(The Center Square) – Flags at Kentucky state offices will fly at half-staff for the time being in honor of former Gov. Brereton Jones, who passed away Monday at age 84.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced Tuesday the flags will fly that way until Jones’ funeral. The date for that and other arrangements have not yet been released, but Jones will lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.
“Gov. Jones was a dedicated leader and a distinguished thoroughbred owner who worked to strengthen Kentucky for our families,” Beshear said. “Please join Britainy and me in praying for Libby and his family.”
Jones, a Democrat, served as governor from 1991 to 1995, succeeding Wallace Wilkerson, for whom he served as lieutenant governor. He was the last governor who could not run for successive terms.
Legislative leaders from both parties and state officials also offered their condolences.
“One of the greatest hallmarks of his character was that he simply did not care who got the credit as long as the goal was accomplished,” House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, said in a statement. “As governor, as well as in the three decades since leaving office, he found a way to balance progress with knowing what must be preserved.”
House Democrats remembered Jones as a champion for improving Kentuckians’ access to healthcare and supporting ethics reforms that stemmed from the Operation BOPTROT scandal more than 30 years ago.
“He was a vocal supporter of our signature horse industry and state parks,” House Democratic Caucus leaders Derrick Graham, Cherlynn Stevenson and Rachel Roberts said. “And he helped clear the way for future constitutional officers to serve two consecutive terms. There is no doubt that Kentuckians are much better off because of Governor Jones’ public service.”
Jones is the second former Kentucky governor to die in less than a year. Former Gov. John Y. Brown passed away last November.
An Ohio native, Jones served in the West Virginia House of Delegates as a Republican. He moved to Kentucky and changed parties after Watergate. The Joneses moved to Libby’s home in Woodford County, and he became a thoroughbred breeder.
As a horse owner, he won 455 races, including the Kentucky Oaks three times. The last coming in 2015.
“He understood the importance of the horse industry to Kentucky and used his one term as governor to implement breeder and stallion awards programs, setting up off-track betting facilities to help fund them,” Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said.
