Bob Archer, who died Friday, is remembered for seeing Shawnee County through tough financial times
Bob Archer, a certified public accountant, was proud to have helped see Shawnee County through "dark and difficult" financial times soon after he joined the county commission in 2013.
Shawnee County that year was forced to cope with challenges by raising property taxes, cutting spending and laying off dozens of employees, Archer recalled in a 2019 interview with The Capital-Journal.
Archer, 75, died Friday with his family by his side, his replacement on the county commission, Aaron Mays, noted at its morning meeting Monday.
The county owes Archer a debt of gratitude for making tough decisions, "getting us back on track and setting us up for success," Mays said.
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Bob Archer won closest election in Topeka City Council history
A Vietnam veteran and native of Atlanta, Ga., Archer had lived in Topeka since 1977.
He retired in 2007 from the U.S. Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center here.
Archer then entered the political arena at age 61, beating former Councilwoman Lisa Stubbs by one vote out of 4,015 cast in April 2009 to win the seat representing southwest Topeka's District 7 on the Topeka City Council.
As a councilman, Archer was proud that he helped bring about the consolidation of city of Topeka and Shawnee County parks and recreation departments under county control effective Jan. 1, 2012.
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Bob Archer helped raise minimum age for purchasing tobacco here
Archer next won election in November 2012 to the 3rd District seat on the county commission.
He took office the following January, then was re-elected in 2016.
Archer said he was proud to help bring about the passage in 2017 of an ordinance raising the minimum age at which residents may buy tobacco in unincorporated Shawnee County from 18 to 21.
Topeka's city government subsequently took the same step, and the Kansas Supreme Court then upheld the city's action.
Archer also pointed to enhancing the county's parks and recreation department to the point where he said the county's parks were in better shape than ever before.
Archer fought in particular for the county's creation of Family Park, which is to be developed just south of Midwest Health Aquatic Center, 2201 S.W. Urish Road.
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Bob Archer continued to serve after being diagnosed with cancer
In April 2017, Archer revealed he had non-Hodgkins lymphoma and would be receiving strong chemotherapy.
He continued to serve on the commission for nearly two and a half years before resigning in September 2019. Archer received praise at that time from community leaders who included local developer Cody Foster, co-founder of Advisors Excel.
"You've been a faithful & dedicated public servant for our community," Foster wrote in a tweet the day Archer announced his resignation.
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Former city and county leader got hole-in-one in June
Cancer couldn't keep Archer away from his beloved sport of golf.
His obituary noted that on June 3, 12 weeks before his death, he accomplished his lifelong goal of shooting a hole-in-one.
Archer accomplished that on the No. 8 hole at Cypress Ridge Golf Course, said his friend and golfing buddy, retired Topeka Capital-journal publisher Gregg Ireland.
A celebration of Archer's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery & Funeral Chapel, 4700 S.W. 17th, his obituary said.
County Commissioners Aaron Mays, Kevin Cook and Bill Riphahn will all attend, said Amanda Monhollon, the county's public information officer.
In lieu of flowers, his family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Shawnee County Parks + Recreation Foundation, also known as the Parks For All Foundation.
Tim Hrenchir can be reached at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Shawnee County honors recently deceased former Commissioner Bob Archer
