October 14, 2003(2003-10-14) (aged 78) Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting place
Riverside Cemetery Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Political party
Democratic
Spouses
Frances Holleman
(m. 1948; died 1985)
Lucy Alexander Winchester
(m. 1988–2003)
Children
4
Relatives
James Breathitt Jr. (uncle)
Profession
Lawyer
Military service
Allegiance
United States
Branch/service
United States Army U.S. Army Air Force
Years of service
1942–1945
Edward Thompson Breathitt Jr. (November 26, 1924 – October 14, 2003) was an American politician from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. A member of one of the state's political families, he was the 51st Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1963 to 1967. After serving in World War II and graduating from the University of Kentucky, Breathitt worked on the presidential campaign of Adlai Stevenson, the senatorial campaign of Alben Barkley, and the gubernatorial campaign of Bert T. Combs. When Combs won the governorship in 1959, he appointed Breathitt as personnel commissioner, where he wrote legislation establishing the first merit system for state employees. He continued to hold appointive offices throughout Combs' tenure, and in 1962, Combs endorsed Breathitt to succeed him as governor.
Breathitt defeated two-time former governor A. B. "Happy" Chandler in the Democratic primary, ending Chandler's political career. He went on to win the general election over Republican Louie B. Nunn. Breathitt continued Combs' work of improving state highways and parks, improving education funding, and strengthening regulations on strip mining. His major accomplishment as governor was the passage of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, the first desegregation law passed by a southern state. His biggest disappointment was his inability to win approval of a new state constitution.
Following his term as governor, Breathitt worked as legal counsel for Southern Railway, and later became vice-president of public affairs for Norfolk Southern Corporation. He engaged in numerous community service activities and served on political commissions aimed at eliminating poverty. Breathitt collapsed while making a speech at Lexington Community College on October 10, 2003. He was admitted to the University of Kentucky Hospital, but remained comatose after the collapse and died four days later.
Breathitt's oral history project is housed at the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky Libraries and is also available [1]
1832. James Breathitt Sr., NedBreathitt's grandfather, had served as state attorney general from 1907 to 1911, and his uncle, James Breathitt Jr., was lieutenant...
governor in 1963, but ultimately lost a close election to Democrat NedBreathitt. An executive order signed by Governor Bert T. Combs that desegregated...
Governor Breathitt may refer to: John Breathitt (1786–1834), 11th Governor of Kentucky NedBreathitt (1924–2003), 51st Governor of Kentucky This disambiguation...
nominee NedBreathitt defeated Republican nominee Louie Nunn with 50.74% of the vote. Primary elections were held on May 28, 1963. NedBreathitt, former...
Governor NedBreathitt asked him to run against Casper "Cap" Gardner, the state senate's majority leader and a major obstacle to Breathitt's progressive...
The Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway was the designation for the 71.3-mile (114.7 km) freeway from Henderson to Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The parkway...
Glashan 1979, p. 108. Dubin 2003, p. 1828. Sobel 1978, p. 515. "John Breathitt". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 1, 2023. Dubin 2003...
elections were held in November 1967, in three states. In Kentucky, NedBreathitt wasn't allowed to run for a second term under the term limits rule at...
Benjamin Chandler] in 1963". His opponent in the primary was Edward T. "Ned" Breathitt Jr., the choice of outgoing Governor Bert Combs. Chandler reverted to...
District of Kentucky. During the administration of Combs' successor, NedBreathitt, Republicans gained strength within the state behind the leadership...
he was encouraged by Democratic leaders – including former governor NedBreathitt, Senator Wendell H. Ford, and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee...
Kentucky Supreme Court, 2002 Kenny Rapier, State Senator, 2002 Edward T. "Ned" Breathitt, Governor, 2003 Louie B. Nunn, Governor, 2004 William E. McAnulty Jr...
Brinson, Betsey; Williams, Kenneth H.; Breathitt, Ned (January 2001). "An Interview with Governor NedBreathitt on Civil Rights: "The Most Significant...
unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate in 1963 but had narrowly lost to Democrat NedBreathitt. At the time, Kentucky governors could not succeed themselves in office...
Governors Association. Retrieved February 17, 2018. "Edward Thompson Breathitt Jr". Hall of Distinguished Alumni. UK Alumni Association. Retrieved January...
Representative Steve Beshear '68, former Kentucky governor Edward T. NedBreathitt '50, former Kentucky governor Stephen Bright '74, advocate and law school...
D-Wingo, to vote for the civil-rights bill proposed by Gov. Edward "Ned" Breathitt. Clapp replied that if he voted for the bill he wouldn't get re-elected...
Global Information
United States
United States Army