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Kentucky New Era
October 15, 2003
‘A great man'
Ex-govenor native son dead at 78
Hopkinsville's native son, former Gov. Edward T. "Ned" Breathitt,
died Tuesday night at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington,
four days after he collapsed while delivering a dinner speech. He was 78.
Breathitt, a liberal Democrat who served as governor from 1963 to 1967, collapsed
as a result of ventricular fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm that was not
caused by a heart attack, his cardiologist, Dr. John Gurley, said on Monday.
Breathitt died at 11:51 p.m. EDT, according to hospital officials. He had
been in a coma since he collapsed while giving a speech at a Lexington Community
College volunteer appreciation dinner at the UK campus.
The former governor was transported to the UK hospital and admitted to the
intensive care unit. From the time he collapsed, Breathitt was unconscious and
breathing on a ventilator.
Many in the county today are remembering Breathitt, perhaps the community's
most celebrated political figure. Every year in May, for example, Democratic
candidates seeking political office gather for the annual Ned Breathitt Day
Dinner hosted by the local Democratic Party. The event this past spring was
Breathitt's last local public appearance.
"First of all, he was a great man. He truly believed in the Democratic
Party and he did a lot for the party and its candidates," said Don Henderson,
chairman of the county's Democratic Party.
Christian County historian William Turner, a personal friend of Breathitt's
and acquaintance for more than 50 years, said Breathitt "was a good, honest,
honorable man."
"He was soft spoken, but firm in his convictions," he said. "His
passing is of great sorrow to me."
After graduating from Hopkinsville High School in 1941, Breathitt spent three
years in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He graduated from UK in 1948
and its law school in 1950 and then returned to Hopkinsville to practice law
as a partner in the firm Trimble, Soyars and Breathitt until his election as
Kentucky's governor in November 1963.
In his inaugural speech on Dec. 10, 1963, Breathitt championed racial harmony,
calling on Kentuckians to be "first in nobility of spirit, first in their
determination to cast away hate, bigotry and prejudice."
With Breathitt's backing, in 1966 Kentucky became the first southern state
to enact a civil rights law, shortly after the federal law had passed. But the
state law took the issue a step farther and prohibited racial discrimination
in hiring.
In addition to civil rights, Breathitt helped to boost the state's education
budget as governor. Additionally, Kentucky Educational Television was created
while Breathitt was in office, and he is considered the founder of Hopkinsville
Community College.
He also supported strip mining regulations and campaign finance legislation.
In September 2000, the former Pennyrile Parkway, which stretches from Henderson
to Hopkinsville, was renamed in Breathitt's honor.
Before the governorship, Breathitt was elected to three terms in the General
Assembly, serving as a lawmaker for the 9th District in the House of Representatives
from 1952 to 1958. He also was state personnel commissioner.
"He's been one of the most respected politicians in Kentucky. I've never
heard a bad word about him," said 3rd District state Sen. Joey Pendleton,
a Hopkinsville Democrat who became acquainted with Breathitt by working on his
1963 gubernatorial campaign.
Breathitt has served as a member of several university boards, including UK
where he was chairman for many years, as well as Morehead State University and
Kentucky State universities.
"UK made great strides under his leadership, and we will always be grateful
for his tireless service," UK president Lee T. Todd Jr. said in a hospital
statement announcing Breathitt's death. "We will truly miss his friendship,
counsel and his loving service to UK."
After serving one term as governor, Breathitt became the Southern Railway
System's general counsel, moved to Washington, D.C. in 1972 as a vice president
and was the company's top lobbyist for 20 years.
Breathitt retired in 1992 and returned to Kentucky to live in Lexington, where
he joined the office of Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs, the state's largest law firm.
Edward Thompson Breathitt Jr. was the only child of Edward and Mary Wallace
Breathitt born into considerable political involvement on Nov. 26, 1924, in
Hopkinsville.
A distant ancestor, John Breathitt, was elected governor in 1832. Breathitt
County in eastern Kentucky was named for him.
Breathitt's grandfather, James Breathitt Sr., was elected attorney general
in 1907, and an uncle, James Breathitt Jr., became lieutenant governor in 1937.
Breathitt met his first wife, the former Frances Holleman, at UK, and they
had four children. She died of cancer in 1985.
Breathitt later married the former Lucy Winchester, who had been White House
social secretary for President Nixon.
According to published reports, burial will be Saturday in Hopkinsville. Funeral
arrangements were pending as of presstime today and will be announced later,
according to university officials.
Gov. Paul Patton has ordered flags to be flown at half–staff in Breathitt's
honor and announced that a memorial service will be held 11 a.m. EDT Thursday
in the rotunda of the state Capitol. Breathitt's body will lie in state in the
rotunda after the service until 5 p.m. EDT.
(Editor's note: Kentucky New Era News Editor Daryl Tabor and The Associated
Press contributed to this story.)
Kentucky New Era
October 15, 2003
Breathitt known as ‘founder' of HCC
When Edward T. "Ned" Breathitt became Kentucky's governor in 1963,
he had already played a key role in the state's eventual creation of a community
college system.
Breathitt was a member of the state House of Representatives from 1952-58,
and during that time preliminary work was under way to establish a network for
two-year colleges across the state.
"It was then that he and few others began laying the groundwork for the
community colleges," local historian William T. Turner said.
In 1962, then-Gov. Bert T. Combs signed legislation that created the University
of Kentucky community college system and designated Prestonsburg, Hopkinsville,
Somerset and Hazard, respectively, as the sites for the first colleges as funds
became available for construction.
A Hopkinsville Community College advisory committee was formed in 1962. A
local campaign followed to raise money for the project and generated $72,585
in private donations by 1964.
On Sept. 2, 1964, a ground-breaking ceremony was held for the college on North
Drive.
Breathitt, who had been in office less than a year, was one of the dignitaries
who attended the ceremony that day.
He remained a supporter of the college throughout his life and was recognized
as the key political figure behind the school's creation. Many people refer
to him as the founder of HCC.
"Ned was always supportive of the college, even after his governorship
ended," said Turner, who retired as a history professor at HCC this year.
"Everybody at the college knew Ned Breathitt," Turner said. "He
visited often."
Dr. Bonnie Rogers, HCC president, said she admired Breathitt's emphasis on
education as a key to economic development.
"He recognized the value of education, and he was always willing to put
his energy into it," she said.
During a ceremony in the HCC academic building on Oct. 29, 1998, the college
unveiled a bronze bust of Breathitt. It was created by his son, Edward T. Breathitt
III, and recognizes the former governor as the "founder" of HCC.
The bust is the centerpiece of a display of photographs recognizing former
presidents and other key figures in the college's history.
After Breathitt's first wife, Frances, died in 1984, he helped to create an
HCC endowment fund in her honor. The fund, established in 1988, was created
with $12,000 in initial donations and had grown to approximately $17,500 at
the end of the 2002-03 fiscal year. The Frances Breathitt endowment supports
scholarships for members of the HCC student government.
Breathitt's influence in education extended well beyond HCC.
During his administration as governor, educational television and state vocational
education programs were created.
Breathitt served on the governing boards of the University of Kentucky, Morehead
State University and Kentucky State University. He also was a member of the
Council on Higher Education.
Cincinnati Enquirer
October 5, 2003
Candidates pull punches in gubernatorial debate
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS - Just before last week's Northern Kentucky gubernatorial
debate, Gateway Community College President Dr. Ed Hughes jokingly offered a
bounty to the journalist who could work the school's name into a question posed
to the candidates.
It was Democrat Ben Chandler who fulfilled Hughes' request - sort of.
In making a point about education achievements in the region, Chandler mistakenly
said "Gatewood" rather than "Gateway." The gaffe brought
a chuckle from the crowd of more than 1,000 who had packed into Regents Hall
on Northern Kentucky University's campus.
Gatewood is, of course, Gatewood Galbraith, the perennial candidate who this
year is running for attorney general.
Too bad a slip of the tongue was the most memorable moment of an event that
had tons of potential but only ounces of excitement.
It was all too apparent that Chandler and his opponent, Republican Ernie Fletcher,
are locked in a tight battle that polls show is basically dead even.
The pair debated like heavyweight fighters squaring off in a title fight.
They danced around each other, getting close in some verbal clinches but never
really sparring.
That's sad, because the candidates really squandered an opponent to pick up
some ground.
The rambunctious crowd was hungry for some red meat. Buses of supporters came
in from down state. Hundreds of students showed up.
Legacy, the fledgling Northern Kentucky young professionals group, did a tremendous
job promoting and crafting the debate, overcoming an early snub from Chandler
to deliver a top-notch political event.
You could feel the excitement and energy as the debate was set to begin. Yet
it was Chandler and Fletcher who deflated the balloon.
There's only about a month to go before Election Day. What better time to draw
some blood than before a room packed with people ready to pounce on a good,
partisan political attack?
Maybe the journalists on the panel - myself included - could have asked some
better questions. But even when the candidates had the chance to go at one another,
the encounters were timid.
Chandler stayed with his criticism of a vote Fletcher made on a federal prescription
drug plan, a charge that Fletcher has been deft in addressing.
Fletcher tried to score with a charge that Chandler, the state's incumbent
and two-term attorney general, has been lax in collecting child-support payments.
But collecting back child support is not a duty overseen by the attorney general,
according to state law.
Don't get me wrong. The candidates did hash out some issues, including gaming,
how to best handle the state budget crisis and whether it's time for a change
in Frankfort.
Chandler delivered a smart comeback after Fletcher went on his familiar diatribe
of blasting Democratic "good ol' boys" in Frankfort and how Chandler
is part of the problem rather than the solution.
"You seem to think I'm responsible for everything that happens in Frankfort.
The next thing I'm going to hear is I caused Paul Patton to have the affair"
with Tina Conner that doomed the incumbent governor's political career.
A funny line, a good debate - but hardly great.
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