U. L. Gooch

U. L. "Rip" Gooch
Member of the Kansas Senate
from the 29th district
In office
January 11, 1993 – January 2, 2004
Preceded byJim Ward
Succeeded byDonald Betts
Personal details
Born(1923-09-13)September 13, 1923
DiedNovember 24, 2021(2021-11-24) (aged 98)
PartyDemocratic
SpouseAugusta
OccupationPilot, businessman
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1943–1946
Battles/warsWorld War II
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Ulysses Lee Gooch (September 13, 1923 – November 24, 2021), often known as Rip Gooch, was an American pilot, aviation entrepreneur, and politician in Kansas. Gooch was a member of the Kansas Commission on Civil Rights, 1971–74; member of the Wichita City Council, 1989–93; and a Kansas state senator (D-Wichita, 29th District – central-northeast Wichita) from 1993 until retiring in January 2004 as the state's oldest serving senator, at 80. Gooch was one of the first inductees to the Black Aviation Hall of Fame.