Overview

Richard "Dick" Nichols (April 29, 1926 – March 7, 2019) was an American banker, civic leader and politician who served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elected as a member of the Republican Party, he represented central Kansas during the One Hundred Second Congress (January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1993). Nichols is remembered for his ties to local business and community life as well as for surviving a widely reported personal attack several years before his congressional service.

Early life and local career

Nichols was born April 29, 1926. He built his career in central Kansas, where he became known as a local banker and an active participant in civic affairs in McPherson and the surrounding counties. His background in banking and community service shaped his reputation as a pragmatic, regionally focused public figure who emphasized constituent service and attention to local economic concerns when he later ran for federal office.

1986 stabbing incident

In 1986 Nichols was seriously injured in a stabbing while visiting New York City with his wife aboard the Staten Island Ferry. He received hospital treatment and ultimately made a full physical recovery. The episode attracted public attention at the time; New York Mayor Ed Koch visited Nichols in the hospital. The attack and Nichols's recovery appear in many biographical accounts of his life and were noted by contemporary press coverage.

Congressional campaign and election

Nichols won the Republican nomination in a competitive primary for Kansas's 5th congressional district and was elected to the One Hundred Second Congress, serving from 1991 to 1993. In that primary he narrowly defeated Sheila Bair, who later became chair of the FDIC, a contest frequently mentioned in summaries of his political career. His general-election victory brought to Washington a representative with deep ties to local business and agricultural interests in Kansas's 5th congressional district.

Tenure in Congress

As a freshman representative Nichols participated in the legislative and constituent duties typical of a one-term member. His approach reflected priorities common among representatives from largely rural Midwestern districts at the time: support for agricultural communities, attention to local economic development and a cautious posture on regulatory issues that affected banks and small businesses. Nichols served on committees and subcommittees relevant to his district’s concerns and maintained an office focused on constituent casework.

Later life and death

After leaving Congress Nichols returned to private life in McPherson, Kansas, where he remained involved in community affairs and local institutions. He died at home on March 7, 2019, at the age of 92. Reports listed respiratory failure as the cause of death. His passing prompted remembrances from former colleagues, local officials and residents who recalled his civic engagement and years of service.

Notable facts and legacy

  • Full name: Richard Nichols; commonly known as Dick Nichols.
  • Political affiliation: Republican.
  • Federal office: One term as U.S. Representative for central Kansas (One Hundred Second Congress, 1991–1993).
  • Survived a stabbing aboard the Staten Island Ferry in 1986; visited in hospital by Mayor Ed Koch.
  • Won a close Republican primary against future FDIC chair Sheila Bair.

Nichols’s career illustrates the pathway from regional business and civic leadership to brief service at the federal level. Though his time in Congress was short, his life remained rooted in his Kansas community, and he is remembered locally for both his professional work in banking and his involvement in public life in and around McPherson.

Further information on Nichols’s legislative record, public statements and community activities is available in contemporary news accounts and congressional archives. For summaries of his electoral contests and public service, consult regional histories and official election returns, which place his tenure in the context of early 1990s political dynamics in Kansas.