Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985

Union County's Earle C. Clements Day occurred on October 20, 1973 in Morganfield, Kentucky. The event celebrated the political career of former United States Congressman and Governor of Kentucky, Earle Clements.

Earle C. Clements (b. Oct. 20, 1896, Morganfield, Ky.-d. Mar. 12, 1985, Morganfield, Ky.), served in the Kentucky State Senate and as a representative of Kentucky in the U.S. Congress. He served as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky, from 1950 to 1957.

Governor, U.S. Congressman, U.S. Senator.

Clements was born in Morganfield, Ky. to farm parents. He attended the University of Kentucky from 1915-1916. In 1934 he became a judge in Union County. In November 1944, Clements was elected U.S. Representative from the Second Congressional District of Ky. He resigned this seat in 1947, when he was elected governor over Republican Eldon S. Dummit.

In 1950 he successfully campaigned for the U.S. Senate against Judge Charles I. Dawson, resigning his governorship. He served in the U.S. Senate until 1957 after being defeated by Thruston B. Morton. During his tenure he served as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Committee (1952-1954), liaison between the Democratic National Comm. and the Senate Democrats (1953-1955) and Acting Majority Leader (1955). He served on the Senate Agriculture and Appropriations Committees, supporting tobacco interests. In 1960 he returned to Kentucky as Highway Commissioner under Governor Bert T. Combs.