Docking Family Library Unveiled

The Cherokee Strip Landrush Museum in Arkansas City filled to near capacity as community members and State dignitaries gathered to celebrate the opening of the Docking Library on September 18th. The exhibit contains family heirlooms representing the legacy the Docking family left upon state government, institutions of education and the local community.

“This place is not only a place for learning and discovery, but also a tribute to probably one of the most remarkable families that I have been aware of,” said Lucas Goff, County Administrator for Cowley County. “Through this library their legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.”

The Docking family has had a smaller exhibit on display within the museum for several years, which included a recreation of the family’s dining room and the Governor’s office. The new library expands upon the original exhibit with the addition of numerous photos, displays and a recreation of the office used by both Robert and Bill Docking as they served as Union State Bank’s Chief Executive Officers.

“From this family came two Kansas Governors, a Kansas Lieutenant Governor, President of the Kansas Bankers Association, Member of the Kansas Board of Regents, Trustee of the Kansas University Endowment Association, and Director of the Kansas Health Foundation,” explained John Sturd, who addressed the crowd during the event.

As were the generations of Dockings before him, Bill and his wife Judy were well known for community support through their time and donations. In 2007, Bill, his brother Tom and Union State Bank established the Docking Lecture Series on Leadership and Public Service at Southwestern College. In 2022, Bill and Judy created the “Bill and Judy Docking Faculty Development Fund” to support development opportunities for faculty at KU School of Medicine-Wichita. Most recently Bill and Judy assisted Cowley College in the realization of the Tyler Technical Education Center.

“Each Docking understood the obligation owed to the country, the state and to the community. They all recognized that their goals were greater than themselves and Kansas is far better for it,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “To be a Docking is to exemplify the unique position not to be rooted in one’s immediate community but to serve the entire state.”

The Cherokee Strip Landrush Museum’s Docking Library project began earlier this year, near the time of Bill Docking’s passing on March 13^th.

“There is no better legacy my uncle would have wanted than to have us carry on what he spent his life building,” Brian Docking, Chairman of the Union State Bank Board of Directors, expressed at the time of Bill’s passing.

The Cherokee Strip Landrush Museum is located at 31639 U.S. Highway 77 in Arkansas City, Kansas. They are open to the public from Noon until 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.