Wendell H. Ford

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Wendell Ford
U.S. Senator, Kentucky
In office December 1974–January 1999
Preceded by	Marlow Cook
Succeeded by	Jim Bunning
Born	September 8, 1924 Owensboro, Kentucky
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. Ford served in the United States Army during World War II. Ford served as the top assistant to Governor Bert T. Combs from 1959 to 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 unil 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 to 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.

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 Ford profile, NNDB

• Official Congressional Biography

Preceded by Louie B. Nunn	Governor of Kentucky 1971–1974	Succeeded by Julian M. Carroll
Preceded by Harry Lee Waterfield	Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky 1967–1971	Succeeded by Julian M. Carroll
Preceded by Marlow W. Cook	U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Kentucky 1974-1999	Succeeded by Jim Bunning
Preceded by Alan Cranston	Senate Majority Whip 1991-1995	Succeeded by Trent Lott
Preceded by Alan K. Simpson	Senate Minority Whip 1995-1999	Succeeded by Harry Reid
Preceded by Henry Ward	Democratic nominee for Governor of Kentucky 1971–1971	Succeeded by Julian M. Carroll
Preceded by Harry Lee Waterfield	Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky 1967–1967	Succeeded by Julian M. Carroll
Preceded by Katherine Peden	Democratic Nominee for the United States Senate (Class 3) from Kentucky 1974-1980-1986-1992	Succeeded by Scotty Baesler

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 Kentucky also had two Confederate Governors: George W. Johnson and Richard Hawes.

Lieutenant Governors of Kentucky

Bullitt • Caldwell • Slaughter • Hickman • Slaughter • Barry • McAfee • Breathitt • J. Morehead • Wickliffe • M. Thomson • Dixon • Helm • J. Thompson • Hardy • Boyd • Jacob • Stevenson • Carlisle • Underwood • Cantrill • Hindman • Bryan • Alford • Worthington • Marshall • Beckham • Thorne • Cox • McDermott • Black • Ballard • Breathitt, Jr. • Chandler • Johnson • Myers • Tuggle • Wetherby • Beauchamp • Waterfield • Wyatt • Waterfield • Ford • Carroll • Stovall • Collins • Beshear • Jones • Patton • Henry • Pence

Persondata
NAME	Ford, Wendell Hampton
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Kentucky politician
DATE OF BIRTH	September 8, 1924
PLACE OF BIRTH	Owensboro, Kentucky, United States
DATE OF DEATH	living
PLACE OF DEATH