Majority Leader.
Mr. Dole is actively seeking all World War II Veterans who have resided in Kansas to include in his WWII memorial at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. If you or a loved one served in World War II and have lived in Kansas for any length of time, you are encouraged to do the following:

Mail a photo of the Veteran, along with his or her first and last name, to the

Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics

2350 Petefish Drive

Lawrence, Ks.  66045

Your photo will be scanned and returned to you;

OR Email a photo of the Veteran, along with his or her first and last name, to doleinstitute@ku.edu. The photo must be in .jpg format;

OR Bring a photo of the Veteran, along with his or her first and last name, and enjoy a visit to the Dole Institute of Politics at KU!
The Institute would also appreciate a name and address of someone to whom they can send confirmation when the picture has been entered into the memorial kiosk. More information about the Dole Institute is available online.
Mr. Dole and his team also brought along a “Bob Box”. A Bob Box contains food items for senior citizens who experience food insecurity. The Bob Box is described as a “safety net” provided by Senator Dole and the Kansas Food Bank, and are specifically designed to assist seniors who would rather go without before asking for help. A Bob Box is a “hand up, not a hand-out”.
After a short speech about his proudest moments, as well as disappointments during his time in the U.S. Senate, Senator Dole greeted all his visitors with a smile and a handshake, including the 18 Hugoton Middle School Civics students, along with instructor Ms. Skinner. Special guests at the event also included Hugoton Senator Steve Morris and his wife Barbara.