Governor Julian M. Carroll speeches

Title

Governor Julian M. Carroll speeches

Date

1974-1977, undated (inclusive)

Creator

Carroll, Julian Morton, 1931-

Extent

1.8 Cubic Feet

Subjects

Public policy and politics

Speeches, addresses, etc.

Governors -- Kentucky.

Arrangement

Collection is arranged chronologically.

Finding Aid Author

Sarah Coblentz

Preferred Citation

2016ms057: [identification of item], Governor Julian M. Carroll speeches, 1974-1977, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.

Repository

University of Kentucky

Biography / History

Julian M. Carroll was born April 16, 1931 in Paducah, Kentucky, as one of eleven children. Carroll's family moved to Heath around 1937 after their farm was flooded by the Ohio River. Carroll became involved in politics while in high school. He represented Heath High School at Kentucky Boys State, was involved in student government, and graduated as salutatorian of Heath High School in 1950. After graduation, he attended Paducah Junior College, receiving his Associate in Arts degree in 1952. on receiving his AA degree he matriculated to the University of Kentucky where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1954 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1956. While attending the University of Kentucky Carroll was involved in the Air Force ROTC and upon graduation he enlisted in the Air Force and served as an attorney for three years at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas. He then returned to Paducah and joined the firm of Reed, Scent, Reed, and Walton and became involved with local civic affairs. In 1960 Carroll was brought to the public's attention with leading a campaign to have a public referendum to allow the Tennessee Valley Authority to provide electricity to McCracken County and buyout Kentucky Utilities. With this successful campaign Carroll was able to be elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1962, representing McCracken County, and then subsequently elected for four more consecutive terms and during his tenure he served as Speaker of the House, from 1968 to 1970. In 1971 Carroll ran for lieutenant governor on an informal ticket with former Governor Bert T. Combs, however while Carroll was elected in the Democratic primary to run for lieutenant governor Combs was beaten by Wendell H. Ford to run for governor – both Carroll and Ford won in the general election. In late 1974 Carroll became the 54th governor of Kentucky after Ford beat Marlow Cook for a seat in the U.S. Senate and then in 1975 won the election for a full term as governor in his own right. Carroll served as governor of Kentucky from December of 1974 to December of 1979; when Carroll was elected as governor his running mate Thelma Stovall became the first female lieutenant governor. During this time he reorganized the state's judicial system and eliminated the private bail-bond system, he improved public schools by utilizing money from a coal severance tax to increase teacher salaries and eliminate fees for required classes as well as expanding vocational and special education schools, as well as advocating the use of coal during the 1973 Oil embargo, initiating a grant program to support the arts, and expanding the state park system. Carroll ended his gubernatorial term while under investigation by a federal probe for corruption in state government that dated back to the Ford administration, but established a law practice in Frankfort, Kentucky and kept a relatively low profile until attempting an unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1987. Carroll did not re-enter politics until 2004 when he was elected to the Kentucky Senate representing Anderson, Franklin, Woodford, Gallatin, and Owen counties and has been the incumbent politician since then.

In 1951, Carroll married Charlann Harting; they had four children together.

Sources:

Sprague, S.S., & Cross, A. (2004). Julian Morton Carroll. In L.H. Harrison (Ed.), Kentucky's Governors (217-220). Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky.

Scope and Content

The Governor Julian M. Carroll speeches collection (dated 1974-1977, undated; 1.8 cubic feet; 4 boxes) consists of speeches and remarks made by Julian Carroll during his term as governor of Kentucky. Organized chronologically, the speeches cover a variety of events and conferences that Carroll spoke at and about. These spoken remarks include speeches at various luncheons hosted by organizations across the state; press releases on resignations by officials; and dedications of buildings, highways, and interstates.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Use Restrictions

The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.