Individual Details
Edward Thompson "Ned" Breathitt
(26 Nov 1924 - 14 Oct 2003)
Former governor of Kentucky.
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Posted on Wed, Oct. 15, 2003
Former Gov. 'Ned' Breathitt dies
STAFF, WIRE REPORT
Edward Thompson "Ned" Breathitt Jr., who helped secure unprecedented legislation on civil rights and environmental protection while serving as Kentucky's 47th governor from 1963 to 1967, died late last night at the University of Kentucky Hospital, where he was admitted after collapsing during a speech four days earlier, a spokesman said. He was 78.
Mr. Breathitt had been in a coma since Friday, when he collapsed during a dinner speech at UK. His cardiologist reported Monday that Mr. Breathitt collapsed due to an abnormal heart rhythm. Mr. Breathitt died at 11:51 p.m., the hospital said in a statement.
Mr. Breathitt, whose career after the governor's office included stints as a railroad executive, a higher education advocate and a civic leader in Lexington, led Kentucky during some of America's most tumultuous times.
Though decades removed from office, Mr. Breathitt was never far from centers of political power. He became the Southern Railway System's general counsel after leaving the governorship, moved to Washington, D.C., as a vice president in 1972, and was the company's top lobbyist for 20 years.
Mr. Breathitt retired in 1992 and returned to Kentucky to join the Lexington office of Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs, the state's largest law firm.
Mr. Breathitt, the only child of Edward and Mary Wallace Breathitt, was born into a family of considerable political achievement on Nov. 26, 1924, in Hopkinsville. John Breathitt, elected governor in 1832 and namesake of an Eastern Kentucky county, was his distant ancestor. His grandfather, James Breathitt Sr., was elected attorney general in 1907 and an uncle, James Breathitt Jr., became lieutenant governor in 1937.
In recent months, Mr. Breathitt had been active with Bluegrass FLOW, an organization advocating a takeover of Kentucky-American Water Co. by the city of Lexington.
Funeral arrangements were pending, UK said.
Ned Breathitt
Edward Thompson Breathitt Jr., the former governor of Kentucky, died on Oct. 14 after collapsing during a speech at the University of Kentucky Lexington Community College last Friday night. Doctors said Breathitt suffered from an abnormal heart rhythm. He fell into a coma and did not regain consciousness. He was 78.
Breathitt spent three years in the Army Air Corps during World War II, then received his undergraduate and law degree from the University of Kentucky. After passing the bar, he spent eight years working as a lawyer in his hometown of Hopkinsville.
A liberal Democrat, Breathitt was elected to the Kentucky House in 1951. He spent seven years in office before leaving to aid in former Vice President Alben Barkley's Senate campaign.
In 1963, Breathitt was elected governor of Kentucky on a platform of prohibiting racial discrimination in public places. Racial harmony was a theme of his inaugural speech, and he used that moment to call on Kentuckians to embrace the civil rights movement and cast off "hate, bigotry and prejudice." During his four years in office, Breathitt urged the state to approve tough antidiscrimination laws and established the Kentucky Educational Television network.
Once he left office, Breathitt worked as the general counsel for the Southern Railway System and served as the company's top lobbyist in Washington, D.C. for two decades.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on Wed, Oct. 15, 2003
Former Gov. 'Ned' Breathitt dies
STAFF, WIRE REPORT
Edward Thompson "Ned" Breathitt Jr., who helped secure unprecedented legislation on civil rights and environmental protection while serving as Kentucky's 47th governor from 1963 to 1967, died late last night at the University of Kentucky Hospital, where he was admitted after collapsing during a speech four days earlier, a spokesman said. He was 78.
Mr. Breathitt had been in a coma since Friday, when he collapsed during a dinner speech at UK. His cardiologist reported Monday that Mr. Breathitt collapsed due to an abnormal heart rhythm. Mr. Breathitt died at 11:51 p.m., the hospital said in a statement.
Mr. Breathitt, whose career after the governor's office included stints as a railroad executive, a higher education advocate and a civic leader in Lexington, led Kentucky during some of America's most tumultuous times.
Though decades removed from office, Mr. Breathitt was never far from centers of political power. He became the Southern Railway System's general counsel after leaving the governorship, moved to Washington, D.C., as a vice president in 1972, and was the company's top lobbyist for 20 years.
Mr. Breathitt retired in 1992 and returned to Kentucky to join the Lexington office of Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs, the state's largest law firm.
Mr. Breathitt, the only child of Edward and Mary Wallace Breathitt, was born into a family of considerable political achievement on Nov. 26, 1924, in Hopkinsville. John Breathitt, elected governor in 1832 and namesake of an Eastern Kentucky county, was his distant ancestor. His grandfather, James Breathitt Sr., was elected attorney general in 1907 and an uncle, James Breathitt Jr., became lieutenant governor in 1937.
In recent months, Mr. Breathitt had been active with Bluegrass FLOW, an organization advocating a takeover of Kentucky-American Water Co. by the city of Lexington.
Funeral arrangements were pending, UK said.
Ned Breathitt
Edward Thompson Breathitt Jr., the former governor of Kentucky, died on Oct. 14 after collapsing during a speech at the University of Kentucky Lexington Community College last Friday night. Doctors said Breathitt suffered from an abnormal heart rhythm. He fell into a coma and did not regain consciousness. He was 78.
Breathitt spent three years in the Army Air Corps during World War II, then received his undergraduate and law degree from the University of Kentucky. After passing the bar, he spent eight years working as a lawyer in his hometown of Hopkinsville.
A liberal Democrat, Breathitt was elected to the Kentucky House in 1951. He spent seven years in office before leaving to aid in former Vice President Alben Barkley's Senate campaign.
In 1963, Breathitt was elected governor of Kentucky on a platform of prohibiting racial discrimination in public places. Racial harmony was a theme of his inaugural speech, and he used that moment to call on Kentuckians to embrace the civil rights movement and cast off "hate, bigotry and prejudice." During his four years in office, Breathitt urged the state to approve tough antidiscrimination laws and established the Kentucky Educational Television network.
Once he left office, Breathitt worked as the general counsel for the Southern Railway System and served as the company's top lobbyist in Washington, D.C. for two decades.
Events
| Birth | 26 Nov 1924 | Hopkinsville, KY | |||
| Death | 14 Oct 2003 |
Families
| Spouse | Lucy Moulthrop Alexander |