Kansas. Governor (1931-1933 : Woodring)

Harry Hines Woodring, born in Elk City, Kansas, on May 31, 1887, attended school in Elk City and Independence, Kansas. He dropped out of high school a year before he would have graduated so he could enroll in a one year business and commerce program at the University of Lebanon in Lebanon, Indiana. He applied his education as the cashier of the First National Bank in Neodesha, Kansas. When the United States entered the war in Europe, Wooding enlisted in the army, went through officer candidate school and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Tank Corps. Upon his return to civilian life, he worked his way up the ladder at the First National Bank, eventally becoming its president. He entered politics for the first time in the 1930 gubernatorial campaign. He won this election, serving one two year term. As a result of his failed re-election bid, he entered public service at the national level. Woodring was the Secretary of War from 1933 to 1940. He made two more unsuccessful attempts for the governor's office in 1946 and 1956. Woodring died in 1967 and is buried in Topeka.