TOPEKA, Kansas - Governor Mark Parkinson has directed flags across Kansas to fly at half-staff from now until sundown November 14 in recognition of the death of former Kansas Governor William H. Avery.

Avery served one term as governor in the 1960's. He was in charge when the deadly tornado hit Topeka in 1966.

“Governor Avery led our state during a time of tragic loss and national attention; Kansas honors his long life and service to our state. Our thoughts and prayers are with his children and family,” Parkinson said.

Kansas Executive Order 07-22 states that ‘Upon the death of the Governor or a former Governor, the flag of the United States shall be displayed at half-staff throughout the State of Kansas from the day of death until interment.’ Governor Avery’s services are expected on November 14th in Wakefield.

To read the full executive order on Flag Honors, please visit http://www.governor.ks.gov/executive/Orders/exec_order0722.htm. To be notified of the governor's directives regarding flag lowering, please visit http://www.governor.ks.gov/Resources/flaghonors.htm.

William Avery was born on August 11, 1911, near Wakefield in Clay County, Kansas. After attending Wakefield High School, he graduated from the University of Kansas in 1934. He returned to farming and ranching in Wakefield and married Hazel Bowles in 1940. He has four children.

A Republican, Avery was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1950 and served to 1955. In 1954, he campaigned for the Republican nomination for the U. S. House of Representatives on an “anti-big-dam” platform, opposing the Tuttle Creek Dam project on the Blue River. He won both the nomination and election, beginning a congressional career which would span the next 10 years.

In 1964 Avery left the U. S. House and was elected 37th governor of Kansas. He served one term as governor, losing a re-election bid to Robert Docking in 1966.

In 1968 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination to the U. S. Senate. Avery returned to private life and settled in Wichita, Kansas. He was with Garvey Enterprises (1967-1968), the Clinton Oil Company (1969-1971), and later served as president of the Real Oil Company.

For more information on the William H. Avery Papers Collection at the Kansas State Historical Society, please visit: http://www.kshs.org/research/collections/documents/personalpapers/findingaids/avery_william_henry.htm