Block, Upload, Automoderated users, edit, move, protect, rollback
57,799
edits
Changes
no edit summary
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name=Robert Dale "Bob" Price
| name=Robert Dale "Bob" Price
| image=Bob Price.jpg
| 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
| 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=David Wayne Price (died at birth)<br>
| children=David Wayne Price (died at birth)<br>
Robert Grant Price (died 1987)<br>
Robert Grant Price (died 1987)<br>
Janice Ann Price Johnson<br>
Janice Ann Price Johnson<br>
'''Parents''':<br>
'''Parents''':<br>
Benjamin Ferguson, Sr., and Gladys Ann Watson Price
| religion=[[Baptist]]
| 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}}
==Background==
==Background==
Price was born to Gladys Ann Price (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>
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==
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.
==Legacy==
==Legacy==
Price was a member of the First [[Baptist]] Church of Pampa. He had also been affiliated with the Downtown Pampa Kiwanis International.
Price was a member of the First [[Baptist]] Church of Pampa. He was active in the Masonic lodge and the Shriners and had also been affiliated with the Downtown Pampa Kiwanis International.<ref name=obit/>
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==