Senator Wendell H. Ford

Recipient of Leadership Kentucky’s

2006 Flame of Excellence Award

Senator Wendell H. Ford grew up in Owensboro, and graduated from Daviess County High. He attended the University of Kentucky and served in the United States Army during WWII. After WWII he joined the Kentucky Army National Guard and served 13 years. He is married to the former Jean Neel of Owensboro and they have two children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The esteemed Senator from Kentucky began his political career as a Kentucky State Senator in 1965 and was elected Lt. Governor in 1967, serving under a Republican Governor, Louie B. Nunn. Four years later he became the 49th Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

In 1974 his constituents sent him to Washington, DC as their United States Senator, marking the beginning of his long and successful service. He was re-elected by overwhelming margins in 1980 and 1986. In 1992 he made history when he received the largest number of votes ever recorded by a candidate for elected office in the Commonwealth.

On March 14, 1998, Senator Ford became Kentucky’s longest serving United States Senator breaking the mark held by Alben W. Barkley. Ford’s untiring work ethic and gentlemanly demeanor helped him rise to 11th in overall seniority and ranked 6th among Democrats in the 105th Congress. His tenacity led him to hold the position of Assistant Democratic Leader from 1990 until his retirement, being reelected without opposition. In his long lasting political career, Wendell Ford never lost a race.

Ford became known as a staunch supporter of the economic interest of Kentucky farmers and a national leader on energy, aviation, federal election reform and other issues. His colleagues referred to him as “one of the great minds in the Senate.” He shaped major legislation in these areas, including the National Voter Registration Act, The Family and Medical Leave Act and numerous national energy and aviation bills.

After retiring from the U.S. Senate, Ford joined the firm of Dickstein, Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky as a Senior Legislative Advisor. Still very active, Senator Ford teaches three days each month at the University of Kentucky’s Martin School of Public Policy and Administration. He is actively involved in the development of the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center at the Owensboro Area Museum. The mission of the new center is to encourage students to take an interest in government at all levels and to study and develop issues important to their futures.