Longtime Kansas legislator Phil Kline dies

Phil Kline, a 19-year veteran of the Kansas House and past dean of Johnson County’s legislative delegation, died Wednesday. He was 92.

Kline was a civil engineer and founding partner of Shafer, Kline & Warren Inc., a company involved in public engineering and design.

But he was best known for his long career representing parts of Overland Park in the Kansas House. He was a moderate Republican who worked on infrastructure and spending issues.

He was sometimes confused with Phill Kline, a more conservative Kansas legislator who later became the state’s attorney general. Colleagues eventually referred to the burly lawmaker as “one-L Phil” to differentiate him from his more controversial colleague.

Kline resigned from the Legislature in 2001 because of poor health.

A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Monday at Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road in Prairie Village.

This story was originally published February 20, 2014 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Longtime Kansas legislator Phil Kline dies."