Hays -- Norbert R. Dreiling, 80, of Hays, died Monday, Aug. 1, 2005, at Hays Medical Center in Hays. He was born April 7, 1925, in Gorham, Kan., to Richard A. and Mollie (Eichman).

He married Donna Jean (Myerly) on Aug. 18, 1948, at Hays.

He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Joseph 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus and 4th Degree Bishop Cunningham Assembly Knights of Columbus, all of Hays. He was a graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy, Fort Hays State University and Washburn University Law School. He was senior partner in the law firm of Dreiling, Bieker and Hoffman, Hays.

He was elected and served two terms as Ellis County Attorney, served as Kansas State Democratic Chairman from 1966 to 1974, and led several delegations to the National Democratic Conventions. He was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. He was involved in numerous non-political civic and educational activities. He was a charter member of Hays Kiwanis Club, a charter member of the Volga German Society of Hays, a Fort Hays State University Endowment Association Trustee and the Washburn Law School Board of Governors. He was a member of the Board of Directors of St. Anthony Hospital and Farmers State Bank, both of Hays.

He helped establish and create St. Johns Rest Home of Victoria and Hays, serving on the board for many years. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Fort Hays State University. He was honored by TMP-Marian High School in Hays and was the first recipient of the St. Thomas More Friend For All Seasons Award.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Jean Dreiling, of the home; two sons, Mark Dreiling, Denver, Colo., and Curt Dreiling, Estes Park, Colo.; two daughters, Jan Schuster, Bradenton, Fla., and Kathy Dreiling, Colorado Springs, Colo.; five brothers, Donald J. Dreiling, Overland Park, Kan., K. Dean Dreiling, Corpus Christi, Texas, Eugene L. Dreiling, Tulsa, Okla., James R. Dreiling, Victoria, and Thomas A. Dreiling, Colby, Kan.; two sisters, Dolores Schlyer, Hays, and JoAnn JayJack, Schererville, Ind.; and 10 grandchildren, Kimberly McDaniels, Brian Schuster, Jeffrey Dreiling, Scott Schuster, Jackson Dreiling, Nicholas Dreiling, Krysta Dreiling, Sean Dreiling, Amy Schuster and Sam Talarico.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Mary Kathryn Bieker.

Services are at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, 2005, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays and burial in St. Joseph Cemetery in Hays. A vigil service is at 7 p.m. today followed by a 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus rosary, all at Clines Mortuary of Hays, 1919 E. 22nd, Hays, Kan. 67601. Visitation is from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Thursday at Clines Mortuary of Hays. The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus will stand honor guard from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Clines Mortuary of Hays.

Memorials may be made to The Capuchin Province of Mid-America, TMP-Marian High School, Fort Hays State University Endowment Association and Masses.

Topeka Capital-Journal, 8/3/2005

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Norbert Dreiling, the western Kansas lawyer credited with "making it acceptable to be a Democrat in Kansas, " died Monday. He was 80.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Dreiling led Democrat Robert Docking to an unprecedented four straight general election wins, earning admiration from Democrats and Republicans alike. Topeka lawyer Larry Tenopir, a longtime Democratic Party leader in Kansas, said Dreiling turned the fortunes of the Kansas Democratic Party during the Docking years -- "just by making it acceptable to be a Democrat in Kansas." "Winning had a lot to do with that, " he said. Dreiling started his law practice in Hays in 1949 and also began volunteering as a Democratic precinct committeeman. That eventually led him into the heart of statewide politics in the late 1960s.

But before and after that -- his close colleagues chime in -- Dreiling was a lawyer. "Norb Dreiling was the best lawyer I ever met, " said Dennis Bieker, who has worked as a partner in Dreiling's Hays law firm since 1966. He said Dreiling had a way of communicating the most complex schemes in simple terms that jurors could understand -- a skill he transferred to the political realm when he served as state party chairman from 1966 to 1974. "He understood the basics of politics, which is communication 101, " said Tenopir, who was a leader of the Young Democrats at the time.

He recalled 6-inch-tall stickers used in a Docking campaign, which read "Docking Stands for You" and showed the governor standing up. In a speech last year before Congress, Republican U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran -- also from Dreiling's hometown of Hays -- called the Democratic activist "the father of Democratic politics in the state of Kansas." Moran on Tuesday credited Dreiling for his work in the community, helping the local hospital, Catholic school and Fort Hays State University. "He was the go-to guy for fundraising, " Moran said. "He's the epitome of a small town community leader, a lawyer, who wants to make a difference in his community." Norbert Dreiling's obituary appears on Page 3B.

Topeka Capital-Journal, 8/3/2005

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9/5/2005 Tribute; Tribute to the Late Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Norbert Dreiling. Speech of Hon. Dennis Moore of Kansas in the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Norbert Dreiling, of Hays, Kansas, who died on August 1, 2005. Norbert Dreiling will long be remembered in Kansas as one of the fathers of the modem Kansas Democratic Party. As Repr. Jerry Moran of Kansas said in his very generous tribute to Norbert Dreiling before the House on July 19, 2004,

Through years of dedicated service, he breathed life into a struggling Democratic Party and established a lasting two- party system in Kansas.'' Under Chairman Dreiling's leadership, for the first time an incumbent Republican governor of Kansas was defeated by a Democratic challenger, Robert Docking, who was elected governor four times--the most terms ever served by a governor in Kansas.

In addition to his extensive service to his community, State and nation, Norbert Dreiling also maintained a successful law practice and was instrumental in promoting the Volga-German heritage of Hays and Ellis County, Kansas...

Contributor: Volga German (47188065)

Hays -- Norbert R. Dreiling, 80, of Hays, died Monday, Aug. 1, 2005, at Hays Medical Center in Hays. He was born April 7, 1925, in Gorham, Kan., to Richard A. and Mollie (Eichman).

He married Donna Jean (Myerly) on Aug. 18, 1948, at Hays.

He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Joseph 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus and 4th Degree Bishop Cunningham Assembly Knights of Columbus, all of Hays. He was a graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy, Fort Hays State University and Washburn University Law School. He was senior partner in the law firm of Dreiling, Bieker and Hoffman, Hays.

He was elected and served two terms as Ellis County Attorney, served as Kansas State Democratic Chairman from 1966 to 1974, and led several delegations to the National Democratic Conventions. He was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. He was involved in numerous non-political civic and educational activities. He was a charter member of Hays Kiwanis Club, a charter member of the Volga German Society of Hays, a Fort Hays State University Endowment Association Trustee and the Washburn Law School Board of Governors. He was a member of the Board of Directors of St. Anthony Hospital and Farmers State Bank, both of Hays.

He helped establish and create St. Johns Rest Home of Victoria and Hays, serving on the board for many years. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Fort Hays State University. He was honored by TMP-Marian High School in Hays and was the first recipient of the St. Thomas More Friend For All Seasons Award.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Jean Dreiling, of the home; two sons, Mark Dreiling, Denver, Colo., and Curt Dreiling, Estes Park, Colo.; two daughters, Jan Schuster, Bradenton, Fla., and Kathy Dreiling, Colorado Springs, Colo.; five brothers, Donald J. Dreiling, Overland Park, Kan., K. Dean Dreiling, Corpus Christi, Texas, Eugene L. Dreiling, Tulsa, Okla., James R. Dreiling, Victoria, and Thomas A. Dreiling, Colby, Kan.; two sisters, Dolores Schlyer, Hays, and JoAnn JayJack, Schererville, Ind.; and 10 grandchildren, Kimberly McDaniels, Brian Schuster, Jeffrey Dreiling, Scott Schuster, Jackson Dreiling, Nicholas Dreiling, Krysta Dreiling, Sean Dreiling, Amy Schuster and Sam Talarico.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Mary Kathryn Bieker.

Services are at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, 2005, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays and burial in St. Joseph Cemetery in Hays. A vigil service is at 7 p.m. today followed by a 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus rosary, all at Clines Mortuary of Hays, 1919 E. 22nd, Hays, Kan. 67601. Visitation is from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Thursday at Clines Mortuary of Hays. The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus will stand honor guard from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Clines Mortuary of Hays.

Memorials may be made to The Capuchin Province of Mid-America, TMP-Marian High School, Fort Hays State University Endowment Association and Masses.

Topeka Capital-Journal, 8/3/2005

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Norbert Dreiling, the western Kansas lawyer credited with "making it acceptable to be a Democrat in Kansas, " died Monday. He was 80.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Dreiling led Democrat Robert Docking to an unprecedented four straight general election wins, earning admiration from Democrats and Republicans alike. Topeka lawyer Larry Tenopir, a longtime Democratic Party leader in Kansas, said Dreiling turned the fortunes of the Kansas Democratic Party during the Docking years -- "just by making it acceptable to be a Democrat in Kansas." "Winning had a lot to do with that, " he said. Dreiling started his law practice in Hays in 1949 and also began volunteering as a Democratic precinct committeeman. That eventually led him into the heart of statewide politics in the late 1960s.

But before and after that -- his close colleagues chime in -- Dreiling was a lawyer. "Norb Dreiling was the best lawyer I ever met, " said Dennis Bieker, who has worked as a partner in Dreiling's Hays law firm since 1966. He said Dreiling had a way of communicating the most complex schemes in simple terms that jurors could understand -- a skill he transferred to the political realm when he served as state party chairman from 1966 to 1974. "He understood the basics of politics, which is communication 101, " said Tenopir, who was a leader of the Young Democrats at the time.

He recalled 6-inch-tall stickers used in a Docking campaign, which read "Docking Stands for You" and showed the governor standing up. In a speech last year before Congress, Republican U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran -- also from Dreiling's hometown of Hays -- called the Democratic activist "the father of Democratic politics in the state of Kansas." Moran on Tuesday credited Dreiling for his work in the community, helping the local hospital, Catholic school and Fort Hays State University. "He was the go-to guy for fundraising, " Moran said. "He's the epitome of a small town community leader, a lawyer, who wants to make a difference in his community." Norbert Dreiling's obituary appears on Page 3B.

Topeka Capital-Journal, 8/3/2005

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9/5/2005 Tribute; Tribute to the Late Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Norbert Dreiling. Speech of Hon. Dennis Moore of Kansas in the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Norbert Dreiling, of Hays, Kansas, who died on August 1, 2005. Norbert Dreiling will long be remembered in Kansas as one of the fathers of the modem Kansas Democratic Party. As Repr. Jerry Moran of Kansas said in his very generous tribute to Norbert Dreiling before the House on July 19, 2004,

Through years of dedicated service, he breathed life into a struggling Democratic Party and established a lasting two- party system in Kansas.'' Under Chairman Dreiling's leadership, for the first time an incumbent Republican governor of Kansas was defeated by a Democratic challenger, Robert Docking, who was elected governor four times--the most terms ever served by a governor in Kansas.

In addition to his extensive service to his community, State and nation, Norbert Dreiling also maintained a successful law practice and was instrumental in promoting the Volga-German heritage of Hays and Ellis County, Kansas...

Contributor: Volga German (47188065)