| Wendell H. Ford | |
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| In office December 28, 1974 – January 3, 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Marlow Cook |
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| Succeeded by | Jim Bunning |
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| Born | September 8 1924 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. 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.
External links
- Wendell H. Ford at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Wendell Ford profile, NNDB
| Preceded by Hugh McKenna |
President of the United States Jaycees 1956–1957 |
Succeeded by Chuck Shearer |
| Preceded by Harry Lee Waterfield |
Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky 1967–1967 |
Succeeded by Julian M. Carroll |
| Preceded by Harry Lee Waterfield |
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky 1967–1971 |
Succeeded by Julian M. Carroll |
| Preceded by Henry Ward |
Democratic nominee for Governor of Kentucky 1971–1971 |
Succeeded by Julian M. Carroll |
| Preceded by Louie B. Nunn |
Governor of Kentucky 1971–1974 |
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 |
| Preceded by Marlow W. Cook |
United States Senator (Class 3) from Kentucky 1974–1999 |
Succeeded by Jim Bunning |
| Preceded by Alan Cranston California |
Senate Democratic Whip 1991-1999 |
Succeeded by Harry Reid Nevada |
| Senate Majority Whip 1991–1995 |
Succeeded by Trent Lott Mississippi |
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| Preceded by Alan K. Simpson Wyoming |
Senate Minority Whip 1995–1999 |
Succeeded by Harry Reid Nevada |
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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 |
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| 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 • Denhardt • Breathitt, Jr. • Chandler • Johnson • Myers • Tuggle • Wetherby • Beauchamp • Waterfield • Wyatt • Waterfield • Ford • Carroll • Stovall • Collins • Beshear • Jones • Patton • Henry • Pence • Mongiardo |
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| 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 |
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| Persondata | |
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| NAME | Ford, Wendell Hampton |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Kentucky politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 8, 1924 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Owensboro, Kentucky, United States |
| DATE OF DEATH | living |
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