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Gary Sebelius

Born: November 8, 1949, Norton, Kansas. Married: Kathleen Gilligan, December 31, 1974, Columbus, Ohio.

The son of Keith George and Elizabeth Adeline (Roberts) Sebelius, Keith Gary Sebelius was born November 8, 1949, in Norton, Kansas. His father served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas’ first district from 1969 to 1981. The younger Sebelius earned a bachelor’s degree in pre-law/political science from Kansas State University in 1971 and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1974.

He married Kathleen Gilligan on December 31, 1974, in Columbus, Ohio. They had two sons: Ned and John Sebelius. When she was elected to be 44th governor of Kansas, he became the First Gentleman. Preferred the title of “First Dude,” he served in that capacity from 2003 to 2009.

He practiced law in several different Topeka firms, and was partner in the Wring, Henson, Somers, Sebelius, Clark & Baker, LLP, specializing in the areas of employment, civil rights, and civil litigation. He was appointed magistrate in U.S. District Court of Kansas in 2003, where he continues to serve.

Entry: Sebelius, Gary

Author: Kansas Historical Society

Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.

Date Created: December 2015

Date Modified: December 2015

The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.