An executive order from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has directed flags in Kansas to be flown at half-staff in honor of Dan Goddard, who was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 2022 after serving three years in the Kansas Senate.

Goddard, a Republican from Parsons, died Thursday at 78, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

Senate Minority Leader Dynah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat who is running for state insurance commissioner, wrote in a Facebook post that she was grateful for his kindness and friendship.

“Dan was always willing to work together and support good policies, despite us coming from different sides of the aisle,” she said.

Flags will fly at half-staff until Goddard’s internment at a date to be announced. They had previously been at half staff in honor of farm workers’ rights leader Dolores Huerta.

Another former House member, Kansas Rep. Larry Hibbard of Toronto in Greenwood County, died Sunday at 81.

A moderate Republican, he helped overturn Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s state income tax experiment and backed Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan for Medicaid expansion, his family said in a news release.

Kansas Reflector reporters Morgan Chilson and Sherman Smith contributed to this report.