Brereton Jones
| Brereton Chandler Jones | |
 | |
| In office December 10, 1991 – December 12, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Wallace Wilkinson |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Paul Patton |
50th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
| |
| In office December 8, 1987 – December 10, 1991 | |
West Virginia State Representative
| |
| In office 1964–1968 | |
| Born | June 27, 1939 Gallipolis, Gallia County |
| Died | September 18, 2023 (aged 84) |
| Political party | Republican-turned-Democrat (1975) |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth "Libby" Lloyd Jones (married 1970) Parents: |
| Residence | Woodford County, Kentucky |
| Alma mater | Point Pleasant (West Virginia) High School University of Virginia |
| Occupation | Thoroughbred horse breeder |
Brereton Chandler Jones (June 27, 1939 – September 19, 2023) was a thoroughbred horse breeder who served for a single term from 1991 to 1995 as the 58th Governor of his adopted state of Kentucky. Previously, from 1987 to 1991, he was the commonwealth's 50th lieutenant governor. He is the chairman of the lobbying organization io]now chairs the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), a lobbying organization for the Kentucky horse industry.
Background
His family lived in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, but he was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, the site of the nearest hospital to his family home.[1] He was one of six children of Edward Bartow Jones, II (1909-1992), a dairy farmer who served two terms as a Republican in the West Virginia Senate, and the former Nedra Wilhelm (1909-2008).[2]
Political life
In 1964, Jones became the youngest-ever member of the West Virginia House of Delegates. Two years later, he was named the Republican floor leader in the House. In 1968, he left politics to concentrate on his then real estate business. In 1970, he wed the former Elizabeth "Libby" Lloyd; the couple moved to Airdrie Farm, Libby's family estate in Woodford County, Kentucky. There, Jones founded the Airdrie Stud farm. In 1975, he switched his partisanship to Democrat. He was appointed to serve on several boards and commission by Democratic Governors John Young Brown Jr., and Martha Layne Collins.[3]
In 1987, Jones announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor with the goal of subsequently running for governor. In the general election, he led his gubernatorial ticket-mate, Wallace Wilkinson, a native of Casey County, Kentucky. Despite their mutual Democrat affiliation, Lieutenant Governor Jones had a poor relationship with Governor Wilkinson, who proposed that his wife, Martha Stafford Wilkinson, enter the 1991 race to succeed him. Ultimately, Jones easily defeated the Republican nominee, former U.S. Representative Larry Hopkins. Governor Jones also had a strained relationship with the state legislature, but he was still able to pass an amendment that would after four years allow state officials to succeed themselves in office one time. He achieved only a partial victory on his top legislative priority, health care reform. While the legislature passed a law to eliminate the practice of denying insurance coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, the lawmaker did not approve his call for universal health care.[3]
Following his term in office, Jones founded the Kentucky Equine Education Project.[4] He considered running for governor again in 2003, but never formally became a candidate. Republicans scored a rare gubernatorial victory that year with U.S. Representative Ernie Fletcher.
Jones died at the age of eighty-four of an extended illness.[5]
References
- ↑ Barbara Isaacs, "Bluegrass Transplants – They Weren't Born Here, But These Kentuckians Enrich the Commonwealth," Lexington Herald-Leader, May 10, 2002.
- ↑ Edward Bartow Jones Jr. (1909-1992) - Find A Grave Memorial, accessed November 23, 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Brereton Jones | State governments in the United States Wiki | Fandom, accessed November 23, 2021.
- ↑ Brereton Jones - Owner (horseracingnation.com), accessed November 23, 2021.
- ↑ Jack Brammer (September 19, 2023). Former Governor Brereton Jones, 84, dies after a long illness; remembered as dedicated leader. Northern Kentucky Tribune. Retrieved on September 23, 2023.
