Introducing Bob Strawn

I was born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa, the son of a bricklayer and stay-at-home mom. I was the first in the family to go to college, and in 1967 received my degree in Economics from South Dakota State. That same year, Julia and I were married. We have two wonderful kids, John and Michelle.

After graduation I joined Chevron as a sales representative in their agricultural chemical group, but soon after I was drafted into the U.S. Army. In 1969 I returned from a tour of duty in Vietnam and rejoined Chevron, rising in the organization to the position of business manager. After 25 years with the company, I left in 1992 to help build what is today the world's leading airport and aircraft deicer company, Cryotech. I currently do acquisitions for Cryotech's parent company, General Atomics, and mentor the deicer business.

Through all these changes, Julia and I have lived in Kansas for 25 of our 39 years together. We moved to Manhattan in 2004 because of fond memories of our kids' college days at K-State. We love it here. Our son, John, lives here as well, while our daughter, Michelle, lives in Olathe. Each has given us grandsons to spoil.

I am a member of the Manhattan Rotary Club and chair its youth exchange program. I am also a member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and serve on the public affairs committee. Julia and I are members at St. Isidore's Catholic Church, and I'm a lifetime member of the American Legion. I was recently appointed by the mayor to the City's Human Rights and Services Board.

I also write a weekly opinion column for The Manhattan Free Press, and am often found on the Op-Ed pages of The Manhattan Mercury.