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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

| name=Robert Dale "Bob" Price​

| name=Robert Dale "Bob" Price​

| nationality=[[United States|American]]​

| nationality=[[United States|American]]​

| office=[[U. S. Representative]] for [[Texas]]'s 18th congressional district​

| office=[[U. S. Representative]] for [[Texas]]'s 18th congressional district​

| party=[[Republican Party)|Republican]]  ​

| party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]  ​

| term_start= January 3, 1967​

| term_start= January 3, 1967​

| term_end=January 3, 1973​

| term_end=January 3, 1973​

| preceded2=Graham Purcell​

| preceded2=Graham Purcell​

| succeeded2=Jack Hightower​

| succeeded2=Jack Hightower​

|office3=Texas State Senator for District 31

| office3=Texas State Senator for District 31

| term_start3=1978​

| term_start3=1978​

| term_end3=1981​

| term_end3=1981​

| occupation=Rancher​<br>

| occupation=Rancher​<br>

[[United States Air Force]] in [[Korean War]]

[[United States Air Force]] in [[Korean War]]

| spouse=Martha Ann "Marty" White Price​

| spouse=Martha Ann "Marty" White Price​ (married 1951-2004, his death)

| children=Grant Price<br>​

| children=David Wayne Price (died at birth)<br>

Carl Benjamin Price

Robert Grant Price (died 1987)<br>

Janice Ann Price Johnson​

Carl Benjamin Price<br>

| religion=[[Baptist]]​

Janice Ann Price Johnson​<br>

| religion=[[Southern Baptist]]​

| alma_mater=Reading (Kansas) High School<br>

| alma_mater=Reading (Kansas) High School<br>

[[Oklahoma State University]] at Stillwater​}}

[[Oklahoma State University]] at Stillwater​}}

'''Robert Dale Price''', known as '''Bob Price''' (September 7, 1927&ndash; August 24, 2004),  was a [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[U.S. Representative]] from Pampa, [[Texas]], who served from 1967 to 1975. He was subsequently from 1978 to 1981 a state senator.​

'''Robert Dale Price''', known as '''Bob Price''' (September 7, 1927&ndash; August 24, 2004),  was a [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[U.S. Representative]] from Pampa, [[Texas]], who served from 1967 to 1975. He was subsequently from 1978 to 1981 a state senator.​

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Considered to have been among the most [[conservative]] members of his party, Price was only the second Republican since [[Reconstruction]] to represent Texas's 18th congressional district. (The first Republican representative from the since reconfigured district, Ben Hugh Guill (1909-1994), also of Pampa, held the seat for eight months in 1950.​

Considered to have been among the most [[conservative]] members of his party, Price was only the second Republican since [[Reconstruction]] to represent Texas's 18th congressional district. (The first Republican representative from the since reconfigured district, Ben Hugh Guill (1909-1994), also of Pampa, held the seat for only eight months in 1950.​)

==Background==

==Background==

Price was born to Gladys Ann Price (born 1897-1990) and Benjamin F. Price, Sr. (1898-1962), in [[rural]] Reading in Lyon County in eastern [[Kansas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43886907/benjamin-f_-price|title=Benjamin F. Price, Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=January 9, 2020}}</ref> He was educated in the Reading public schools and in 1951 received his bachelor's degree from [[Oklahoma State University]] in Stillwater, [[Oklahoma]]. After graduation, he married the former Martha Ann "Marty" White (born 1929).

Price was born to the former Gladys Ann Watson (1897-1990) and Benjamin Ferguson Price, Sr. (1898-1962), in [[rural]] Reading in Lyon County in eastern [[Kansas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43886907/benjamin-f_-price|title=Benjamin F. Price, Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=January 9, 2020}}</ref> He was educated in the Reading public schools and in 1951 received his bachelor's degree from [[Oklahoma State University]] in Stillwater, [[Oklahoma]]. After graduation, he married the former Martha Ann "Marty" White (born 1929).

From 1951 to 1955, Price served in the [[United States Air Force]]. He flew twenty-seven combat missions during the [[Korean War]] and received the Air Medal.​ The Prices moved to Texas after his discharge from the Air Force. Throughout his adult life, he owned and operated a ranch near Pampa in Gray County northeast of [[Amarillo]]. The ranch was located in portions of four counties and had been in the Price family since 1907.​<ref name=bioguide>{{cite web|url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=P000528|title=Biography: Price, Robert Dale|publisher=Bioguideretro.congress.gov|accessdate=January 9, 2020}}</ref>

From 1951 to 1955, Price served in the [[United States Air Force]]. He flew twenty-seven combat missions during the [[Korean War]] and received the Air Medal.​ The Prices moved to Texas after his discharge from the Air Force. Throughout his adult life, he owned and operated a ranch near Pampa in Gray County northeast of [[Amarillo]]. The ranch was located in portions of four counties and had been in the Price family since 1907.​<ref name=bioguide>{{cite web|url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=P000528|title=Biography: Price, Robert Dale|publisher=Bioguideretro.congress.gov|accessdate=January 9, 2020}}</ref>

==Eight years in Congress==

==Eight years in Congress==

Price became involved in state Republican politics. He was a delegate to the state [[Republican Party|GOP]] conventions in 1964, 1966, and 1968. He was a delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention]] in Miami Beach, [[Florida]], which nominated [[Richard M. Nixon]] and [[Spiro T. Agnew]] for president and vice president, respectively.<ref name=bioguide/>​

Price became involved in state Republican politics. He was a delegate to the state [[Republican Party|GOP]] conventions in 1964, 1966, and 1968. He was a delegate to the 1968 [[Republican National Convention]] in Miami Beach, [[Florida]], which nominated [[Richard M. Nixon]] and [[Spiro T. Agnew]] for president and vice president, respectively.<ref name=bioguide/>​

In 1964, Price made his first race in the 18th District by challenging the 14-year [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] incumbent, Walter Edward Rogers, who prevailed with 58,701 votes (55 percent) to Price's 48,050 (45 percent). Rogers had been initially elected to Congress in November 1950, when he unseated the short-term Representative Ben Guill. Price's showing was numerically the best that any Republican congressional candidate made in Texas in 1964, the year that native Texan [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] overwhelmed [[Barry  Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]].​<ref name=congq>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, U.S. House​.''</ref>

In 1964, Price made his first race in the 18th District by challenging the 14-year [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] incumbent, Walter Edward Rogers, who prevailed with 58,701 votes (55 percent) to Price's 48,050 (45 percent). Rogers had been initially elected to Congress in November 1950, when he unseated the short-term Representative Ben Guill. Price's showing was numerically the best that any Republican congressional candidate made in Texas in 1964, the year that native Texan [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] overwhelmed [[Barry  Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]].​<ref name=congq>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, U.S. House​.''</ref>

Price served on the House Agriculture Committee and on the Manned Space Flight and NASA Oversight subcommittees. He became very popular in his district; even though most of its living residents had never been represented by a Republican before (not counting Guill's brief stint), the area was already starting to move away from its Democratic roots.  Voters in this area had begun splitting their tickets as early as the 1940s, though conservative Democrats continued to hold most local offices (and would continue to do so well into the 1990s).  Price was reelected in 1968 with 65.2 percent of the ballots cast, and he was unopposed in 1970.​

Price served on the House Agriculture Committee and on the Manned Space Flight and NASA Oversight subcommittees. He became very popular in his district; even though most of its living residents had never been represented by a Republican before (not counting Guill's brief stint), the area was already starting to move away from its Democratic roots.  Voters in this area had begun splitting their tickets as early as the 1940s, though conservative Democrats continued to hold most local offices (and would continue to do so well into the 1990s).  Price was reelected in 1968 with 65.2 percent of the ballots cast, and he was unopposed in 1970.​

In 1972, even though Texas had gained a seat in redistricting, the Texas legislature merged Price's district with the [[Wichita Falls]]-based  13th congressional district held by the six-term Democrat Graham Boynton Purcell, Jr. (1919-2011).  The reconfigured district retained Purcell's district number, it was geographically and demographically more Price's district than Purcell's; Price retained more than two-thirds of his former territory.  As a result, Price defeated Purcell, 87,084 (54.8 percent) to 71,730 (45.2 percent).​<ref name=congq/>

In 1972, even though Texas had gained a seat in redistricting, the Texas legislature merged Price's district with the [[Wichita Falls]]-based  13th congressional district held by the six-term Democrat Graham Boynton Purcell, Jr. (1919-2011).  The reconfigured district retained Purcell's district number, it was geographically and demographically more Price's district than Purcell's; Price retained more than two-thirds of his former territory.  As a result, Price defeated Purcell, 87,084 votes (54.8 percent) to 71,730 (45.2 percent).​<ref name=congq/>

==A Watergate casualty==

==A Watergate casualty==

==Later election results==

==Later election results==

Price entered the Texas State Senate as a result of a [[special election]] held in 1977 to fill the District 31 seat vacated by the Democrat Max Sherman, who resigned to become the president of West Texas A&M University in Canyon in Randall County. Price used the slogan "Price is Right for Texas." He held the seat for a partial term, 1978 to 1980. In the 1979 legislative session, Price along with two Republicans from [[Fort Worth]], Elizabeth Richards "Betty" Andujar (1912-1997) and Bob Ware, were included among the "Ten Worst Legislators" by ''Texas Monthly''magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/magazine/bestworst|title=Best and Worst Legislators (by year)|publisher=''Texas Monthly'' [[magazine]]|accessdate=September 15, 2011}}</ref>​

Price entered the Texas State Senate as a result of a [[special election]] held in 1977 to fill the District 31 seat vacated by the Democrat Max Sherman, who resigned to become the president of West Texas A&M University in Canyon in Randall County. Price used the slogan "Price is Right for Texas." He held the seat for a partial term, 1978 to 1980. In the 1979 legislative session, Price along with two Republicans from [[Fort Worth]], Elizabeth Richards "Betty" Andujar (1912-1997) and Bob Ware, were included among the "Ten Worst Legislators" by ''Texas Monthly'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/magazine/bestworst|title=Best and Worst Legislators (by year)|publisher=''Texas Monthly'' [[magazine]]|accessdate=September 15, 2011}}</ref>​

In 1988, when Republican U.S. Representative Eldon Beau Boulter (born 1942) of Amarillo ran unsuccessfully for the [[U.S. Senate]] against the Democrat [[Lloyd Bentsen]] of Houston, Price entered the primary to succeed Boulter but lost the GOP nomination to Amarillo businessman Larry S. Milner, a 1967 graduate of the [[University of Texas at Austin]]. The seat nevertheless went to a Democrat in the fall, State Senator William Clarence "Bill" Sarpalius (born 1948), who defeated Milner, 52.5 to 47.5 percent. Sarpalius had won the state senate seat that Price vacated in 1980 and served in that capacity until he was elected to the U.S. House.​

In 1988, when Republican U.S. Representative Eldon Beau Boulter (born 1942) of Amarillo ran unsuccessfully for the [[U.S. Senate]] against the Democrat [[Lloyd Bentsen]] of Houston, Price entered the primary to succeed Boulter but lost the GOP nomination to Amarillo businessman Larry S. Milner, a 1967 graduate of the [[University of Texas at Austin]]. The seat nevertheless went to a Democrat in the fall, State Senator William Clarence "Bill" Sarpalius (born 1948), who defeated Milner, 52.5 to 47.5 percent. Sarpalius had won the state senate seat that Price vacated in 1980 and served in that capacity until he was elected to the U.S. House.​

Price sought the GOP congressional nomination again in 1990, but he lost to Richard Allen "Dick" Waterfield (1937-2007), a state representative from Canadian in Hemphill County, known for his advocacy of meal-delivery programs for the elderly and disabled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capitolcrowd.blogspot.com/2007/03/person-of-week-dick-waterfield.html|title=Person of the Week: Dick Waterfield|publisher=capitolcrowd.com|accessdate=October 29, 2011}}</ref> Price ran again in 1992 but was defeated in the primary by Boulter. After winning their subsequent nominations, both Waterfield and Boulter were subsequently defeated by Sarpalius in the general election.​

Price sought the GOP congressional nomination again in 1990, but he lost to Richard Allen "Dick" Waterfield (1937-2007), a state representative from Canadian in Hemphill County, known for his advocacy of meal-delivery programs for the elderly and disabled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capitolcrowd.blogspot.com/2007/03/person-of-week-dick-waterfield.html|title=Person of the Week: Dick Waterfield|publisher=capitolcrowd.com|accessdate=October 29, 2011}}</ref> Price ran again in 1992 but was defeated in the primary by Boulter. After winning their subsequent nominations, both Waterfield and Boulter were subsequently defeated by Sarpalius in the general election.​

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Price was recognized posthumously by the Texas House of Representatives in January 2005 in a proclamation presented by his Pampa friend, Warren Daryl Chisum (born 1938). The proclamation cited Price's "sense of humor, strength of conviction, and dedication to public service. Bob Price sought to make a positive difference in the lives of others, and he leaves behind a legacy of achievement that will surely inspire those who will follow in his footsteps."​

Price was recognized posthumously by the Texas House of Representatives in January 2005 in a proclamation presented by his Pampa friend, Warren Daryl Chisum (born 1938). The proclamation cited Price's "sense of humor, strength of conviction, and dedication to public service. Bob Price sought to make a positive difference in the lives of others, and he leaves behind a legacy of achievement that will surely inspire those who will follow in his footsteps."​

 

Price died in Pampa. In addition to his wife, "Marty," he was survived his son, Carl Benjamin Price, husband of the former Kelly Wiemann; daughter, Janice Price Johnson, the wife of Marc Johnson, and brother, Benjamin F. Price, Jr. (1924-2014), of Emporia, Kansas, who was married to the former Edith Ruth Jacob (1925-2007).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124430260/benjamin-f-price|title=Benhamin F. Price, Jr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=January 9, 2020}}</ref> At the time of his death, there were seven Price grandchildren: Nicholas, Miles, and Elise Johnson and Courtney, Grayson, Bridget, and Daniella Price. He is interred at Fairview Cemetery in Pampa.<ref name=bioguide/> His longtime canine companion, "Waggs," soon followed Price in death.​

Price died in Pampa. In addition to his wife, "Marty," he was survived his son, Carl Benjamin Price, husband of the former Kelly Wiemann of Houston; daughter, Janice Price Johnson, the wife of Marc Johnson, of [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], and brother, Benjamin F. Price, Jr. (1924-2014), of Reading, Kansas, who was married to the former Edith Ruth Jacob (1925-2007).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124430260/benjamin-f-price|title=Benhamin F. Price, Jr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=January 9, 2020}}</ref> At the time of his death, there were seven Price grandchildren: Nicholas, Miles, and Elise Johnson and Courtney, Grayson, Bridget, and Daniella Price.<ref name=obit/>

 

His services were held at First Baptist Church with pastor, Dr. Johnny Funderburg, and the  associate pastor, Barry Owens, officiating. He is interred at Fairview Cemetery in Pampa.<ref name=bioguide/>. At the funeral in 1987 of the Prices' son, Grant, Price wrote, "He was loaned to his mother and me for a very short time." The obituary continues: "Bob Price was loaned to our family and friends to make a difference in our lives. He was kind and caring to many different people in many different walks of life. No person was unimportant to him."<ref name=obit/> His longtime canine companion, "Waggs," soon followed Price in death.​

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Southern Baptists]]​

[[Category:Southern Baptists]]​

[[Category:United States Air Force]​]

[[Category:United States Air Force]]

[[Category:Korean War]]​

[[Category:Korean War]]​

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