It was when Air Force One landed at the Salina airport with President Ford and vice presidential candidate Bob Dole on their way to Russell. The experience might not have inspired Konzem to enter a career in politics, but it did leave an impact on the high school senior in Salina.

“Growing up at that time, Senator Dole was a hero to me as a Kansan,” Konzem said.

Twenty-eight years later, Konzem is working as associate director for administration at the Dole Institute of Politics.

“I may be on the phone with Dole’s office,” Konzem said of his job duties. “And then five minutes later, I may be on the loading dock.”

Konzem said there were new challenges every day with his job. His main duties are archives, programs and the visitor center. The Dole Institute opened in July 2003 to utilize its 18,000 square feet to store the political papers of Dole. The archives are only a portion of what the building is about, Konzem said.

Since Konzem began working at the institute, he has toured the area speaking to various organizations about the free visitor center.

“I want to increase the visibility and tell the story of the Dole Institute,” Konzem said. “One way is the outreach portion where you tell people the things Bob Dole stood for.”

Planning events and scheduling guest speakers to enhance the reputation of the institute are other methods Konzem uses to promote the Dole Institute.

“I’m a guy who loves to have events,” Konzem said. “I love the preparation, and I get satisfaction at the end when it concludes and you feel accomplishment.”

New career

Richard Konzem, associate director at the Dole Institute of Politics, left, and former Congressman J.C. Watts look over some cases of Bob Dole memorabilia. Watts was in Lawrence in January to be part of the Vickers Memorial Lecture Series.

Konzem’s background is in athletics. In August, he left the Kansas University athletics department after 22 years of service, on the heels of the hiring of new athletics director Lew Perkins. After he failed to land the athletics director job at San Diego State University, Konzem was offered the associate director of administration job by Dole Institute interim director Steve McAllister.

The opportunity to remain in Lawrence and limit time away from home was too good for Konzem to pass up after the rigors of working in the athletic department.

“There are good things about that life,” Konzem said. “Still there are many more times when I would leave the arena at 11 at night and drive back to Lawrence from Stillwater or Ames and get back at two or three in the morning.”

Konzem said he has much to learn about his new job. Politics may not be as familiar to Konzem as athletic administration, but he said many aspects of the job were transferable because of his contacts at Kansas University and the city of Lawrence.

Love for KU

Doug Vance, who worked with Konzem in the athletics department for more than 20 years, said Konzem has demonstrated a love for Kansas University since his days as an undergraduate serving as the manager for the track and field team.

“I think Richard loves KU,” Vance said. “He has a deep respect for what the university represents.”

The Dole Institute is expected to name a permanent director to replace McAllister this spring, leaving Konzem’s job up in the air. Konzem said he continued to keep an eye on jobs in athletic departments across the country. While collegiate sports remain a serious interest of Konzem, he understood the positives of his job and would like to continue his role at the Dole Institute.

“There are some days when you’re glad you’re not responsible for the actions of 500 18- to 22-year-olds,” Konzem said.