Chronological Listing of Kentucky’s Governors: 1927-1955
Term: 1927-1931
Party: Republican
Resident KY County: Knox
Election Returns:
Flem
Sampson
399,698 (52.1%)
John Beckham
367,698 (47.9%)
Born: 1/25/1875
Died: 5/25/1967
State/County of Birth: Laurel Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Bank President, Teacher, Judge, Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Established the Kentucky Progress Commission
- Made improvements to the state park system
Term: 1931-1935
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Hopkins
Election Returns:
Ruby Laffoon
438,513 (54.3%)
William Harrison 366,982 (45.4%)
Born: 1/15/1869
Died: 3/1/1941
State/County of Birth: Hopkins Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Created a state sales tax
- Limited some of the powers of the Lieutenant Governor
Notes
- Set the record for the number of pardons granted by a Kentucky governor
- Set the record for the number of Kentucky Colonels commissioned by a Kentucky governor
Governor A.B. (“Happy”) Chandler
Term: 1935-1939
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Woodford
Election Returns:
A.B. Chandler
556,262 (54.5%)
King Swope 461,104 (45.1%)
Born: 7/14/1898
Died: 6/15/1991
State/County of Birth: Henderson Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Coach, Lawyer, Baseball Commissioner
Accomplishments as Governor
- Enacted the Government Reorganization Act
- Created the Free Textbook Program
- Established the state’s Rural Electrification Program
- Endorsed the creation of a Teacher’s Retirement System
- Created an Old-Age Assistance Program
- Curbed labor violence in Harlan Co.
Notes
- Resigned from office to accept a U.S. Senate seat
- Elected to another term: 1955-1959
Term: 1939-1943
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Madison
Election Returns: Succeeded Gov. A.B. Chandler, who resigned (1939)
1939 Election
Keen Johnson 460,834 (56.5%)
King Swope 354,704 (43.5%)
Born: 1/12/1896
Died: 2/7/1970
State/County of Birth: Lyon Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Soldier, Journalist, Businessman
Accomplishments as Governor
- Passed a bill to allow Kentucky cities to purchase/distribute electric power, as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority
- Pushed for legislative redistricting
Notes
- One of the few governors to leave a budget surplus
Term: 1943-1947
Party: Republican
Resident KY County: Boyd
Election Returns:
Simeon Willis
279.144 (50.5%)
J. Lyter Donaldson
270,525 (48.9%)
Born: 12/1/1879
Died: 4/2/1965
State/County of Birth: Ohio
Former Occupation(s): Teacher, Lawyer, Judge
Accomplishments as Governor
- Appropriated excessive funding for education; lengthened the school year
- Provided assistance to blacks seeking post-secondary education
- Allowed counties to double the maximum tax rate for schools
- Created the Commission on Negro Affairs
- Eliminated most of the tolls taken on state bridges
- Constructed five tuberculosis hospitals
Term: 1947-1950
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Union
Election Returns:
Earle Clements
387,795 57.2%
Eldon Dummit
287,756 42.5%
Born: 10/22/1896
Died: 3/12/1985
State/County of Birth: Union Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Coach, Teacher, Soldier, Deputy, Sheriff, Public Servant
Accomplishments as Governor
- Initiated construction of the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center
- Created the Legislative Research Commission
- Created the Kentucky Building Commission
- Organized the Kentucky State Police
- Regulated the salary maximums of state government workers
Notes
- Resigned from office to accept a U.S. Senate seat
Term: 1950-1955
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Jefferson
Election Returns: Succeeded Gov. Earle Clements, who resigned (1950)
1951 Election
Lawrence Wetherby
346,345 54.6%
Eugene Stiler 288,014 45.4%
Born: 1/2/1908
Died: 3/27/1994
State/County of Birth: Jefferson Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer, Judge
Accomplishments as Governor
- Desegregated the public schools
- Initiated the Bookmobile program
- Created the Department of Mental Health
- Passed the “sin tax” to fund state programs