Wendell H. Ford

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Wendell Ford
Wendell Ford
U.S. Senator, Kentucky
Term of office:
December 1974–January 1999
Political party: Democratic
Preceded by: Marlow Cook
Succeeded by: Jim Bunning
Born: September 8, 1924
Owensboro, Kentucky
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.

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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