Ward, Henry Thomas, 1909-

Henry Thomas Ward was a politician and state legislator from McCracken County, Kentucky. He was born on June 20, 1909 in New Hope, Kentucky. He attended public schools and graduated from Tilghman High School at Paducah in 1928. After graduation he was hired by the Paducah Sun Democrat as a reporter. He later became city editor and editorial columnist. Ward served five terms as state representative (1934-1943) from McCracken County and was majority leader in 1942. He campaigned for the Democratic Party's nomination for lieutenant governor in 1943 but lost in the state primary. He served as state senator from 1945 to 1948 and as commissioner of conservation from 1948 to 1956. From 1960 to 1966, Ward was commissioner of the Highway Department and also was chairman of the Kentucky State Park Board from 1960 to 1964. He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1967. He retired from public life in 1974. He has been called the "father of Kentucky's park system".