Robert Clarence Harder (June 4, 1929 – April 12, 2014) was an American politician and Methodist clergyman. He was the longest-serving cabinet secretary in Kansas history.[1]

Robert Harder
Kansas Secretary of Social and Rehabilitation Services
In office
1973–1987
GovernorRobert Docking
Robert Bennett
John Carlin
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded byWinston Barton
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives
from the 33rd district
In office
January 9, 1961 – January 11, 1965
Preceded byJames W. Ingwersen
Succeeded byBill Bunten
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives
from the 31st district
In office
January 11, 1965 – January 9, 1967
Preceded byCharles McCall
Succeeded byClarence Chester Love Sr.
Personal details
Born(1929-06-04)June 4, 1929
Horton, Kansas, U.S.
DiedApril 12, 2014(2014-04-12) (aged 84)
Topeka, Kansas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDottie
Children2
EducationBaker University
Perkins School of Theology
Boston University

Born in Horton, Kansas, he received his bachelor's degree from Baker University, his master's degree in theology from Perkins School of Theology, and his doctorate degree from Boston University. Harder then served as pastor of a United Methodist Church. From 1961 to 1967, he served in the Kansas House of Representatives as a Democrat. He then served as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation from 1967 to 1987, and later served as Secretary of the Department of Health and Environment.[1] He died in Topeka, Kansas, of a brain tumor.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Smith, Eric (13 April 2014). "Robert Harder, longest-serving Cabinet secretary in state history, dies at 84". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  2. ^ Kansas Legislators Past and Present-Haas to Harner Archived 2014-04-16 at the Wayback Machine