Bob Whittaker
Encyclopedia
Robert Russell "Bob" Whittaker (born September 18, 1939) was a U.S. Representative
from Kansas
.
Born in Eureka, Kansas
, Whittaker attended the Greenwood County
public schools.
He attended University of Kansas
from 1957 to 1959 and attended Emporia State University
during the summer of 1959. He earned his Doctor
of Optometry
degree (O.D.) from Illinois College of Optometry
in 1962, and began practice as an optometrist. He was clinic
director for the Kansas Low Vision Clinic in 1973.
Whittaker's first foray into politics was as precinct committeeman
and member of the city planning commission from 1970 to 1974. He served in the Kansas House of Representatives
from 1974 to 1977.
Whittaker was elected as a Republican
to the Ninety-sixth
and to the five succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1979-January 3, 1991).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1990 to the One Hundred Second Congress
. He is a resident of Augusta, Kansas
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
.
Born in Eureka, Kansas
Eureka, Kansas
Eureka is a city in and the county seat of Greenwood County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,633.-History:...
, Whittaker attended the Greenwood County
Greenwood County, Kansas
Greenwood County is a county located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 6,689...
public schools.
He attended University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
from 1957 to 1959 and attended Emporia State University
Emporia State University
Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
during the summer of 1959. He earned his Doctor
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
of Optometry
Optometry
Optometry is a health care profession concerned with eyes and related structures, as well as vision, visual systems, and vision information processing in humans. Optometrists, or Doctors of Optometry, are state licensed medical professionals trained to prescribe and fit lenses to improve vision,...
degree (O.D.) from Illinois College of Optometry
Illinois College of Optometry
The Illinois College of Optometry is a 4-year private optometry college located in the city of Chicago, Illinois. Graduating approximately 160 optometrists a year, it is the largest optometry college in the United States and is the oldest continually operating educational facility dedicated solely...
in 1962, and began practice as an optometrist. He was clinic
Clinic
A clinic is a health care facility that is primarily devoted to the care of outpatients...
director for the Kansas Low Vision Clinic in 1973.
Whittaker's first foray into politics was as precinct committeeman
Precinct committeeman
A Precinct Committeemen, or PC, is the name for a office and the name of the official that organizes a voting precinct for a political party.There are state, ward and township party organizations, but the basic unit of U.S...
and member of the city planning commission from 1970 to 1974. He served in the Kansas House of Representatives
Kansas House of Representatives
The Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kansas Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. State of Kansas. Composed of 125 state representatives from districts with roughly equal populations of at least 19,000, its members are responsible for crafting and voting on...
from 1974 to 1977.
Whittaker was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Ninety-sixth
96th United States Congress
The Ninety-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1979 to January 3, 1981, during the last two years...
and to the five succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1979-January 3, 1991).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1990 to the One Hundred Second Congress
102nd United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President:Dan Quayle * President pro tempore: Robert Byrd - Majority leadership :* Majority Leader: George Mitchell* Majority Whip: Wendell Ford- Minority leadership :...
. He is a resident of Augusta, Kansas
Augusta, Kansas
Augusta is a city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,274.-19th century:The confluence of the Whitewater River and the Walnut River was originally inhabited by Native Americans , who found the land ideal for hunting and fishing. In 1868 C. N...
.