Lawrence Wetherby

Lawrence Winchester Wetherby (born January 2, 1908 in Middletown , Jefferson County , Kentucky , † March 27, 1994 in Frankfort , Kentucky) was an American politician and governor of the state of Kentucky.

Early years and advancement

Lawrence Wetherby graduated from the University of Kentucky and then embarked on a successful legal career. He was a judge in Jefferson County between 1933 and 1937 and again from 1942 to 1943. Since 1943 he was politically active. That year he became chairman of the Democratic Party's local chapter in the 34th county, a position he held until 1956. In 1947 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. Three years later, incumbent Governor Earle Clements opted for a seat in the US Senate and resigned. With that, Wetherby became, according to the constitution, the office of governor of Kentucky.

Kentucky governor

Wetherby ended his predecessor's term and then ran himself for election. In 1951 he was confirmed in office with 54.6% of the vote against Eugene Siler (45.4%). During his tenure, a separate department for the mentally ill was established ( Department of Mental Health ). New toll roads have been built and new youth protection laws have been passed. The enforcement of desegregation in state schools is also remarkable . At the same time, teachers' incomes were increased.

After his term in office on December 13, 1955, he initially remained connected to politics. In 1956 he made a fruitless attempt to be elected to the US Senate as the successor to Alben W. Barkley ; he was defeated by John Sherman Cooper . Between 1964 and 1966 he was a delegate to a conference to revise the Kentucky Constitution. He was elected to the Kentucky Senate in 1965 and served as its president from 1966 to 1968. Lawrence Wetherby died on March 27, 1994. He was married to Helen Dwyer, with whom he had three children.

Web links

• Lawrence Wetherby at the National Governors Association (English)
• Lawrence Wetherby in the database of Find a Grave (English)