Morton, Thruston B. (Thruston Ballard), 1907-1982

Thruston Ballard Morton was a prominent political and business leader in Kentucky during the mid-twentieth century. As a student, Morton attended public schools, the Woodberry Forest School in Virginia, and graduated from Yale University in 1929. He married Belle Clay Lyons in 1931 and had two sons. From 1947 to 1953, Morton served three terms as a representative for Kentucky's Third Congressional District. After his tenure in the House, Morton was appointed Assistant Secretary of State of Congressional Relations by President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 until 1956. In addition, Morton served two terms in the United States Senate for the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 1957 to 1969. Morton was also Chairman of the Republican National Committee and one of the first conservatives to withdraw support from President Lyndon B. Johnson's Vietnam War policies. After his retirement from the Senate, Morton remained active in the Louisville business community, serving as Vice-Chairman of the Board and Director of Liberty National Bank and Chairman of the Board and Director of Churchill Downs. He also served as a Director or Advisor for the Louisville Board of Trade, Pillsbury Company, Texas Gas Company, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the Pittston Company, the University of Louisville, Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor and the Ohio Valley Assembly. Morton died in Louisville in 1982.

U.S. senator from Ky.

U.S. Senator.

Thruston and his younger brother Rogers, an important politician in his own right, came from a prominent Louisville family which descended from George Rogers Clark, William Clark, and Rogers Clark Ballard. Thruston Morton graduated from Yale University, worked in the family grain and milling business, Ballard and Ballard, and went into the Navy during World War II. After the war he ran for Congress as a Republican and won. He served in the House for six years. In 1952 he successfully managed the campaign of John Sherman Cooper for the Senate. In January of 1953 President Eisenhower appointed him Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations, a post he held for three years. He obtained a Senate seat in 1956. While a Senator, Morton was elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee, serving from 1959 to 1962.