Kansas State Sen. Bud Estes, who represented Dodge City, dies at 74
Kansas Republican State Sen. Bud Estes has died, his family announced in a news release from the Office of the Senate President Saturday morning. He was 74.
Estes represented District 38, which includes Dodge City and Liberal.
Senate President Ty Masterson said in a statement that Estes was well respected and was known as the “best dressed senator.”
“Our hearts are heavy today upon learning about the passing of our dear friend and colleague,” Masterson said. “Bud has a kind and gentle spirit and was well respected by all who served with him in the legislature.”
Estes was elected to the Kansas Senate in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. He was chair of the Federal and State Affairs Committee and vice chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. He also served in the Kansas House for four years before being elected to the Senate. From 1976-1990, he served as mayor of Bucklin, Kansas.
He had been absent from the 2021 session for medical reasons.
Garden City Republican Sen. John Doll, who would have been Estes’ seatmate this year, said Estes was a good man, who loved movies and was very involved with young people.
“He had a good soul, good intentions,” Doll, who represents District 39, told The Star. “When we leave this earth, I hope that people look at me as I see Bud.”
Doll said he remembered Estes telling him a few years ago that he had never been to a Major League Baseball game. So one time after session, they drove to Kansas City to watch the Royals.
Estes was also an avid movie-lover, Doll said, adding that Estes would go to the movies all the time.
Gov. Laura Kelly directed U.S. flags to be lowered at half-staff at all Kansas state buildings, grounds and facilities starting Saturday until Estes’ funeral.
“I was deeply saddened to hear of Senator Estes’ passing,” Kelly said in a statement. “Senator Estes had a long history of serving the Southwest Kansas community, his legacy will live on through his public service. I extend my deepest sympathies to his friends and family during their time of mourning.”
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a statement that Estes was a “dedicated citizen-legislator.”
“The stars in the western Kansas sky will flicker a bit less brightly without Bud Estes to share them with us,’ Schmidt said. “We will miss him very much.”
Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat representing District 21, said in a statement that she got to know Estes through their work on the education committee.
“We did not always have the same approach when solving problems facing our state, but there was no doubt that he was committed to improving the lives of his constituents,” Sykes said.
Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Rogers posted on Twitter Saturday morning that Estes’ voice will be missed.
“My deepest sympathy to the family of Republican State Sen. Bud Estes, who passed away early this morning,” Rogers wrote. “We may not have always agreed, but we could always talk and his voice, on the floor and in our lives, will be missed.”
This story was originally published February 13, 2021 at 11:42 AM.
