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Saturday, Jul. 03, 2010

Former state Sen. Ed Ford dies

Former state Sen. Ed Ford, a Cynthiana Democrat who was an education advocate and a longtime adviser to former Gov. Paul Patton, died Friday morning at his residence. He was 80.

Patton said in a phone interview that he does not know "if we've had more of a statesman in Kentucky during the current period than Ed Ford. I think that much of him in every respect.

"As an individual, legislator and adviser and member of my office, you can't get a superlative about him that is adequate to the cause," Patton said.

Gov. Steve Beshear, in a statement, said he was saddened by the loss of "my close friend."

"As chairman of the Senate Education Committee as well as secretary of the Executive Cabinet under Gov. Paul Patton, Ed was one of the driving forces of education and higher education reform and an outstanding public servant, as well as an honest and loyal friend," Beshear said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

Beshear ordered flags at all state office buildings to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of Mr. Ford's interment.

Arrangements are pending at Ware Funeral Home in Cynthiana.

Mr. Ford, a veterinarian, was a state senator from 1978 to 1994.

During his legislative term, Mr. Ford was chairman of the Senate Education Committee and was a strong supporter of the 1990 Kentucky Education Reform Act that revamped elementary and secondary education.

After leaving the legislature, Mr. Ford became director of research and executive director for the Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation in Lexington, which finances equine research.

In June 1996, Gov. Patton tapped Mr. Ford to be a special assistant and adviser in his office. In January 2003, Patton named him executive secretary of his Cabinet to replace Crit Luallen, who resigned.