Gerald L. "Jerry" Karr (October 15, 1936 – December 8, 2019) was an American farmer and politician from Kansas.

Background

Karr was born in

Emporia, Kansas Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 24,139. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 ...

, on October 15, 1936, and graduated from Americus High School. Karr went to the

College of Emporia The College of Emporia was a private college in Emporia, Kansas from 1882 to 1974, and was associated with the Presbyterian church. When founded, it was one of two higher education institutions in the city of Emporia, the other at that time was t ...

. He received his bachelor's degree in agricultural economics in 1959, from

Kansas State University Kansas State University (KSU, Kansas State, or K-State) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Manhattan, Kansas, United States. It was opened as the state's land-grant college in 1863 and was the first public instit ...

, and his master's degree in agricultural economics from Southern Illinois University in 1962. Karr served in the United States Army Reserves from 1959 to 1965. He taught economics at

University of Central Missouri The University of Central Missouri (UCM) is a public university in Warrensburg, Missouri. In 2019, enrollment was 11,229 students from 49 states and 59 countries on its 1,561-acre campus. UCM offers 150 programs of study, including 10 pre-profes ...

, Njala University in

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone,)]. officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. Covering a total area of , Sierra ...

, and Wilmington College (Ohio), Wilmington College in

Wilmington, Ohio Wilmington is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 12,660 at the 2020 census. At city entrances from state routes, county roads, and U.S. highways, the city slogan of "We Honor Our Champions" is ...

. In 1976, Karr, his wife, and family returned to Kansas and settled on a farm near Emporia, Kansas.

Political career

Karr sat in the Kansas Senate from 1981 to 1999, as a legislator of the 17th district, serving as the minority leader from 1991 to 1996. He resigned on January 10, 1999, and was replaced by

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

Harry Stephens. In 2010, Karr attempted to re-enter politics. Following the resignation of Jim Barnett from the 17th district in October 2010, Jeff Longbine was appointed to the seat. Karr contested the November 2010 special election, but lost to Longbine. Karr died on December 8, 2019, aged 83.

References

1936 births 2019 deaths People from Emporia, Kansas Military personnel from Kansas College of Emporia alumni Kansas State University alumni Southern Illinois University alumni University of Central Missouri faculty Wilmington College (Ohio) 20th-century American legislators Farmers from Kansas Democratic Party Kansas state senators {{Kansas-politician-stub