Former U.S. Sen. Walter ‘Dee’ Huddleston dies at 92

Former U.S. Sen. Walter “Dee” Huddleston, who represented Kentucky in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 1985, died Tuesday morning in his sleep at his son’s home in Warsaw, according to Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. He was 92.

Huddleston, a Democrat, narrowly defeated Republican Louie B. Nunn, a former governor, to replace retiring Republican John Sherman Cooper in the U.S. Senate.

Known as a moderate, Huddleston held the seat until the 1984 election, when then-Jefferson County Judge-Executive Mitch McConnell defeated him by just over 5,000 votes thanks to a series of memorable television ads using bloodhounds to “hunt” for Huddleston. The ads made sport of Huddleston’s attendance records in the Senate. McConnell also was boosted by President Ronald Reagan’s re-election victory.

“I want to offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sen. Watler ‘Dee’ Huddleston,” McConnell, now the Senate majority leader, said in a statement Tuesday. “As a member of the Greatest Generation, Dee proudly served Kentucky and our nation; first in the United States Army, next in Frankfort and then in the U.S. Senate. With a serious approach to the issues and a constant support for our agriculture, Dee earned the respect of his colleagues and Kentuckians throughout the Commonwealth.”

In his first years in Congress, Huddleston served on the Agriculture and Government Operations Committee and several subcommittees. He was chairman of the Subcommittee on Agricultural Production Marketing and Stabilization of Prices.

Huddleston later became a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee. He also was named a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Operations, which was created to review activities of the CIA.

Former Gov. Martha Layne Collins said Huddleston “was a very likeable guy, laid-back, calm, cool and very sincere. He always had the best interests of Kentucky at heart.

“He had a great, booming voice that he used well in radio.”

Huddleston’s sister, Mary Helen Miller of Shelbyville, was Collins’ chief of staff.

Former Gov. Paul Patton said he first met Huddleston when Huddleston was in the state Senate.

“He was one of the first politicians I ever gave a contribution to,” Patton said. “He became a soothing statesman. He really wanted to act on behalf of the people of Kentucky and always do what is right.”

Former Gov. John Y. Brown Jr. said Huddleston “lived a full life. He had a wonderful career in public service and I don’t think he ever had an enemy. He was quite likeable.”

Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Ben Self called Huddleston “a true Democrat who advocated for Kentuckians both during and after his time of service as a U.S. senator.”

State Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, a Republican, said Huddleston “advocated fiercely for the interests of the Kentucky farmer. I hope his family and friends rejoice in remembering a life well-lived.”

A native of Burkesville, Huddleston was a member of the Kentucky Senate from 1966 to 1972 and was a graduate of Jeffersontown High School in Jefferson County and the University of Kentucky. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946 and was a tank gunner in Europe during World War II.

In 1947, Huddleston married Martha Jean Pierce, who died in 2003.

His first job after graduation from UK in 1949 was with the staff of radio station WKCT in Bowling Green as sports and program director. In 1952, he became general manager of radio station WIEL in Elizabethtown. He became president of the Kentucky Broadcasters Association.

After leaving the U.S. Senate, Huddleston moved to Elizabethtown and was chairman of First Financial Service Corporation.

Huddleston is survived by two sons, Stephen Huddleston of Warsaw and Phiip Dee Huddleston of Elizabethtown; three sisters, Dimple Duerr of Louisville, Martha Jane Huddleston of Bowling Green and Mary Helen Miller of Shelbyville.

The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Memorial United Methodist Church in Elizabethtown with the Rev. Neil Janes officiating. Burial will follow in Elizabethtown City Cemetery.

Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown and will continue after 10 a.m. Friday at Memorial United Methodist Church.

This story was originally published October 16, 2018 at 12:12 PM.