Longtime Kansas Democratic Party leader Norbert Dreiling died Monday in Hays. He was 80.

Dreiling, who was called “the father of Democratic politics in Kansas,” in a 2004 tribute speech by Congressman Jerry Moran, also of Hays, was party chairman from 1966 to 1974.

Dreiling was a campaign chairman and adviser to Gov. Robert Docking, who served four terms, the most ever by a Kansas governor. He was state co-chairman of the campaigns of presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.

Don Carlile of Topeka, who worked for years with Dreiling, said Dreiling was “one of the smartest politicians that ever hit the state of Kansas.”

Carlile said often Dreiling would brief him on an issue, then Carlile would repeat the information elsewhere “and everyone would think I was the smartest guy on earth.”

And Carlile said Dreiling was “above board.”

“He was Mr. Honesty,” Carlile said.

Dreiling was a partner in the law firm of Dreiling, Bieker and Hoffman.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Cline’s Mortuary in Hays.