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March 28th, 2024

gene sharpGene Sharp, 92, died Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at his home in Liberal.

He was born Jan. 20, 1929 in St. Louis, Ill. to Olin Arthur Sharp and Lois (Dorman). Gene’s father was a traveling salesman for the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. from 1924-1935. In 1935 when his father lost his job, the whole family moved to Grandma Dorman’s farm near Floris, Okla. 

Gene was unable to finish Kindergarten. However, he attended a one-room schoolhouse in Floris, which at that time did grades 1-8, this is the same one room schoolhouse that Gene’s father had taught in about 15 years earlier. Grades 2, 3, and 4 were at Gage Elementary in Topeka. Grades 5, 6, and 7 were at Greenough School in Oklahoma. In high school, Gene played basketball (winning State) and baseball. He also was the editor of the high school newspaper. 

Gene graduated Liberal High School in 1947. He attended Hutchinson Junior College and then on to University of Oklahoma (B.S. Economics and Government 1951) legal education, University of Oklahoma College of Law (LLB 1953, Fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta. Note Editor 1952 Oklahoma Law Review Editor in Chief 1953). He was pledge and officer of Alpha Alpha Chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi Social Fraternity 1948-1952.

After college in 1953, he served as Beaver County, Okla. County Attorney for two months before being called to serve three years in US Air Force as a legal officer. Gene was released at Altus Air Force Base in 1956 as the Staff Judge Advocate. 

Gene married Jo Ann King at the First Methodist Church in Liberal on Aug. 26, 1952. They had three children: David Eugene Sharp, Tammy Jo Sharp Metcalf, and Rex Arthur Sharp. Luckily, we have seven grandchildren; Katherine and Daniel Sharp; Ryan and Amanda Metcalf; and Alexandra (Alex), Lewis, and William Sharp. All have college degrees, and some have advanced degrees. One finishing a doctorate. Daniel is the only grandchild married to Kathi Sodoma from Vienna, Austria. However, there are weddings set for September and November. 

In 1956, he joined the Hickey, Harner and Newbauer Law firm in Liberal as a junior partner. In 1959, he joined the Vance, Hobble, Nordling firm which has been in existence since 1925 and now operates as Sharp, McQueen. Gene retired in 2018 after 66 years of law practice.

Gene served as Liberal City attorney in Liberal from 1970-1993; Kansas Board of Admissions of Attorneys 1982-1994; Member of the Seward-Haskell Counties, Southwest Kansas, Kansas and Oklahoma Bar Association; Kansas Association of Defense Counsel (Director 1973-1976), Secretary-Treasurer 1974-1975, President 1975-1976; American Board of Trial Advocates (Advocate), Fellow Kansas Bar Foundation American College of Trial Lawyers.

Gene received his 50-year pin from both the Oklahoma and Kansas Bar Association.

Gene was a pioneer member of the establishment of Liberal Bee Jays baseball team and served as legal advisor from 1964 to 1980. 

He was selected locally as outstanding Jaycee and served on the State Chamber of Commerce Board 1969-1973. Along with three ex-college football players established Kids, Inc., and was instrumental in getting airline (Frontier) to serve Liberal. He also served as a bank board member at Citizen State Bank (now Sunflower Bank) for 20 years and represented Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co. and at their request incorporated Anadarko Petroleum Co. He also served as local counsel for National Beef Packing until it sold and was involved in starting National Carriers for John Jacobson Jr. As a Jaycee, he helped build the Pancake Grills used for Pancake Day. As president of Methodist Church Trustees, he obtained donations toward a new organ. 

Playing golf with family and friends, fishing trips to Colorado, and helping others were his favorite past times. 

He loved genealogy about his family. He managed to trace his roots down to the Jamestown Colony. He was a member of the Scottish Write, Easter Star, Master Maison, Shriner, and a lifetime member of Hooker, Okla. lodge. Phase II of the Sharp Champion Centers to give baseball and softball teams at Seward County Community College an indoor practice facility is now started and while he will not physically see it completed, his wish was to leave something to the community that had been so good to him.

We will miss his vision, excellent advice, and leadership to make our community the outstanding city in Southwest Kansas 

Survivors include wife, JoAnn Sharp, Liberal; sons, David E. (Victoria) Sharp, Houston, and Rex A. (Lori) Sharp, Prairie Village; daughter, Tammy Jo Sharp Metcalf, Dallas; and seven grandchildren: Katherine Sharp, Ryan Metcalf, Alexandra (Alex) Sharp, Amanda Metcalf, Daniel Sharp (Kathi), Lewis Sharp, and William Sharp.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

• Visitation will be 12 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021 and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, with the family will be present from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hornung Family Funeral Home 1212 W. 2nd Street in Liberal.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church at 116 W. 3rd Street in Liberal, with Pastor Brad Bennett presiding.

Burial will follow at the Liberal Cemetery.  

Memorial donations suggested to SCCC Champions Center or The Gene and JoAnn Sharp Law Review Scholarship or the Organ Fund at First United Methodist Church in care of Hornung Family Funeral Home.

Condolences may be left at www.hornungfuneralhome.com.

 

 

Paid obituary