It is with great sadness that the Brothers of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity mourn the passing of Brother Robert J. Dole to the Chapter Celestial of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Brother Dole represents one of the greatest statesmen and public servants that the United States and the State of Kansas have ever known. For Kappa Sigma, we have lost one of the most significant initiates in the 152 years of the history of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
Brother Dole was initiated into the Gamma-Omicron Chapter of Kappa Sigma at the University of Kansas on October 4, 1942. Brother Dole served in the United States Army during World War II and became a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army's 10th Mountain Division. In April of 1945, Brother Dole was wounded in combat while engaged with the German Army in the hills of Northern Italy. Brother Dole was decorated three times for heroism, receiving two Purple Hearts for his injuries and the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for valor for his attempt to assist a downed radioman.
Brother Dole represented the State of Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the United States Senate during the final 11 years of his tenure including three years as Senate Majority Leader. Prior to his service in the Senate, Brother Dole served in the United States House of Representatives from 1961 to 1969. The Robert J. Dole Institute, housed on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, was established to bring bipartisanship back to politics.
Brother Dole was decorated as the Kappa Sigma Man of the Year in 1970 and 2020 and was inducted to the Kappa Sigma Hall of Honor in 2009 as the 14th Brother in the history of Kappa Sigma to be decorated with this significant honor. Brother Dole was named the 2020 Kappa Sigma Man of the Year at the 73rd Biennial Grand Conclave in Nashville, Tennessee, becoming the first Brother ever to win the Man of the Year Award twice.
Read Kappa Sigma Fraternity's full statement of the passing of Brother Dole here.
