Former Kansas Senator Bob Dole is returning to his native Central Kansas for a series of informal public gatherings. Dole, a Russell native and two-time presidential candidate, will meet the public in Great Bend at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at the Best Western Angus Inn courtyard, 2920 10th St. in Great Bend.
This is part of Dole’s tour of all Kansas counties. Dole plans to visit several locations during this the fourth of several trips to Kansas this year.  
“I’m looking forward to returning to Kansas for the fourth time this year,” Dole said. “I hope to see friends and former supporters of mine, and I am looking forward to enjoying lots of brownies along the way – maybe some oatmeal raisin cookies, too.”
Other stops in the upcoming days include:
Monday June 9
Garden City – Clarion Inn (1911 E. Kansas) – 6 to 7 p.m.
 Tuesday June 10
Lakin – Kearney County Hospital classroom (500 East Thorpe Street) – 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Syracuse – Northrup Theatre (116 N. Main Street) – 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. (11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Mountain Time)
Tribune – Senior Center (410 Broadway Ave) – 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time)
Leoti – Atkinson Senior Citizens Center (110 South Indian Road) – 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.
Scott City – Scott County Library conference room (110 West 8th St.) – 6 to 7 p.m.
 Wednesday, June 11
Dighton – Dighton Joy Center (200 North 1st Street) – 11 a.m. to noon
Ness City – Ness County Bank (corner of Main and Pennsylvania) – 12:45 to 1:45 p.m.
LaCrosse – Barbed Wire Museum conference room (120 West 1st Street) – 2:45 to 3:45 p.m.
Great Bend – Best Western Angus Inn Convention Center (2920 10th Street) – 4 to 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, June 12
Lyons – Lyons Federal Bank (200 East Avenue South) – 11 a.m. to noon
St. John – Courthouse Annex (210 East 3rd Street) – 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.
Larned – Broadway Bar and Grill (423 Broadway Street) – 3 to 4 p.m.
Hanston – Elk Plaza (100 N. West Street) – 5 to 6 p.m.
Dole was born July 22, 1923, in Russell. A World War II veteran who was wounded while fighting in Italy, Dole was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star.
He is an attorney and retired United States senator, serving from 1969–1996. Part of that time, he was the  Senate majority leader, where he set a record as the longest-serving Republican leader.
He was the Republican nominee in the 1996 U.S. Presidential election, but lost the election to Bill Clinton. He was the Republican vice presidential nominee in the 1976 U.S. Presidential election, but lost the election to Walter Mondale.
He also entered the Republican presidential primary in 1980 and 1988.
Dole is special counsel at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Alston & Bird.
In 2007, President George W. Bush appointed Dole as a co-chair of the commission to investigate problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, along with Donna Shalala. Dole is married to former cabinet member and former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Hanford Dole of North Carolina.