Kent Glasscock

Glasscock represented Manhattan’s 62nd House District beginning in 1991. First elected to the House in 1990, he served the state legislature in many capacities including Speaker of the House, House Majority Leader, chair of the Government Organization and Elections Committee, chair of the Local Government Committee, and vice-chair of the Taxation Committee. He also served as a member of several committees: Appropriations, Energy and Natural Resources, Economic Development, the Joint Committee on Pensions and Investments, and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations.

Glasscock's tenure as Speaker of the House and House Majority Leader was challenged with moderate versus conservative battles over control of committees and legislation. Glasscock was elected to speaker on the fourth ballot after three ties. Despite these challenges, Glasscock successfully led a legislative initiative that made the state's single largest one-time investment in higher education research infrastructure; advanced an innovative early childhood Skills for Success education investment; and produced balanced budgets that protected funding for both higher education and K-12 education. In 1992, the National Council on State Governments selected Glasscock as one of 32 members of the annual Henry Toll Fellowship Program, the premier leadership development program for state government officials.

During his tenure, he served as the co-author of Governor Bill Graves budgets. Glasscock served as State Representative from the 62nd District from 1991-2003, was Mayor of Manhattan in 1989 and served as City Commissioner from 1987-1990.

Glasscock earned his undergraduate degree in English from Kansas State University and is a graduate of Manhattan High School.

Following 2002, the Glasscocks live in Manhattan, working in private and local business and perform non-profit charitable work. Glasscock is married to Janna Williams, director of a regional non-profit and has two sons.

Glasscock is currently CEO of K-State Innovation Partners. K-State Innovation Partners mission is to collaborate with university, industry and communities to deliver a streamlined mission of corporate engagement, technology commercialization and economic development.

Glasscock also is president of his family business, the Kansas Lumber Homestore, Inc.