'''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'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 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/>