Albert Chandler, Jr.<br>
Joseph David Chandler
|relativesrelations=Former [[U.S. Representative]] A. B. Chandler, III (grandson)
|alma_mater=Transylvania University<br>[[Harvard Law School]]<br>[[University of Kentucky]]
|occupation=[[Attorney]]
'''Albert Benjamin Chandler, Sr.''' (July 14, 1898 – June 15, 1991), known as '''A. B. “Happy” Chandler''', was a colorful [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[politician]] from his native Commonwealth of [[Kentucky]]. From 1939 to 1945, he was one of Kentucky's two [[U.S. Senator]]s, representing the state's Class II seat. He served two nonconsecutive terms as [[governor]] of Kentucky, from 1935 to 1939 and from 1955 to 1959. He was also a state senator and one-term lieutenant governor.
From 1945 to 1951, he was the second commissioner of [[Major League Baseball]]; in 1982, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the oldest inductee in league history. His grandson, Albert "Ben " Chandler, III (born 1959), later served as a Democratic [[U.S. Representative]] for Kentucky's 6th congressional district, based about [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]] and including Chandler's residence in nearby Versailles (pronounced VER SAILS) in Woodford County.<ref name=findagrave>[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2397/albert-benjamin-chandler Albert Benjamin “Happy” Chandler (1898-1991)] - Find A Grave Memorial, accessed July 31, 2021/</ref>
==Background==
Chandler was born in [[rural]] Coryden in Henderson County in western Kentucky, the son of Joseph Sephus Chandler (1870–1959) and the former Callie Saunders.<ref>Lowell H. Harrison, "Chandler, Albert Benjamin," in John E. Kleber (ed.). ''The Kentucky Encyclopedia,'' the University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0. Retrieved December 20, 2010, p. 179.</ref> Though no marriage records exist, Joseph Chandler allegedly rescued Callie from an orphanage and married her when she was fifteen.<ref name=boyett> Frank Boyett, "Yesterday's News: Happy reunion", ''The Henderson Gleaner,'' November 9, 2008.</ref> In 1901, Callie abandoned the family, and the brothers were reared by their father. In his autobiography, Chandler said that his mother's leaving them was his earliest memory.<ref name=boyett/> Years later, Chandler found his mother living in [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], [[Florida]], and learned that she had remarried and he had half-siblings.<ref name=boyett /> Robert Chandler, his full brother, died tragically at the age of thirteen when he fell from a cherry tree.<ref name=flaherty113>Vincent X. Flaherty, "The Life Story of Albert B. "Happy" Chandler," "The Life Story of Albert B. "Happy" Chandler," ''Baseball Guide and Record Book'' ([[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]]: Charles C. Spink and Son, 1946). p. 113.</ref>
An athlete at Transylvania University, then Transylvania College in Lexington, Chandler pondered whether to pursue a career in professional baseball but instead pursued a law degree at [[Harvard Law School]] in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]]. Lacking financial means to continue, Chandler left Harvard after a year and instead completed his law degree at the [[University of Kentucky]] in Lexington in 1924.<ref name=findagrave/>
Following his term as commissioner, Chandler returned to Kentucky and won a second term as governor in 1955. He presided over the racial integration of state schools and established a medical school at the [[University of Kentucky]], renamed the Chandler Medical Center. Following his second term as governor, his political influence began to wane as he made three more unsuccessful runs for governor in 1963, 1967 (when the Republican [[Louie B. Nunn|Louie Broady Nunn]] was elected), and 1971, when the office passed to the Democrat Wendell Hampton Ford (1924–2018), later one of the state's two U.S. senators.
Chandler's support in 1987 for dark-horse gubernatorial candidate Wallace Glenn Wilkinson (1941–2002) paid off as Wilkinson resisted calls to remove Chandler from the University of Kentucky board of trustees following the former governor's use of a racial expression at a 1988 board meeting. Chandler was first appointed to the trustess by Louie Nunn, whom Chandler supported In the 1967 election. In 1968, he was considered as a vice-presidential running mate for [[Alabama]]'s [[George Wallace]] third-party campaign,<ref>Gore, Leada (August 21, 2018). [https://www.al.com/news/erry-2018/08/937bc749e09952/george-wallace-1968-presidenti.html George Wallace 1968 presidential run: 'Most influential loser' in political history]. ''al.com''. Retrieved July 31, 2021.</ref> but the two could not resolve their "racial differences";<ref>Andy Mead and Jim Warren, "Kentucky's "Happy" Chandler Dies, ''Lexington Herald-Leader,'' June 16, 1991, p. A-1.</ref> in contrast to Wallace's racist and demagogic rhetoric, Chandler held a mixed record on [[civil rights]] throughout his career.<ref>John Paul Hill, John Paul (December 2009). [https://athenaeum.libs.uga.edu/handle/10724/26071 "A.B. "Happy" Chandler and the politics of civil rights]," athenaeum. ''University of Georgia''libs. Retrieved July 31uga.edu, 2021December 2009.</ref>
Chandler often made numerous public appearances and remained active in state politics and events. He often sang the state's song, '"My Old Kentucky Home" by [[Stephen Foster|Stephen Collins Foster ]] at public gatherings such as UK sporting events. His rendition often brought tears to listeners. He also spoke from the heart about his personal life and his time in politics.<ref name=utube>{{cite web|url=https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=happy+chandler+singing+my+old+kentucky+home&view=detail&mid=4D0F9DB9176C379841F44D0F9DB9176C379841F4&FORM=VIRE|title=A. B. "Happy" Chandler's My Old Kentucky Home|publisher=You Tube|accessdate=July 31, 2021}}</ref>
Chandler died a month before his ninety-third birthday; at the time, he was the oldest living former Kentucky governor and the earliest serving former governor. In 1982, he was the oldest person inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.<ref name=nyt/>
==External links==
*[https://www.nga.org/governor/albert-benjamin-chandler/ Profile] at ''National Governors Association
*[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Happy-Chandler Biography] via ''Britannica
*[https://exploreuk.uky.edu/fa/findingaid/?id=xt72jm23br0c Papers] via ''Explore UK