december october politician state kentucky known honest bill olive hill represented kentucky resigning state 41st governor discouraged early defeat seat state legislature fields took job grocery store kentucky allowed travel state meet people congressional district democrat elected congress decades elected seven consecutive terms rose ranking member world war democratic gubernatorial nominee died unexpectedly months general election chose fields replace nominee campaign featured calling substantial debate fields secured backing powerful political alliance won landslide victory republican attorney general legislative session fields term marked party agenda opposed democratic faction led governor publisher political boss fields signature issue million bond issue construct state highway system passed legislature electorate refused approve november year fields accomplishments governor increase gasoline tax help fund highway program reorganization state government bureaucracy preservation industrial development united factions party political enemies charged pardon power democrats lost governorship republican following service governor fields failed attempt return congressional seat appointed governor happy retirement public service practiced law worked real estate agent death october early life born december kentucky fourth children born fields educated local public schools graduation started real estate business kentucky engaged farming studied law october fields married couple children age elected constable years later fell short bid capture seat state legislature following loss took job grocery store kentucky allow travel state freely acquaintances better position run higher office house_of_representatives campaigning moniker honest bill olive hill fields won narrow victory democrat represent kentucky democrat hold seat years elected consecutive terms member eventually ranking democrat committee ranking member controlled operations world war september democratic gubernatorial nominee died leaving party candidate defeated nomination refused democratic candidate decided run chose fields replacement governor kentucky general election campaign generated little interest quickly degenerated calling fields opponent republican attorney general mocked fields traditional election slogan calling bill olive hill answers questions fields countered referring changing charlie reference time affiliation democratic_party prior republican fields secured backing group powerful political bosses including louisville banker senator lexington power broker leaders group dedicated preservation betting state especially discontent incumbent republican governor aided fields campaign defeated vote largest democratic gubernatorial landslides state history resigned house accept governorship lightly regarded selected instead party primary fields weakened position personal preferences devout methodist fields prohibited dancing drinking executive mansion moved inaugural ball mansion capitol dancing allowed wife attend fields led dairy cows mansion lawn drawing urban citizens fields address general_assembly included ambitious proposals including founding trade school blacks planning developing normal schools raising gasoline tax cents issuance million state bonds finance state highway system faction democratic_party led governor political boss publisher voiced strong opposition fields proposals especially bond issue charged fields support dangerous combine republican element combine led tensions factions soon legislature convened bill outlaw betting state passed house_of_representatives failed senate legislative battle centered removing head governor greater control board makeup attempt narrowly failed senator stanley opponent prohibition sought election senate fields allies support leading election republican giving republicans state senate seats time history signature issue session fields request bond issue engaged debate opponents issue published papers owned ultimately issue approved general_assembly considered major victory fields bond issue approved state electorate continued fight issue came favor fields spent weeks crossing state speaking favor bond issue election day rejected margin votes failure bond issue fields returned general_assembly proposals including increase gasoline tax provide funds needed construct state highway system passed legislation previous legislature including increased gas tax bills state government state purchasing commission entities created reorganization fields state implemented phase fields opposed plan develop hydroelectric power generation capabilities order prevent development accepted offer purchase property falls donate state suggested creation home county fields political enemies charged corruption issuing drew criticism appointing eldest son state political supporter tax commissioner relatives political supporters low ranking positions state government party strongly supported bid fields allies refused support gubernatorial candidate governorship went republican later life death following service governor fields returned admitted bar sensing opportunity political comeback fields launched bid regain seat occupied republican beaten fields successor landslide saw democratic western kentucky seats republicans instead chose stand aside ally decisively beat fields august democratic primary margin candidate taking remaining successfully reclaimed seat general election fields elected commonwealth attorney kentucky thirty seventh judicial district served fields challenged congressman democratic primary renumbered 8th district lost decisive margin governor happy appointed served capacity election republican fields retired public service august owned insurance agency briefly moved florida returning continued practicing law farming died kentucky october buried olive hill cemetery
William J. Fields