List of governors of Kentucky explained

The governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of government of Kentucky,^[1] and serves as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.^[2] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws;^[3] the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kentucky General Assembly;^[4] the power to convene the legislature;^[5] and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.^[6] The governor is also empowered to reorganize the state government or reduce it in size. Historically, the office has been regarded as one of the most powerful executive positions in the United States.^[7]

Fifty-nine individuals have held the office of governor. Prior to a 1992 amendment to the state's constitution, the governor was prohibited from succeeding himself or herself in office, though four men (Isaac Shelby, John L. Helm, James B. McCreary and Happy Chandler) served multiple non-consecutive terms. Paul E. Patton, the first Kentucky governor eligible for a second consecutive term under the amendment, won his reelection bid in 1999. James Garrard succeeded himself in 1800, before the constitutional provision existed. Garrard is also the longest serving governor, serving for a total period of eight years and 90 days. In 2023 Democrat Andy Beshear became the 3rd incumbent governor in Kentucky history to be reelected to a second consecutive term.

William Goebel, who was elected to the office in the disputed election of 1899, remains the only governor of any U.S. state to die from assassination while in office.^[8] Goebel is also the shortest serving governor, serving for a period of only three days. Martha Layne Collins, who held the office from 1983 to 1987, was the first woman to serve as governor and was only the third woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state who was not the wife or widow of a previous governor. The 63rd and current Kentucky governor is Democrat Andy Beshear, who took office on December 10, 2019.

Governors

Kentucky County, Virginia was admitted to the Union as Kentucky on June 1, 1792. There have been 59 governors, serving 63 distinct terms.

An unelected group proclaimed Kentucky's secession from the Union on November 20, 1861, and it was annexed by the Confederate States of America on December 10, 1861. The Confederate government elected two governors, but it never held much control over the state.

The original 1792 Kentucky Constitution had the governor chosen by an electoral college for a term of four years, commencing on the first day of June.^[9] The second constitution in 1799 changed this to a popular vote, prevented governors from succeeding themselves within seven years of their terms, and moved the start date to the fourth Tuesday after the election.^[10] The third constitution in 1850 reduced the succession limitation to four years, and moved the start date of the term to the fifth Tuesday after the election.^[11] A 1992 amendment allowed governors to have a second term before being prevented from succeeding themselves for four years.^[12] Originally, should the office of governor be vacant, the speaker of the Senate would exercise the powers of the office;^[13] in 1799, the office of lieutenant governor was created to fill this role,^[14] and, as of 1992, is elected on the same ticket as the governor.^[15]

!scope="colgroup" colspan="3"

Governor	Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1	data-sort-value="Shelby, Isaac"			Isaac Shelby [16]	[17]  - June 1, 1796	Democratic- Republican	1792	Office did not exist
2		James Garrard [18]		[19]  - September 5, 1804	Democratic- Republican	1796
						1800
3		Christopher Greenup [20]		- August 23, 1808	Democratic- Republican	1804
							Vacant
4	data-sort-value="Scott, Charles"			Charles Scott [21]	- August 24, 1812	Democratic- Republican		1808
5	data-sort-value="Shelby, Isaac"			Isaac Shelby	- September 5, 1816	Democratic- Republican		1812
6	data-sort-value="Madison, George"			George Madison [22]	- October 14, 1816	Democratic- Republican		1816
7	data-sort-value="Slaughter, Gabriel"			Gabriel Slaughter [23]	[24]  - September 7, 1820	Democratic- Republican		Vacant
8	data-sort-value="Adair, John"			John Adair [25]	- August 24, 1824	Democratic- Republican	1820
9	data-sort-value="Desha, Joseph"			Joseph Desha [26]	[27]  - August 26, 1828	Democratic- Republican	1824
10	data-sort-value="Metcalfe, Thomas"			Thomas Metcalfe [28]	[29]  - August 28, 1832	National Republican	1828
11	data-sort-value="Breathitt, John"			John Breathitt [30]	- February 21, 1834	Democratic	1832
12	data-sort-value="Morehead, James"			James Turner Morehead [31]	[32]  - August 30, 1836	National Republican		Vacant
13	data-sort-value="Clark, James"			James Clark [33]	[34]  - August 27, 1839	Whig	1836
14	data-sort-value="Wickliffe, Charles"			Charles A. Wickliffe [35]	[36]  - September 2, 1840	Whig		Vacant
15	data-sort-value="Letcher, Robert"			Robert P. Letcher [37]	[38]  - September 4, 1844	Whig	1840
16	data-sort-value="Owsley, William"			William Owsley [39]	[40]  - September 6, 1848	Whig	1844
17	data-sort-value="Crittenden, John"			John J. Crittenden [41]	[42]  - July 30, 1850	Whig	1848
18	data-sort-value="Helm, John"			John L. Helm [43]	- September 2, 1851	Whig		Vacant
19	data-sort-value="Powell, Lazarus"			Lazarus W. Powell [44]	[45]  - September 4, 1855	Democratic	1851
20	data-sort-value="Morehead, Charles"			Charles S. Morehead [46]	[47]  - August 30, 1859	American	1855
21			Beriah Magoffin [48]	[49]  - August 18, 1862	Democratic	1859
							Vacant
22	data-sort-value="Robinson, James"			James Fisher Robinson [50]	[51]  - September 1, 1863	Democratic
23	data-sort-value="Bramlette, Thomas"			Thomas E. Bramlette [52]	[53]  - September 3, 1867	Union Democratic	1863
24	data-sort-value="Helm, John"			John L. Helm	[54]  - September 8, 1867	Democratic	1867
25		John W. Stevenson [55]		[56]  - February 13, 1871	Democratic		Vacant
						1868
26		Preston Leslie [57]		[58]  - August 31, 1875	Democratic
						1871
27	data-sort-value="McCreary, James"			James B. McCreary [59]	[60]  - September 2, 1879	Democratic		1875
28	data-sort-value="Blackburn, Luke"			Luke P. Blackburn [61]	[62]  - September 4, 1883	Democratic		1879
29	data-sort-value="Knott, J. Proctor"			J. Proctor Knott [63]	[64]  - August 30, 1887	Democratic		1883
30	data-sort-value="Buckner, Simon"			Simon Bolivar Buckner [65]	[66]  - September 1, 1891	Democratic		1887
31	data-sort-value="Brown, John 1"			John Y. Brown [67]	[68]  - December 10, 1895	Democratic		1891
32	data-sort-value="Bradley, William"			William O'Connell Bradley [69]	[70]  - December 12, 1899	Republican	1895
33	data-sort-value="Taylor, William"			William S. Taylor [71]	[72]  - January 31, 1900	Republican	1899
34	data-sort-value="Goebel, William"			William Goebel [73]	[74]  - February 3, 1900	Democratic
35		J. C. W. Beckham [75]		[76]  - December 10, 1907	Democratic		Vacant
						1900
						1903
36	data-sort-value="Willson, Augustus"			Augustus E. Willson [77]	[78]  - December 12, 1911	Republican	1907
37	data-sort-value="McCreary, James"			James B. McCreary	[79]  - December 7, 1915	Democratic	1911
38	data-sort-value="Stanley, Augustus"			Augustus Owsley Stanley [80]	[81]  - May 19, 1919	Democratic	1915
39	data-sort-value="Black, James"			James D. Black [82]	[83]  - December 9, 1919	Democratic		Vacant
40	data-sort-value="Morrow, Edwin"			Edwin P. Morrow [84]	[85]  - December 11, 1923	Republican	1919
41	data-sort-value="Fields, William"			William J. Fields [86]	[87]  - December 13, 1927	Democratic	1923
42	data-sort-value="Sampson, Flem"			Flem D. Sampson [88]	[89]  - December 8, 1931	Republican	1927
43	data-sort-value="Laffoon, Ruby"			Ruby Laffoon [90]	[91]  - December 10, 1935	Democratic	1931
44	data-sort-value="Chandler, Happy"			Happy Chandler [92]	[93]  - October 9, 1939	Democratic	1935
45		Keen Johnson [94]		[95]  - December 7, 1943	Democratic		Vacant
						1939
46	data-sort-value="Willis, Simeon"			Simeon Willis [96]	[97]  - December 9, 1947	Republican	1943
47	data-sort-value="Clements, Earle"			Earle Clements [98]	[99]  - November 27, 1950	Democratic	1947
48		Lawrence Wetherby [100]		[101]  - December 13, 1955	Democratic		Vacant
						1951
49	data-sort-value="Chandler, Happy"			Happy Chandler	[102]  - December 8, 1959	Democratic		1955
50	data-sort-value="Combs, Bert"			Bert Combs [103]	[104]  - December 10, 1963	Democratic		1959
51	data-sort-value="Breathitt, Ned"			Ned Breathitt [105]	[106]  - December 12, 1967	Democratic		1963
52	data-sort-value="Nunn, Louie"			Louie Nunn [107]	[108]  - December 7, 1971	Republican		1967
53	data-sort-value="Ford, Wendell"			Wendell Ford [109]	[110]  - December 28, 1974	Democratic		1971
54		Julian Carroll [111]		[112]  - December 11, 1979	Democratic		Vacant
						1975
55	data-sort-value="Brown, John 2"			John Y. Brown Jr. [113]	[114]  - December 13, 1983	Democratic		1979
56	data-sort-value="Collins, Martha"			Martha Layne Collins [115]	[116]  - December 8, 1987	Democratic		1983
57	data-sort-value="Wilkinson, Wallace"			Wallace Wilkinson [117]	[118]  - December 10, 1991	Democratic		1987
58	data-sort-value="Jones, Brereton"			Brereton C. Jones [119]	[120]  - December 12, 1995	Democratic		1991
59		Paul E. Patton [121]		[122]  - December 9, 2003	Democratic	1995
						1999
60	data-sort-value="Fletcher, Ernie"			Ernie Fletcher [123]	[124]  - December 11, 2007	Republican	2003
61			Steve Beshear [125]	[126]  - December 8, 2015	Democratic	2007
						2011
62	data-sort-value="Bevin, Matt"			Matt Bevin [127]	[128]  - December 10, 2019	Republican	2015
63			Andy Beshear [129]	[130]  - Incumbent	Democratic	2019
						2023

Confederate governors

During the Civil War, a group of secessionists met at Russellville to form a Confederate government for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This government never successfully displaced the government in Frankfort, and Kentucky remained in the Union through the entire war. Two men were elected governor of the Confederate government: George W. Johnson, who served from November 20, 1861, to his death on April 8, 1862, at the Battle of Shiloh, and, on Johnson's death, Richard Hawes, who served until the Confederate surrender on April 9, 1865. The Confederate government disbanded shortly after the end of the war in 1865.^[131]

See also

• Timeline of Kentucky history
• List of Kentucky General Assemblies

References

General

• Web site: Kentucky's Governors . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100708030053/http://www.kdla.ky.gov/resources/KYGovernors.htm . July 8, 2010 . July 13, 2010 . Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.
• Web site: Former Kentucky Governors . February 28, 2023 . National Governors Association.
• Book: Sobel, Robert . Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. II . Meckler Books . 1978 . 9780930466008 . February 27, 2023.
• Book: Dubin, Michael J. . United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County . 2003 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-1439-0.
• Book: Dubin, Michael J. . United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County . 2014 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-5646-8 . en.
• Book: Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest . American State Governors, 1776-1976 . 1977 . Oceana Publications . 978-0-379-00665-0 . September 23, 2023.
• Book: Glashan, Roy R. . American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978 . 1979 . Meckler Books . 978-0-930466-17-6.
• Web site: Our Campaigns - Governor of Kentucky - History . 2023-07-25 . www.ourcampaigns.com.
• Web site: Our Campaigns - Governor of Kentucky (CSA) - History . 2023-07-25 . www.ourcampaigns.com.

Constitution

• Web site: Kentucky Constitution . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100617101832/http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Legresou/Constitu/list1.htm . 2010-06-17 . July 13, 2010 . Kentucky Legislature.
• Web site: 1792 Kentucky Constitution . https://web.archive.org/web/20100313211032/http://courts.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7471028C-8BCC-41A2-BA80-02013D4FA550/0/1stKYConstitution.pdf . 2010-03-13 . July 13, 2010 . Commonwealth of Kentucky.
• Web site: 1799 Kentucky Constitution . https://web.archive.org/web/20100313211007/http://courts.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E5470543-A249-4265-8EDD-0C0DDD6A7212/0/2ndKYConstitution.pdf . 2010-03-13 . July 13, 2010 . Commonwealth of Kentucky.
• Web site: 1850 Kentucky Constitution . https://web.archive.org/web/20100313210940/http://courts.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/514E219E-9A7A-4D29-A862-0C9BD00A3EC1/0/3rdKYConstitution.pdf . 2010-03-13 . July 13, 2010 . Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Specific

External links

• Office of the Governor of Kentucky

Notes and References

1. KY Const. § 69.
2. KY Const. § 75.
3. KY Const. § 81
4. KY Const. § 88.
5. KY Const. § 80.
6. KY Const. § 77.
7. Encyclopedia: 1992 . Governor, Office of . The Kentucky Encyclopedia . The University Press of Kentucky . Lexington . Kleber . John E. . 0-8131-1772-0.
8. Encyclopedia: 1992 . Goebel Assassination . The Kentucky Encyclopedia . The University Press of Kentucky . Lexington . Kleber . John E. . 0-8131-1772-0.
9. 1799 Const. art. II, § 2–3
10. 1799 Const. art. III, § 3–5
11. 1850 Const. art. III, § 3–5
12. KY Const. § 71
13. 1792 Const. art. III, § 16–18
14. 1799 Const. art. III, § 16–18
15. KY Const. § 70
16. Web site: Isaac Shelby . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
17. News: 1792-06-30 . Carlisle, June 20 . 3 . Aurora General Advertiser . 2023-08-22.
18. Web site: James Garrard . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
19. News: 1796-07-22 . Garrard inaugurated June 1 (Other sources make it clear "1st inst." refers to June, not July) . 3 . Lancaster Intelligencer . 2023-08-22.
20. Web site: Christopher Greenup . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
21. Web site: Charles Scott . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
22. Web site: George Madison . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
23. Web site: Gabriel Slaughter . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
24. News: 1828-09-03 . Oaths of the Governor . 2 . The Argus of Western America . 2023-08-22.
25. Web site: John Adair . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
26. Web site: Joseph Desha . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
27. News: 1824-09-17 . Kentucky . 2 . The Charleston Daily Courier . 2023-08-23.
28. Web site: Thomas Metcalfe . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
29. News: 1828-08-30 . The Inauguration . 3 . Anti-Jackson Bulletin and Messenger of Truth . 2023-08-23.
30. Web site: John Breathitt . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
31. Web site: James Turner Morehead . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
32. News: 1834-03-05 . Death of Gov. Breathitt . 2 . The Pittsburgh Gazette . 2023-08-23.
33. Web site: James Clark . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
34. News: 1836-09-03 . Governor Clark . 2 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-23.
35. Web site: Charles Anderson Wickliffe . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
36. News: 1839-08-29 . Death of the Governor of Kentucky . 2 . Kentucky Gazette . 2023-08-23.
37. Web site: Robert Perkins Letcher . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
38. News: 1840-09-19 . New of the Week . 3 . The Native American . 2023-08-23.
39. Web site: William Owsley . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
40. News: 1844-09-07 . none . The Hon. Wm. Owsley took the usual oath of office at Frankfort on Wednesday, and is now Governor of this State. . 3 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-26.
41. Web site: John Jordan Crittenden . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
42. News: 1848-09-09 . Inauguration Day . 3 . The Louisville Daily Courier . 2023-08-26.
43. Web site: John Larue Helm . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
44. Web site: Lazarus Whitehead Powell . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
45. News: 1851-09-03 . Inauguration of the Governor and Lieut. Governor . 3 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-26.
46. Web site: Charles Slaughter Morehead . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
47. News: 1855-09-06 . The Inauguration Ceremonies . 1 . The Louisville Daily Courier . 2023-08-26.
48. Web site: Beriah Magoffin . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
49. News: 1859-08-31 . The Inauguration of Magoffin . 2 . The Louisville Daily Courier . 2023-08-26.
50. Web site: James Fisher Robinson . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
51. News: 1862-08-19 . Kentucky Legislature . 3 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-26.
52. Web site: Thomas Elliott Bramlette . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
53. News: 1863-09-03 . The Inauguration of Gov. Bramlette . 3 . Maysville Weekly Bulletin . 2023-09-27.
54. News: 1867-09-04 . Inauguration of Gov. Helm . 2 . The Owensboro Monitor . 2023-08-26.
55. Web site: John White Stevenson . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
56. News: 1867-09-09 . The Death of Governor Helm . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-26.
57. Web site: Preston Hopkins Leslie . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
58. News: 1871-02-17 . Kentucky Legislature . 2 . Kentucky Advocate . 2023-08-26.
59. Web site: James Bennett McCreary . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
60. News: 1875-09-01 . none . The inauguration of Hon. James B. McCreary, Governor elect of Kentucky, at the capital yesterday... . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-26.
61. Web site: Luke Pryor Blackburn . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
62. News: 1879-09-05 . The Inauguration . 2 . Interior Journal . 2023-08-26.
63. Web site: James Proctor Knott . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
64. News: 1883-09-07 . Kentucky's New Governor . 1 . Kentucky Advocate . 2023-08-26.
65. Web site: Simon Bolivar Buckner . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
66. News: 1887-08-31 . Gov. Buckner . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-26.
67. Web site: John Young Brown Sr. . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
68. News: 1891-09-01 . The New Rung In, the Old Rung Out at Frankfort . 1 . Lexington Herald-Leader . 2023-08-26.
69. Web site: William O. Bradley . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
70. News: 1895-12-10 . Gov. W. O. Bradley . 1 . Lexington Herald-Leader . 2023-08-26.
71. Web site: William Sylvester Taylor . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
72. News: 1899-12-12 . Wm. Sylvester Taylor, Governor of Kentucky . 1 . Lexington Herald-Leader . Associated Press . 2023-08-27.
73. Web site: William Goebel . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
74. News: 1900-02-01 . Solemn Scene Was the Inauguration of William Goebel As Governor . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
75. Web site: John Crepps Wickliffe Beckham . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
76. News: 1900-02-04 . Beckham Sworn In . 1 . Lexington Herald-Leader . Associated Press . 2023-08-27.
77. Web site: Augustus Everett Willson . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
78. News: 1907-12-11 . Willson Sworn In and Declares He Will Uphold Law . 1 . The Lexington Herald . 2023-08-27.
79. News: 1911-12-13 . Second Oath As Governor . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
80. Web site: Augustus Owsley Stanley . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
81. News: Kaltenbacher . Will S. . 1915-12-08 . Stanley Dedicates Himself to State's Service Amid Cheers . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
82. Web site: James Dixon Black . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
83. News: 1919-05-20 . Black Becomes 41st Governor . 3 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
84. Web site: Edwin Porch Morrow . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
85. News: Perry . Claud W. . 1919-12-10 . E. P. Morrow Is Sworn In As Governor . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
86. Web site: William Jason Fields . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
87. News: Briney . Russell . 1923-12-12 . Fields Assumes Duties As Governor . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
88. Web site: Flem Davis Sampson . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
89. News: Michler . George . 1927-12-14 . 10,000 Watch Ceremonies in Frankfort . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
90. Web site: Ruby Laffoon . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
91. News: Hart . Joe . 1931-12-09 . Laffoon Says He Will Keep Platform Pledges; Takes Oath As Governor Before Throng . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
92. Web site: Albert Benjamin Chandler . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
93. News: Henderson . J. Howard . 1935-12-11 . Chandler Sworn As Governor . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
94. Web site: Keen Johnson . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
95. News: 1939-10-10 . Chandler Resigns, Is Named Senator . 1 . The Lexington Herald . Associated Press . 2023-08-27.
96. Web site: Simeon Slavens Willis . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
97. News: Trout . Allan M. . 1943-12-08 . 6,000 See Wills Inaugurated Governor Amid Fanfare . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
98. Web site: Earle Chester Clements . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
99. News: Morris . Hugh . 1947-12-10 . Clements Asks Kentuckian's Unselfish Aid . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
100. Web site: Lawrence Winchester Wetherby . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
101. News: Stiles . S. V. . 1950-11-28 . Wetherby Takes Oath As Governor, Pledges a Program of Advancement . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
102. News: Morris . Hugh . 1955-12-14 . Big Parade Delays Oath Rites . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
103. Web site: Bert Thomas Combs . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
104. News: Morris . Hugh . 1959-12-09 . Ceremony Held Under Clear Skies . 1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
105. Web site: Edward Thompson Breathitt . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
106. News: Patterson . Malcolm . 1963-12-11 . ETB, Waterfield Take Official Oath Just After Midnight . 1 . The Lexington Herald . 2023-08-27.
107. Web site: Louie Broady Nunn . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
108. News: Morris . Hugh . 1967-12-13 . Nunn and Ford Pledge Cooperation . A1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
109. Web site: Wendell Hampton Ford . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
110. News: Billiter . Bill . 1971-12-08 . Ford Pledges 'Service to the People' . A1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
111. Web site: Julian Morton Carroll . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
112. News: Wilson . Richard . 1974-12-29 . Julian Carroll Takes the Oath As Kentucky's 50th Governor . A1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
113. Web site: John Y. Brown Jr. . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
114. News: Johnson . Bob . 1979-12-12 . Brown Calls for Idealism As He Takes Oath of Office . A1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
115. Web site: Martha Layne Collins . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
116. News: Johnson . Bob . 1983-12-14 . Gov. Collins Vows To Put Kentucky First . A1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
117. Web site: Wallace G. Wilkinson . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
118. News: Johnson . Bob . 1987-12-09 . Wilkinson Promises Opportunity, Hope . A1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
119. Web site: Brereton C. Jones . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
120. News: Wolfe . Charles . 1991-12-11 . Oath More Fun the Second Time . 12A . The Paducah Sun . Associated Press . 2023-08-27.
121. Web site: Paul E. Patton . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
122. News: Cross . Al . 1995-12-13 . No Retreat From School Reform, He Vows at Inaugural . A1 . The Courier-Journal . 2023-08-27.
123. Web site: Ernie Fletcher . December 8, 2015 . March 1, 2023 . National Governors Association.
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