Wendell H. Ford

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wendell H. Ford
United States Senator from Kentucky
In office December 28, 1974 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by	Marlow Cook
Succeeded by	Jim Bunning
19th United States Senate Majority Whip
In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1995
Leader	George Mitchell
Preceded by	Alan Cranston (D)
Succeeded by	Trent Lott (R)
17th United States Senate Minority Whip
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999
Leader	Tom Daschle
Preceded by	Alan K. Simpson (R)
Succeeded by	Harry Reid (D)
20th United States Senate Democratic Whip
In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1999
Leader	George Michell Tom Daschle
Preceded by	Alan Cranston
Succeeded by	Harry Reid
53rd Governor of Kentucky
In office December 7, 1971 – December 28, 1974
Lieutenant	Julian M. Carroll
Succeeded by	Louie B. Nunn
45th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
In office December 12, 1967 – December 7, 1971
Governor	Louie B. Nunn
Preceded by	Harry Lee Waterfield
Succeeded by	Julian M. Carroll
Born	September 8, 1924 (1924-09-08) (age 83) Owensboro, Kentucky
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Jean Ford
Religion	Baptist

Wendell Hampton Ford (born September 8, 1924) is an American politician from Kentucky who belongs to the Democratic Party.

Ford was born in Owensboro, Kentucky and graduate from the University of Kentucky in 1943, where he also became a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Ford served in the United States Army during World War II. Ford served as the top assistant to Governor Bert T. Combs from 1959 - 1963. He then served in the state senate from 1965 until his election as Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky in 1967. He served until 1971, when he ran against his former mentor Combs in the Democratic primary and defeated him. He won the general election in November and served as governor until 1974, when he was elected to the United States Senate, defeating incumbent Republican Marlow Cook. Cook resigned his seat in December so that Ford would have a higher standing in seniority in the Senate. He was reelected in 1980, 1986 and 1992. From 1991 - 1999 he served as Democratic Senate whip, the number two position among Senate Democrats, serving as Senate Majority Whip until 1995 and as Minority Whip until 1999.

Ford didn't run for a fifth term in 1998, electing instead to retire to Owensboro. He is the longest-serving senator in Kentucky history. Because of his achievements and long-standing commitment to public service in Kentucky, the Western Kentucky Parkway bears his name.

Ford was active in the Jaycees, serving as the 38th President of the US Junior Chamber.

Ford currently teaches politics to the youth of the Owensboro, Kentucky community from the Owensboro Museum of Science and History, which houses a replica of Ford's Senate office.

[edit] External links

• Wendell H. Ford at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Wendell Ford profile, NNDB

v • d • e United States Senate Majority Whips Lewis • Curtis • Jones • Fess • Lewis • Minton • Hill • Wherry • Myers • Johnson • Saltonstall • Clements • Mansfield • Humphrey • Long • Kennedy • Byrd • Cranston • Stevens • Simpson • Cranston • Ford • Lott • Nickles • Reid • Nickles • Reid • McConnell • Durbin

v • d • e United States Senate Minority Whips Wadsworth • Curtis • Gerry • Sheppard • Hebert • Wherry • Lucas • Saltonstall • Clements • Saltonstall • Dirksen • Kuchel • Scott • Griffin • Stevens • Cranston • Simpson • Ford • Reid • Nickles • Reid • Nickles • Reid • Durbin • Lott • Kyl

v • d • e Governors of Kentucky Shelby • Garrard • Greenup • Scott • Shelby • Madison • Slaughter • Adair • Desha • Metcalfe • J. Breathitt • J. Morehead • Clark • Wickliffe • Letcher • Owsley • Crittenden • Helm • Powell • C. Morehead • Magoffin • Robinson • Bramlette • Helm • Stevenson • Leslie • McCreary • Blackburn • Knott • Buckner • Brown • Bradley • Taylor • Goebel • Beckham • Willson • McCreary • Stanley • Black • Morrow • Fields • Sampson • Laffoon • Chandler • Johnson • Willis • Clements • Wetherby • Chandler • Combs • E. Breathitt • Nunn • Ford • Carroll • Brown Jr. • Collins • Wilkinson • Jones • Patton • Fletcher • Beshear Kentucky also had two Confederate Governors: George W. Johnson and Richard Hawes.

v • d • e United States Senators from Kentucky Class 2 Brown • Thruston • Clay • Bibb • Walker • Barry • Hardin • Crittenden • Johnson • Bibb • Crittenden • Morehead • J. Underwood • Thompson • Powell • Guthrie • McCreery • Stevenson • Beck • Carlisle • Lindsay • Blackburn • Paynter • James • Martin • Stanley • Sackett • Robsion • Williamson • M. Logan • Chandler • Stanfill • Cooper • Chapman • T. Underwood • Cooper • Barkley • Humphreys • Cooper • Huddleston • McConnell Class 3 Edwards • Marshall • J. Breckinridge • Adair • Clay • Pope • Bledsoe • Talbot • W. Logan • Talbot • Rowan • Clay • Crittenden • Metcalfe • Clay • Meriwether • Dixon • Crittenden • J.C. Breckinridge • Davis • Machen • McCreery • Williams • Blackburn • Deboe • McCreary • Bradley • Camden • Beckham • Ernst • Barkley • Withers • Clements • Morton • Cook • Ford • Bunning