President & CEO of Graves Truck Line.Born on a farm near Mentor, Kansas the son of William Preston Graves and Alice Grace Hawn Graves. He was Chairman of the Board and former President of Graves Truck Line, Inc. until his retirement in 1982. He also owned and operated the former Graves Truck and Auto Museum in Salina and farming and ranching operations in the Salina area. Mr. Graves received an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Kansas Wesleyan University in 1979, He has served as a Director on many Boards including Kansas Wesleyan, Salina YMCA, United Way, Asbury Hospital, St. John's Military School, Planters State Bank and Trust Company, Bank IV, Columbia Union National Bank and Trust Company in Kansas City, MO, the Peoples State Bank & Trust Company of Ellinwood, and the Coronado Area Council of the Boy Scouts. He is past President of the Salina Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church, Kansas Cavalry, Gridiron Club, Salina Country Club, Rotary Club and Salina Elks Lodge #718. He was a member of Salina Masonic Lodge #60, KCCH, Salina Scottish Rite Consistory, Isis Shrine and Court #94, Royal Order of Jesters. He served as President of the Kansas Motor Carriers Association and was on the Board of Governors of the American Trucking Associations, Inc. In 1972 he received the Salina YMCA's Distinguished Citizens Award. In 1998 he was inducted into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame. He was appointed to the Kansas Highway Commission by Governor Hayden.
He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and U.S. Army, where he was stationed in France during World War II in charge of transportation services. He was discharged from the Army on Jan. 17, 1946

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Dwight L. and John A. Graves; and his sisters Alice M. Ely, Ada L. Bennett, Marjorie G. Hamilton, Mary J. McLeod, and Eleanor L. Murdock. He married the former Helen Mayo, November 6, 1940 at the First United Methodist Church, Salina. He is survived by his wife, Helen, his daughter, Martha Graves Reese (Mark), Greenwood Village, CO and son, former Governor of Kansas William P. (Linda), Washington, D.C. and three grandchildren: Rachel Elizabeth Reese, Garrett Adam Reese, and Katherine Preston Graves. He is also survived by his brother Lowell P. Graves, Mission, Kansas and his sister Ruth M. Green, Georgetown, TX. Service 1:00 p.m. Monday March 21, 2005. PLACE: at the First United Methodist Church, Rev. Troy Bowers and Mr. Gary Sherrer officiating. Burial in the Roselawn Cemetery, Salina, Ks. Memorials are suggested to The First United Methodist Church, Salina Presbyterian Manor or a charity that reflects Mr. Graves interests. Visitation at the Ryan Mortuary, Noon until 8:00 pm Sunday where the family will receive friends from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm. For information and condolences go to www.ryanmortuary.com.
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 3/19/2005.