STEVE

BGoverEnor ofSthe CHommonEwealthAof KenR tucky He likes to play golf, tennis, fox hunt, him attorney general. In 1983, snow ski and watch athletic teams from voters elected him lieutenant . Kentucky compete but, understandably, his Subsequent races for governor and the new duties as the Commonwealth’s 61st U.S. Senate fell short, but the end result fa - governor have kept busy since cilitated re-entry into private law practice he assumed office in December. where he became senior executive of a Beshear is the 20th University of Ken - multi-state firm. A good portion of that tucky graduate to serve as head of state. He workload, along with management responsi - earned a bachelor’s degree from the College bilities, involved counseling large and small of Arts and Sciences in 1966 and a law de - business enterprises, the backbone of job de - gree from the College of Law in 1968. velopment. At the same time community e Dawson Springs native grew up one banking captured his interest, which added of five children. e governor’s father, Rus - another dimension to his preparation for fu - sell, a funeral director, also was a Baptist ture government leadership. minister, just like his father before him. His Along the way, he helped local civic or - mother, Mary Elizabeth, dedicated herself ganizations. A few examples of the many or - to numerous community endeavors — mak - ganizations in which he participated, ing life better for others. assisted, and provided guidance to include Aer graduating from Dawson Springs Commerce Lexington Inc., the Kentucky High School, the future governor entered Horse Park Foundation, God’s Pantry Food the . “anks to the Bank, Bluegrass Tomorrow, the Kentucky second mortgage on our house and me World Trade Center and the UK College of working while in school,” he oen notes. He Law Visiting Committee. s

was elected student body president in his Whether it was taking the lead as a young e i v r junior year. is was an early indication not state representative to help fund a desper - e S e v

only of his leadership skills, but also of his ately needed expansion for the UK hospi - i t a e

interest in public service. Graduation led to tal’s neo-natal unit, or his role as attorney r C t law school, where he graduated with honors. general in curbing consumer fraud, Steve e n i b

Next began a whirlwind life. During his Beshear’s initiatives have been varied and a C e

undergraduate days he met his future wife, memorable. c r e

Jane Klingner. en on to practice law in Today, achieving sustainable economic m m o

New York before returning to Kentucky. growth, lifelong learning opportunities — C : o t

Early days also brought military duty for beginning with pre-kindergarten through o h Beshear. Aer completing law school he postsecondary education — and affordable P served as an intelligence analyst in the U.S. health care are matters of utmost impor - Army Reserves. tance as he guides the Commonwealth dur - In 1974, today’s governor was State Rep. ing this term as governor. Beshear. Five years later Kentuckians elected

10 Spring 2008 Now married for 38 years, the Beshears have two sons. Jeff practices veterinary medicine in , and he and his wife, Emily, have a four-year-old son, Nicholas. Andy followed in his father’s footsteps to practice law, and he and his wife, Britainy, live in Louisville.

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