Missouri State Archives
Finding Aid 552.12
Office of Secretary of State
Legislator Papers - KEN LEGAN, 1981-2002
Abstract: Papers (1996-2002) of Missouri State Representative Ken Legan (1946- ) include correspondence files.
Extent: 1.6 cubic ft. (4 Hollinger boxes)
Physical Description: Paper
Location: MSA Stacks 44A/4/9
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Access Restrictions: There are no special restrictions.
Publication Restrictions: Copyright is in the public domain for state publications and for correspondence to and from Legan in his official capacity. Researchers bear sole responsibility for following applicable copyright laws.
Acquisition Information: Accession 2002-0240.
Processing Information: Processing was completed by Sharon E. Brock on December 10, 2007.
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Ken Legan was born August 3, 1946, in Halfway, Missouri. He graduated from Halfway High School and obtained a degree in agriculture from the University of Missouri-Columbia. A farmer and U.S. Army veteran, Representative Legan was elected as a Republican to the Missouri State House of Representatives in a 1981 special election. He was re-elected in 1982 and served the 145th District, encompassing parts of Dallas and Polk Counties, until 2002.
Representative Legan was appointed to the Missouri House Agriculture Committee, the Appropriations—General Administration Committee, and the Budget Committee. He also served as Missouri House minority whip during the 83rd-85th General Assemblies
SERIES
The papers of Ken Legan are broken down into the following series:
- Correspondence, 1996-2002
CORRESPONDENCE FILES, 1996-2002
Arrangement: Chronologically by date of response and thereunder alphabetically by surname.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
Incoming and outgoing constituent correspondence comprise the bulk of the collection. Miscellaneous office memoranda, legislative correspondence, and limited personal correspondence are scattered throughout. Personal correspondence pertains to the Alaskan vacation that Rep. Legan took with family and friends in 2001.
On some electronic mail received by his office, Rep. Legan handwrote his response on the original communication. There are also select letters from voters for which Mr. Legan’s response was not included in the correspondence files. Although topics of regional and national interest may be found in the papers, the overwhelming focus was on local matters. Three issues generated the greatest reaction: budget problems and possible cuts in mental health funding; the proposition by the Missouri Public Services Commission to allow telephone companies to abolish the Community Option Service in Buffalo and surrounding rural areas; and possible cuts in early childhood education funding caused by Missouri’s deepening budget woes.
Additional concerns include increases in postage rates and the elimination of junk mail; violation of the Missouri Clean Water Act by the city of Humansville; English as the official language for Missouri; professors at the University of Missouri who cannot speak English well enough to be understood by their students; exemption of federal and state pensions from income taxation; and the impeachment of President William J. Clinton. Constituents also expressed concern over the Hancock Amendment; the ongoing state budget crisis; the difference in pay between the Missouri state police and Missouri water patrol officers; the lack of state employee raises; the use of Missouri State Police for security on casinos; the elimination of the state sales tax on food; the requirement that children be secured in cars seats; the consequences of outcome-based education mandated by the1993 Outstanding Schools Act; adequate funding for special education programs; change in testing dates mandated by the Show-Me Education Standards and handwritten thank you letters from students; cockfighting; the elimination of the Motor Vehicle Bureau selling the addresses of new car owners to mass marketers; the regulation of outdoor advertising (road signs); requests for assistance with food stamps, disability payments, and reductions in prison sentences; and the possible elimination of the death penalty in Missouri.
Mr. Legan’s constituents were also deeply concerned about the state of health care. Correspondence addressed problems with health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and related managed health care; the reduction in the Medicare/Medicaid budget; Medicaid spend downs and economic impact on senior citizens; increase in premiums for the elderly and trouble finding transportation to and from medical appointments; dentists who would not accept the Missouri Medicare card; the nurse to patient ratio; and the general rising cost of medical insurance.
Of special interest is the running correspondence between Rep. Legan and Keith A. Cook of Humansville, Missouri. Mr. Cook consistently wrote his legislator and Mr. Legan’s responses were involved and informative. In early March 1999, the advanced biology class at Bolivar High School wrote substantive individual letters to Rep. Legan in regards to endangered species and the loss of natural habitat.
Container List
Location |
Box |
Folder |
Year |
Contents |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
1 |
1996-January 1997 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
2 |
February 1997 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
3 |
March 1997 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
4 |
April 1997 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
5 |
May-July 1997 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
6 |
August-December 1997 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
7 |
January-February 1998 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
8 |
March 1998 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
9 |
April 1998 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
10 |
May-June 1998 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
11 |
July 1998 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
12 |
August-September 1998 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
13 |
October 1998 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
14 |
November 1998 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
15 |
January 1999 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
16 |
February 1999 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
17 |
March 2-29, 1999 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
18 |
March 31, 1999 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
19 |
April 1999 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
20 |
May 1999 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
21 |
June-July 1999 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
1 |
22 |
August 1999 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
1 |
September-October 1999 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
2 |
November-December 1999 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
3 |
January 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
4 |
February 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
5 |
March 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
6 |
April 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
7 |
May 1-8, 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
8 |
May 9-10, 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
9 |
June 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
10 |
July 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
11 |
August 1-15, 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
12 |
August 16-31, 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
13 |
September 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
14 |
October 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
15 |
November 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
16 |
December 2000 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
17 |
January 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
18 |
February 1-20, 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
19 |
February 21-28, 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
20 |
March 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
21 |
April 1-10, 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
2 |
22 |
April 11-29, 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
1 |
May 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
2 |
June 1-13, 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
3 |
June 14-28, 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
4 |
July 1-17, 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
5 |
July 18-31, 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
6 |
July 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
7 |
August 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
8 |
August 1-15, 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
9 |
August 16-31, 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
10 |
September 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
11 |
October 2001 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
12 |
January 2002 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
13 |
February 1-14, 2002 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
14 |
February 15-28, 2002 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
15 |
March 1-14, 2002 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
3 |
16 |
March 15-21, 2002 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
4 |
1 |
April 1-5, 2002 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
4 |
2 |
April 6-18, 2002 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
4 |
3 |
April 19-30, 2002 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
4 |
4 |
May 2002 |
Correspondence |
44A/4/9 |
4 |
5 |
June 2002 |
Correspondence |