Kansas flags will remain at half-staff in honor of an outgoing state lawmaker from Parsons.

District 7 Representative Dan Goddard passed away Thursday at the age of 78. Governor Laura Kelly directs flags across the state to remain lowered until the day of his burial, which will be announced later. Goddard was serving his second and final term in the Kansas House after announcing his retirement earlier this year. His district covers parts of Labette and Neosho counties. Goddard previously represented the 15th District in the Kansas Senate from 2017 to 2021 before losing his re-election bid to Virgil Peck.

Kelly says Goddard served 24 years as an Air Force pilot before working to support economic development at closed military bases. Flags are already lowered in honor of farm workers’ rights leader Dolores Huerta. That observance ends at sundown and the tribute to Goddard will begin.