Chronological Listing of Kentucky’s Governors: 1955-2005
Governor A.B. (“Happy”) Chandler
Term: 1955-1959
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Woodford
Election Returns:
A.B.
Chandler
451,647 (58.0%)
Edwin Denney 322,671 (41.5%)
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
- Established the University of Kentucky Medical Center
- Enforced desegregation in public schools
- Provided additional funding to schools and to Teachers’ Retirement
Term: 1959-1963
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Floyd
Election Returns:
Bert Combs
516,549 (60.6%)
John M. Robsion 336,456 (39.4%)
Born: 8/13/1911
Died: 12/4/1991
State/County of Birth: Clay Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Created a merit system for state government workers
- Created the state’s first Human Rights Commission
- Ordered all public accommodations desegregated
Governor Edward (“Ned”) Breathitt
Term: 1963-1967
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Christian
Election Returns:
Edward
Breathitt
449,551 50.7%
Louie B. Nunn 436,496 49.3%
Born: 11/26/1924
Died: 10/14/03
State/County of Birth: Christian Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Established a state vocational program and educational television system
- Placed the community college system under the University of Kentucky
- Passed an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) bill
- Created the Department of Natural Resources
- Promoted tourism and industrial development
Term: 1967-1971
Party: Republican
Resident KY County: Barren
Election Returns:
Louie B.
Nunn
454,123 51.2%
Henry Ward 425,674 48.0%
Born: 3/8/1924
Died: 1/29/04
State/County of Birth: Barren Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Soldier, Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Established the University of Louisville as a state school
- Eliminated taxes on prescription drugs
Term: 1971-1974
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Daviess
Election Returns:
Wendell
Ford
470,720 (50.6%)
Tom Emberton
412,653 (44.3%)
Born: 9/8/1924
Died:
State/County of Birth: Daviess Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Soldier, Businessman
Accomplishments as Governor
- Removed the sales tax from food
- Enacted a severance tax on coal
- Expanded the powers of the Council on Higher Education
Notes
- Resigned from office to accept a U.S. Senate seat
Term: 1974-1979
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: McCracken
Election Returns: Succeeded Gov. Wendell Ford, who resigned (1974)
1975 Election
Julian Carroll 470,159 (62.8%)
Robert Gable 277,998 (37.2%)
Born: 4/16/1931
Died:
State/County of Birth: McCracken Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Increased teacher salaries and funding for public schools
- Established the state Department of Energy
- Encouraged the arts in schools and communities; also promoted the building of the Kentucky Center for the Arts
Notes
- Chairman of the National Governors Association while in office
Term: 1979-1983
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Fayette
Election Returns:
John Y.
Brown
558,088 59.4%
Louie B. Nunn
381,278 40.6%
Born: 12/28/1933
Died:
State/County of Birth: Fayette Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Businessman
Accomplishments as Governor
- Increased road construction funding
- Promoted tourism by “selling the state"
Governor Martha Layne (Hall) Collins
Term: 1983-1987
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Woodford
Election Returns:
Martha
Layne Collins 561,674 (54.6%)
Jim Bunning 454,650 (44.2%)
Born: 12/7/1936
Died:
State/County of Birth: Shelby Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Teacher
Accomplishments as Governor
- Succeeded in negotiating with Toyota on establishing an automotive plant in Kentucky
- Worked toward promoting education
Notes
- First woman governor elected in Kentucky
- Chaired the Democratic National Convention
Term: 1987-1991
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Fayette
Election Returns:
Wallace
Wilkinson
504,367 (64.9%)
John Harper 273,035 (35.1%)
Born: 12/12/1941
Died: 7/5/2002
State/County of Birth: Casey Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Farmer, Businessman
Accomplishments as Governor
- Established a state lottery to fund education
- Enacted the Kentucky Education Reform Act
- Advocated the use of bonds and incentives to stimulate economic development in rural areas
Term: 1991-1995
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Woodford
Election Returns:
Brereton
Jones
540,468 64.7%
Larry Hopkins 294,452 35.3%
Born: 6/27/1939
Died:
State/County of Birth: Ohio
Former Occupation(s): Businessman
Accomplishments as Governor
- Advocated health care reform
- Downsized state government programs
- One of the few governors to leave office with a budget surplus
Term: 1995-2003
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Pike
Election Returns:
1995 Election
Paul Patton 500,787 51.1% Larry Forgy 479,227 48.9%
1999 Election
Paul Patton 352,099 (60.6%)
Martin & Cornelius 128,788 (22.2%)
Galbraith & Lyons
88,930 (15.3%)
Jumoke-Yarbrough & Flodstrom 6,934 (1.2%)
Born: 5/26/1937
Died:
State/County of Birth: Lawrence Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Engineer, Businessman
Accomplishments as Governor
- Initiated the EMPOWER program to increase efficiency in state government
- Advocated revisions in the juvenile justice system and in higher education
- Reorganized state government’s merit system
Notes
- One of only two Kentucky governors to serve two successive terms
Term: 2003- 2007
Party: Republican
Resident KY County: Fayette
Election Returns:
Ernie
Fletcher
593, 058
Ben Chandler 484,804
Born: 11/12/1952
Died:
State/County of Birth: Montgomery
Former Occupation(s): U.S. Congressman, family practice physician, CEO of Saint Joseph Medical Foundation, pastor of a Baptist church
Term: 2007-
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Clark
Election Returns:
Steven L. Beshear 619,552 (58.7%)
Ernie Fletcher 435,773 (41.3%)
Born:9/21/1944
Died:
State/County of Birth: Hopkins
Former Occupation(s):Attorney General, Lt. Governor, Attorney