Former Kentucky Governor Dead at 92
One of the more prominent names in Kentucky politics has passed.
Julian Morton Carroll, the former governor of Kentucky, passed away on Sunday at the age of 92.
Carroll succeeded Governor Ford in 1974, then went on to win a full term in 1975, leaving office in 1979.
He’s Gone
Carroll’s family confirmed his passing, stating, “We are deeply saddened at the passing of our father, Julian Morton Carroll, who dedicated almost two-thirds of his life to being a committed public servant to this great Commonwealth of Kentucky.
“As a family, it is with the heaviest of hearts that we grieve the loss of our beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.”
Carroll started his political career in 1962, winning what would be the first of five terms in the state House, serving as the Speaker from 1968-70.
Carroll then served as the Lt. Gov. in 1971, taking over for Governor Ford in 1974, then winning a full term, serving through December 1979.
When Carroll left office, there were allegations of wrongdoing for an alleged kickback scheme, but he was never convicted of any wrongdoing.
He then served as a chairman for a non-profit, ran for office again in 1987, but he finished 5th in the Democrat primary race. Carroll decided to return to his law practice after the defeat until he ran for the State Senate almost two decades later.
After a significant hiatus from politics, Carroll returned to the state legislature in 2005, serving in the State Senate, a seat he would hold until 2021 when he retired.
His time in the Senate also had some controversy, with audio surfacing in 2017 of Carroll allegedly propositioning a male photographer in 2005.
The caucus removed him as Whip and demanded he step down, but he refused, holding his seat for another four years after that controversy.
