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 career

Lawrence Wetherby graduated from the University of Kentucky and then began a successful legal career. Between 1933 and 1937, and again from 1942 to 1943 he was a judge in Jefferson County. Since 1943, he was politically active. In that year he became chairman of the local branch of the Democratic Party in the 34th administrative district, a position which he held until 1956. In 1947 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. Three years later, the reigning Governor Earle Clements opted for a seat in the U.S. Senate, and resigned. Thus fell Wetherby, according to the Constitution, the office of governor of Kentucky.

Governor of Kentucky

Wetherby finished the term of his predecessor and then turned himself in to vote. In 1951, he was with 54.6 % of the vote against Eugene Siler ( 45.4 %) confirmed in his office. During his tenure, a private resort for the mentally ill was established ( Department of Mental Health ). New toll roads were built in adopting new child protection laws. Also noteworthy is the enforcement of desegregation in the public schools. At the same time the income of the teachers have been increased.

After the expiration of his term of office on 13 December 1955, he was initially continue the policy connected. In 1956 he made a vain attempt to be elected to succeed albums W. Barkley in the U.S. Senate; he lost to John Sherman Cooper. Between 1964 and 1966 he was a delegate at a conference on the revision of the Constitution of Kentucky. In 1965 he was elected to the Senate from Kentucky and was its president from 1966 to 1968. Lawrence Wetherby died in 1994. He was married to Helen Dwyer, with whom he had three children.