He was born as Robert Joseph Dole in Russell, Kansas on July 22nd, 1923. His parents were Bina M. Dole and Doran Ray Dole. He attended Russell High School where he graduated there in 1941 . Bob attended University of Arizona in Tucson 1948-1949 before he transferred to Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas where he graduated with both undergraduate and law degrees in 1952.
He joined the US Army’s Enlisted Reserve Corps in 1942 to fight in World War 2, becoming a 2nd lieutenant in the Army’s 10th Mountain Division. In, April 1945- while he was engaged in combat near Castel d’Aiano in the Apennine mountains southwest in Bologna, Italy; Dole was seriously wounded by a German shell that struck his upper back and right arm, shattering his collarbone and part of his spine. He spent 2 years at the hospital recovering from his spine and back injuries. His family thought he wouldn’t survive his injuries during World War 2 but, he fully recovered from his injuries and got a purple heart for surviving the war.
He was a mason at Russell Lodge #177 in Russell, Kansas for 41-66 years. He became a mason at Russell Lodge #177 on April 17th, 1955 when he was 31 years old. In 1975, he was elevated to the 33rd degree in masonry. (Note: the years when Dole was an active mason isn’t listed on any of the Masonic websites)
He married Phyllis Holden in 1942 and they both had a daughter named Robin together and she was born on October 22nd, 1954. Bob and Phyllis got divorced in 1972 after 30 years of marriage and he later married Elizabeth Hanford in 1975 who was also a Senator in North Carolina for 6 years from 2003-2009 and they remained married until Dole’s death in 2021. Bob had 3 siblings Kenny, Gloria, and Norma. He had 6 nephews and 5 nieces.
He was a Senator in Kansas for 27 years from 1969-1996. While, he was serving as Senator in Kansas- he won Kansas during both Clinton and Bush’s presidential primaries. He was also the Member of the US House of Representatives from Kansas. Dole was re-elected 4 times for Senator in Kansas before resigning in June, 1996. He helped with making food stamps, school lunches more accessible, Special Supplemental Food program for Women; Infants; and Children, people with disabilities, and the American Disabled Act law while he was serving as Senator in Kansas. He retired as Senator in Kansas on June 11, 1996 after serving as Senator for 27 years and Rogers Morton took Dole’s place as Senator in Kansas after he retired.
After his retirement as Senator; he became a television commercial spokesman for Viagra, Visa, Dunkin Donuts, and Coca-Cola. He was head of Federal City Council for 4 years from 1998-2002. Dole was also involved in many voluntary organizations. He was an notable patient at Walter Reed Naval Medical Center for his surgeries, illnesses, and injuries. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer 3 times and went in remission twice. His 3rd diagnosis of lung cancer happened in February, 2021 and he went on chemotherapy for 9-10 months because he died on December 5th, 2021 at the age of 98 from lung cancer.
His funeral was held at the Washington National Cathedral 5 days after his death. The people who attended his funeral were his daughter Robin, his wife Elizabeth, President Biden and first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff, former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, former President George W. Bush, 3 former Vice Presidents- Dick Cheney; Mike Pence; and Dan Quayle, Members of the House of Representatives and Members of the Senate- Nancy Pelosi; Kevin McCarthy; Ted Cruz; Amy Klobuchar; Susan Collins; Mitch McConnell; Pat Roberts; and Tom Daschle, and friends of the Dole family- Tom Hanks; Mark Milley; and Savannah Guthrie. All the guests paid their final respects at Bob Dole’s funeral. Dole was buried at Arlington National Cemetery two months after his death and his funeral.
Kassie
Quantico-Freedom
