The House of Delegates adopted House Resolution 10 on January 27, 2022. Kiss’s wife, Melinda was escorted by former several former House speakers and the Raleigh County senator and delegation to be presented the resolution.
House Resolution 10 commemorates the life of former House Speaker Robert S. Kiss, who passed away on November 5, 2021.
Robert Stephen Kiss was born in Elizabeth, NJ and raised in a military family, living all over. He attended Ohio State University, receiving his bachelor’s in economics in 1979 and his J.D. in 1982. After graduating, Kiss moved to Raleigh County and began practicing law.
Kiss was a devoted father and husband. He always said his greatest achievement in life was his marriage to Melinda and the birth of his two sons, Cameron and Carter.
In 1988, Kiss was elected to the House of Delegates from Raleigh County. He would serve 18 years in the House. With his experience with economics, finance, and law, he was appointed the vice chair of the Finance Committee in his second term as a delegate. Two years later, he was serving as Chair of the Finance Committee. He served as Chair until elected speaker in 1997.
During his tenure as House Speaker, the legislature accomplished so much including, funding roads and highways, developing water and sewer systems, funding higher education scholarships, funding a children’s health program, improving the state’s credit rating, creating the state’s Rainy-Day Fund, and so much more. He never took personal credit for these accomplishments. He always credited the full body.
After 18 years of public service, 10 of which were as speaker, the longest term served, Kiss retired from public service returned to private law. In 2013, Kiss returned to public service as part of Governor Tomblin’s administration to serve as the Cabinet Secretary of Revenue, where he stayed until 2016.
Kiss was a distinguished West Virginian, a devout Catholic, and a kind and compassionate friend. Often the smartest in the room, he had a love for practical jokes. He often joked that if a memorial resolution for him was ever presented it should end with “And he loved dogs.” And so, it did.
