Marvin William Barkis was born in 1943. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas in 1965, and his JD from Stanford University in California in 1968. He married Kay Jones and began practicing law in Paola, Miami County, also working in Louisburg. Barkis became a member of the Kansas House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1978. He continued to hold office in the House for a number of years, acting as both Minority Leader and Speaker of the House during various sessions, and he was in the State Senate as well.
From the description of Marvin Barkis papers, 1984 - 1992. (Kansas State Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 697796168