Senator James Blackwood Pearson, 88, former U.S. Senator of Baldwin City, KS and Gloucester, MA, died at home in Gloucester on January 13, 2009. Sen. Pearson served 17 years in the United States Senate from Kansas.
A Republican, he won three general elections by wide margins and retired in 1979. He was succeeded by Nancy Kassebaum Baker. Sen. Pearson was born in Nashville, TN on May 7, 1920, the son of Lillian Blackwood and John William Pearson, a Methodist Minister. Reared in Virginia, he served as a Navy transport pilot during World War II. Lt. Pearson flew DC 3's from coast to coast often landing at the Olathe Naval Air Station near Kansas City. There he met and married the former Martha Mitchell. In 1950, Pearson received a law degree from the University of Virginia and settled down in Prairie Village, KS, to practice law. After serving as a probate judge, Pearson was elected to the Kansas Senate in 1956. He became Republican State Chairman in 1960. Upon the death of Senator Andrew Schoeppel, Gov. John Anderson appointed Pearson to fill the seat effective January 31, 1962. After beating back a tough primary challenge from former Rep. Governor Ed Arn, Pearson was elected to fill the remainder of the Schoeppel term. Early in his senate tenure, Sen. Pearson earned a reputation for intelligence, wry-humor and independence. His most important political and legislative legacy is to be found in the details of natural gas deregulations. In the early 1970's Congress began a three decades long process of fundamental redefining regulatory relationships - some a century old - between the federal government and most of the major economic sectors of the country. In 1972, he introduced the leading bill that eventually became law, as he sought to build constituent coalitions, recruiting Lloyd Bentsen of Texas as the chief Democrat sponsor. The Pearson-Bentson Bill became law as the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978. In the process, Pearson became the longest ranking member of the Commerce Committee, dealing with policy details of vital importance to agricultural and general aviation - the second largest industry in Kansas. He worked to improve grain car service, and his legislation created the airport-airways trust fund so critical to general aviation. Pearson sought membership on the Foreign Relations Committee. When Nixon ordered the bombing of Laos and Cambodia, Pearson broke with the Administration and aligned with a group of Senators seeking to force the Administration to accelerate the Paris peace agreement process. Membership of foreign Relations also gave him a vehicle to advocate the expansion of international trade. He worked closely with farm groups on critical transportation issues and became a leading national voice on behalf of rural development. Sen. Pearson was always interested in the benefits of hands-on education. during his tenure on Foreign Relations, he secured authorization for Foreign Service Officers to take temporary positions in state and local governments to refresh their knowledge of domestic politics. When he retired for the Senate, he donated campaign funds to be used to fund grants to Kansas graduate students for overseas study. This program is administered by the Kansas Board of Regents. In his post years, he was associated with the Washington office of the law firm of LeBeouf, Lamb, Lieby and MacRae. He served on numerous Boards and Commissions including co-chairing a commission to study the structure and procedures of the Senate with Sen. Abraham Ribicoff of Connecticut in 1983. In 1980, he marred the former Margaret Lynch. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, James, Thomas and William; a daughter, Laura and sister, Virginia Green. A memorial service will be held in Baldwin City, KS at a later date. Memorials to the Pearson Fellowship Program. Baker University, the University of Virginia Law School Foundation or the Visiting Nurse Association Care Network in your area.
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 1/18/2009
A Republican, he won three general elections by wide margins and retired in 1979. He was succeeded by Nancy Kassebaum Baker. Sen. Pearson was born in Nashville, TN on May 7, 1920, the son of Lillian Blackwood and John William Pearson, a Methodist Minister. Reared in Virginia, he served as a Navy transport pilot during World War II. Lt. Pearson flew DC 3's from coast to coast often landing at the Olathe Naval Air Station near Kansas City. There he met and married the former Martha Mitchell. In 1950, Pearson received a law degree from the University of Virginia and settled down in Prairie Village, KS, to practice law. After serving as a probate judge, Pearson was elected to the Kansas Senate in 1956. He became Republican State Chairman in 1960. Upon the death of Senator Andrew Schoeppel, Gov. John Anderson appointed Pearson to fill the seat effective January 31, 1962. After beating back a tough primary challenge from former Rep. Governor Ed Arn, Pearson was elected to fill the remainder of the Schoeppel term. Early in his senate tenure, Sen. Pearson earned a reputation for intelligence, wry-humor and independence. His most important political and legislative legacy is to be found in the details of natural gas deregulations. In the early 1970's Congress began a three decades long process of fundamental redefining regulatory relationships - some a century old - between the federal government and most of the major economic sectors of the country. In 1972, he introduced the leading bill that eventually became law, as he sought to build constituent coalitions, recruiting Lloyd Bentsen of Texas as the chief Democrat sponsor. The Pearson-Bentson Bill became law as the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978. In the process, Pearson became the longest ranking member of the Commerce Committee, dealing with policy details of vital importance to agricultural and general aviation - the second largest industry in Kansas. He worked to improve grain car service, and his legislation created the airport-airways trust fund so critical to general aviation. Pearson sought membership on the Foreign Relations Committee. When Nixon ordered the bombing of Laos and Cambodia, Pearson broke with the Administration and aligned with a group of Senators seeking to force the Administration to accelerate the Paris peace agreement process. Membership of foreign Relations also gave him a vehicle to advocate the expansion of international trade. He worked closely with farm groups on critical transportation issues and became a leading national voice on behalf of rural development. Sen. Pearson was always interested in the benefits of hands-on education. during his tenure on Foreign Relations, he secured authorization for Foreign Service Officers to take temporary positions in state and local governments to refresh their knowledge of domestic politics. When he retired for the Senate, he donated campaign funds to be used to fund grants to Kansas graduate students for overseas study. This program is administered by the Kansas Board of Regents. In his post years, he was associated with the Washington office of the law firm of LeBeouf, Lamb, Lieby and MacRae. He served on numerous Boards and Commissions including co-chairing a commission to study the structure and procedures of the Senate with Sen. Abraham Ribicoff of Connecticut in 1983. In 1980, he marred the former Margaret Lynch. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, James, Thomas and William; a daughter, Laura and sister, Virginia Green. A memorial service will be held in Baldwin City, KS at a later date. Memorials to the Pearson Fellowship Program. Baker University, the University of Virginia Law School Foundation or the Visiting Nurse Association Care Network in your area.
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 1/18/2009
Senator James Blackwood Pearson, 88, former U.S. Senator of Baldwin City, KS and Gloucester, MA, died at home in Gloucester on January 13, 2009. Sen. Pearson served 17 years in the United States Senate from Kansas.
A Republican, he won three general elections by wide margins and retired in 1979. He was succeeded by Nancy Kassebaum Baker. Sen. Pearson was born in Nashville, TN on May 7, 1920, the son of Lillian Blackwood and John William Pearson, a Methodist Minister. Reared in Virginia, he served as a Navy transport pilot during World War II. Lt. Pearson flew DC 3's from coast to coast often landing at the Olathe Naval Air Station near Kansas City. There he met and married the former Martha Mitchell. In 1950, Pearson received a law degree from the University of Virginia and settled down in Prairie Village, KS, to practice law. After serving as a probate judge, Pearson was elected to the Kansas Senate in 1956. He became Republican State Chairman in 1960. Upon the death of Senator Andrew Schoeppel, Gov. John Anderson appointed Pearson to fill the seat effective January 31, 1962. After beating back a tough primary challenge from former Rep. Governor Ed Arn, Pearson was elected to fill the remainder of the Schoeppel term. Early in his senate tenure, Sen. Pearson earned a reputation for intelligence, wry-humor and independence. His most important political and legislative legacy is to be found in the details of natural gas deregulations. In the early 1970's Congress began a three decades long process of fundamental redefining regulatory relationships - some a century old - between the federal government and most of the major economic sectors of the country. In 1972, he introduced the leading bill that eventually became law, as he sought to build constituent coalitions, recruiting Lloyd Bentsen of Texas as the chief Democrat sponsor. The Pearson-Bentson Bill became law as the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978. In the process, Pearson became the longest ranking member of the Commerce Committee, dealing with policy details of vital importance to agricultural and general aviation - the second largest industry in Kansas. He worked to improve grain car service, and his legislation created the airport-airways trust fund so critical to general aviation. Pearson sought membership on the Foreign Relations Committee. When Nixon ordered the bombing of Laos and Cambodia, Pearson broke with the Administration and aligned with a group of Senators seeking to force the Administration to accelerate the Paris peace agreement process. Membership of foreign Relations also gave him a vehicle to advocate the expansion of international trade. He worked closely with farm groups on critical transportation issues and became a leading national voice on behalf of rural development. Sen. Pearson was always interested in the benefits of hands-on education. during his tenure on Foreign Relations, he secured authorization for Foreign Service Officers to take temporary positions in state and local governments to refresh their knowledge of domestic politics. When he retired for the Senate, he donated campaign funds to be used to fund grants to Kansas graduate students for overseas study. This program is administered by the Kansas Board of Regents. In his post years, he was associated with the Washington office of the law firm of LeBeouf, Lamb, Lieby and MacRae. He served on numerous Boards and Commissions including co-chairing a commission to study the structure and procedures of the Senate with Sen. Abraham Ribicoff of Connecticut in 1983. In 1980, he marred the former Margaret Lynch. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, James, Thomas and William; a daughter, Laura and sister, Virginia Green. A memorial service will be held in Baldwin City, KS at a later date. Memorials to the Pearson Fellowship Program. Baker University, the University of Virginia Law School Foundation or the Visiting Nurse Association Care Network in your area.
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 1/18/2009
A Republican, he won three general elections by wide margins and retired in 1979. He was succeeded by Nancy Kassebaum Baker. Sen. Pearson was born in Nashville, TN on May 7, 1920, the son of Lillian Blackwood and John William Pearson, a Methodist Minister. Reared in Virginia, he served as a Navy transport pilot during World War II. Lt. Pearson flew DC 3's from coast to coast often landing at the Olathe Naval Air Station near Kansas City. There he met and married the former Martha Mitchell. In 1950, Pearson received a law degree from the University of Virginia and settled down in Prairie Village, KS, to practice law. After serving as a probate judge, Pearson was elected to the Kansas Senate in 1956. He became Republican State Chairman in 1960. Upon the death of Senator Andrew Schoeppel, Gov. John Anderson appointed Pearson to fill the seat effective January 31, 1962. After beating back a tough primary challenge from former Rep. Governor Ed Arn, Pearson was elected to fill the remainder of the Schoeppel term. Early in his senate tenure, Sen. Pearson earned a reputation for intelligence, wry-humor and independence. His most important political and legislative legacy is to be found in the details of natural gas deregulations. In the early 1970's Congress began a three decades long process of fundamental redefining regulatory relationships - some a century old - between the federal government and most of the major economic sectors of the country. In 1972, he introduced the leading bill that eventually became law, as he sought to build constituent coalitions, recruiting Lloyd Bentsen of Texas as the chief Democrat sponsor. The Pearson-Bentson Bill became law as the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978. In the process, Pearson became the longest ranking member of the Commerce Committee, dealing with policy details of vital importance to agricultural and general aviation - the second largest industry in Kansas. He worked to improve grain car service, and his legislation created the airport-airways trust fund so critical to general aviation. Pearson sought membership on the Foreign Relations Committee. When Nixon ordered the bombing of Laos and Cambodia, Pearson broke with the Administration and aligned with a group of Senators seeking to force the Administration to accelerate the Paris peace agreement process. Membership of foreign Relations also gave him a vehicle to advocate the expansion of international trade. He worked closely with farm groups on critical transportation issues and became a leading national voice on behalf of rural development. Sen. Pearson was always interested in the benefits of hands-on education. during his tenure on Foreign Relations, he secured authorization for Foreign Service Officers to take temporary positions in state and local governments to refresh their knowledge of domestic politics. When he retired for the Senate, he donated campaign funds to be used to fund grants to Kansas graduate students for overseas study. This program is administered by the Kansas Board of Regents. In his post years, he was associated with the Washington office of the law firm of LeBeouf, Lamb, Lieby and MacRae. He served on numerous Boards and Commissions including co-chairing a commission to study the structure and procedures of the Senate with Sen. Abraham Ribicoff of Connecticut in 1983. In 1980, he marred the former Margaret Lynch. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, James, Thomas and William; a daughter, Laura and sister, Virginia Green. A memorial service will be held in Baldwin City, KS at a later date. Memorials to the Pearson Fellowship Program. Baker University, the University of Virginia Law School Foundation or the Visiting Nurse Association Care Network in your area.
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 1/18/2009
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