Wendell H. Ford Dies - One of the longest serving senators from Kentucky, who also served a term as governor of the state, has been reported dead.
According to a spokesperson for E.M. Ford & Company, Wendell H. Ford died on Thursday morning about 7 months after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Reports indicate that Ford died in his home in Owensboro.
Ford, 90, was considered a Democrat icon in Kentucky - he had served as the head of the party in the state virtually throughout his political career, which lasted nearly 3 decades. Ford had reportedly been undergoing chemotherapy treatment prior to his death.
Ford was born in Daviess County on Sept. 8, 1924. He served in the Second World War and had a short stint with the military before moving on to politics. He served one term in the Kentucky Senate before running for the office of lieutenant governor in 1967 and winning. In 1971, he ran for governor and won to become the 53rd Governor of Kentucky. But after just one term in the governor's seat, he ran for a seat in the US Senate and won. Ford was subsequently elected three times and served a total of four terms in the Senate before his retirement in 1999.
Ford was a renowned user of tobacco and was one of the main defenders of the tobacco industry. But he was forced to give up the pipe about a decade ago after he broke his hip.
Ford had two children with his wife Jean Deel, who he has been married to for more than 70 years. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Several top Kentucky politicians have publicly mourned the death of Wendell H. Ford.
