Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991

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Governor of Kentucky, Judge, Lawyer

Bert T. Combs was born in Clay County, Kentucky in 1911. He attended Cumberland College, and he graduated from the University of Kentucky Law School in 1937. After graduating with his law degree and serving in World War II, Combs began his rise in politics. Serving as judge on the Kentucky Court of Appeals, Combs ran unsuccessfully for the governor's office in 1955. His attempt at the state's helm four years later made him Kentucky's 46th governor. Under his leadership, the state legislature enacted a three percent sales tax, which made possible many of the programs initiated during his administration. New roads such as the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway, the creation of the UK Community College system and aid to education are some of the areas associated with his tenure as governor. Following his term as governor, Combs served as judge on the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals from 1967 to 1971. A member of the law firm Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs, the former governor and judge became the lead counsel for the lawsuit that culminated in the Kentucky Supreme Court ruling the state's system of funding public education unconstitutional. The court decision led to the passage of the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990. Bert Combs died in 1991.

From the description of Bert T. Combs Collection, 1959-1990. (University of Kentucky Libraries). WorldCat record id: 71260015

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn McCann, Charles W. A., 1900-1980. Photograph collection, 1914-ca. 1969. The Filson Historical Society
creatorOf Johnson, Keen, 1896-. Papers, 1896-1970. Eastern Kentucky University, Crabbe Library
referencedIn Kentucky. Secretary of State. Governor's restoration of citizenship : Governor Bert T. Combs, 1959-1963. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Kentucky. Secretary of State. Governor's commutation of sentence : Governor Bert T. Combs, 1960-1963. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Breathitt, Edward T., 1924-2003. Edward T. Breathitt, Jr. papers, 1960-1989, [microform]. Murray State University, Waterfield Library
referencedIn Kentucky. Secretary of State. Governor's leave of absence from the state : Governor Bert T. Combs, 1960-1963. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Johnson family. Johnson family : papers, 1859-1971. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Turner Marie R., 1899-1984. Marie R. Turner Oral History Project, 1982-1987. Kentucky Historical Society, Martin F. Schmidt Research Library
creatorOf Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991. Bert T. Combs : commercials, 1971. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor. Executive journals, 1927-[ongoing]. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky Guide Project Office
referencedIn Pearce, John Ed,. Henry Ward interviews, 1985. Kentucky Historical Society, Martin F. Schmidt Research Library
referencedIn Kentucky constitutional revision records, 1937-1966, 1946-1954, 1965-1966 (bulk dates). University of Kentucky Libraries
referencedIn Kentucky. Secretary of State. Governor's executive orders : Governor Bert T. Combs, 1959-1963. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
creatorOf Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991. Bert T. Combs Collection, 1959-1990. University of Kentucky Libraries
referencedIn Kentucky. Secretary of State. Governor's extraditions : Governor Bert T. Combs, 1960-1963. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
creatorOf Alabama. Governor. Public relations files, 1954-1970. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Roggenkamp, Sharon,. Henry Ward colleagues oral history project, 2004. Kentucky Historical Society, Martin F. Schmidt Research Library
referencedIn Kleber, John E., 1941-. Lawrence W. Wetherby oral history project, 1978-1984. Kentucky Historical Society, Martin F. Schmidt Research Library
referencedIn Greenville Business and Professional Women's Club scrapbooks, 1959-1963. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky Guide Project Office
referencedIn Kentucky. Secretary of State. Governor's resignations : Governor Bert T. Combs, 1959-1962. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Whitney M. Young, Sr. papers, 1916-1973. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky Guide Project Office
referencedIn Kentucky. Secretary of State. Governor's proclamations : Governor Bert T. Combs, 1959-1963. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Kentucky. Secretary of State. Governor's appointments : Governor Bert T. Combs, 1959-1963. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Kentucky Irish American newspaper. Kentucky Irish American newspaper, 1955. Kentucky Historical Society, Martin F. Schmidt Research Library
referencedIn Coleman, J. Winston (John Winston), 1898-1983. J. Winston Coleman papers, 1780-1965 1935-1965. University of Kentucky Libraries
referencedIn Kentucky. Secretary of State. Governor's requisitions : Governor Bert T. Combs, 1959-1963. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Kentucky. Secretary of State. Kentucky Colonel appointments : Governor Bert T. Combs, 1959-1962. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alabama. Governor. corporateBody
associatedWith Breathitt, Edward T., 1924-2003. person
associatedWith Chandler, Albert Benjamin, 1898- person
associatedWith Coleman, J. Winston (John Winston), 1898-1983. person
associatedWith Cooper, John Sherman, 1901-1991. person
correspondedWith Johnson family. family
associatedWith Johnson, Keen, 1896- person
associatedWith Kentucky. Governor. corporateBody
associatedWith Kentucky. Governor (1959-1963 : Combs) corporateBody
associatedWith Kentucky Irish American newspaper. corporateBody
associatedWith Kentucky. Secretary of State. corporateBody
associatedWith McCann, Charles W. A., 1900-1980. person
associatedWith Prichard, E. F. (Edward Fretwell) person
associatedWith Turner Marie R., 1899-1984 person
associatedWith United States. Court of Appeals (6th Circuit) corporateBody
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Kentucky
Subject
Advertising, political
Political campaigns
Governor
Politicians
Television advertising
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1911-08-13

Death 1991-12-04

Information

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