Marshall, William, 1917-1994

William K. "Ken" Marshall was born in 1926 in Atchison, Kansas. After graduating from the Kansas Vocational School of Tailoring and Fashion Design in 1950, Marshall opened the Ken Marshall Men's Wear Tailor Shop in Topeka. In 1974, Marshall, a Democrat, was elected as the first African American to represent the 58th District in the Kansas State House of Representatives from. He served in that position until 1976.

Marshall was also active in numerous organizations including the Downtown Topeka Optimist's and the Highland Park Booster Club; he was on the Board of Directors of the Seven Step Foundation and the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. He served as treasurer for the Shawnee Co. Democratic Central Committee as well as the Democratic 2nd Congressional District and was a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention. Marshall was a US Navy veteran, having served from 1944-1946.

Marshall died March 15, 1999. Marshall and wife Juanita, whom he married in 1950, have three children.

From the guide to the William K. Marshall papers, 1974-1976, 1974-1976, (University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kansas Collection)