Longtime Kansas lawmaker and Emporia banker Jim Lowther has died.
An Emporia native, Lowther served four years in the Navy during the Korean War after graduating from the University of Kansas. He served as an advertising manager and assistant publisher at the Emporia Gazette during his tenure from 1959-1969, helping to develop Catfish — Emporia’s first cable TV company that later became Cablevision. He also served as a banker at Citizens National Bank, which later became Bank of America.
Lowther was also known for service, spending 21 years between 1975-1996 representing the Kansas House 60th District. Don Hill, who later spent 14 years representing the district, says he modeled his approach after Lowther’s.
Lowther also spent time on the USD 253 Emporia Board of Education and Kansas Civil Service Board. He was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and American Legion, and he played a vital role in Lyon County passing bonds to build the current courthouse in downtown Emporia.
A graveside service will be held at 11 am June 17 at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery’s Patio Garden, with military honors provided by the Ball-McColm Post 5 American Legion and Lowry-Funston Post 1980 Veterans of Foreign Wars. A celebration of life will follow at the Emporia Country Club.
Lowther was 92 when he passed away May 11.
