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>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/>
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, "A. B. "Happy" Chandler and the politics of civil rights," athenaeum.libs.uga.edu, December 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/>