GOV. BRERETON C. JONES LAID IN STATE in the rotunda of the State Capitol on Monday, Sept. 25. Capitol Police estimated that over 1,500 people filed through to honor Jones and pay respects to his family. Gov. Andy Beshear, United States Congressman Andy Barr, and former Gov. Steve Beshear were among the mourners which included ordinary folks, state employees, members of Jones’ executive cabinet, current and former elected officials and leaders in the horse industry. (Photo by Scott White) “SHOUT! KICK MY HEELS UP! SHOUT! THROW MY HANDS UP! SHOUT! THROW MY HEAD BACK! SHOUT! COME ON NOW! DON’T FORGET TO SAY YOU WILL! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” “Shout” by The Isley Brothers,sung by the Kentucky State University Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Keith McCutchen, on Sept. 26. And so, wholly unexpected and to the delight of everyone, the funeral for former Gov. Brereton Chandler Jones held at Forks of Elkhorn Baptist Church in his beloved city of Midway ended. He had made one last special request and his wife Libby, son Brett and daughter Lucy honored it, avoiding the obvious . . . a typical hymn heard at the funerals of important men and women. As remembered by friends and colleagues from his years in politics and the Thoroughbred industry, the choice of a rollicking R&B song was a surprise, but hardly a shock. As he often did, he left everyone uplifted . . . optimistic. The Sun reported last week, Jones died on Sept. 18 at age 84. He served as the governor of Kentucky from 1991 to 1995, lieutenant governor from 1987 to 1991, and in the West Virginia House of Delegates, including as majority floor leader, from 1964 to 1968. He and his wife, Elizabeth “Libby” Lloyd Jones, founded Airdrie Stud in 1972 which became and remains a world-renowned Thoroughbred breeding operation with a racing stable. His son Brereton “Bret” C. Jones, Jr., now runs the operation. The Commonwealth of Kentucky honored Jones by having him lay in state with a Kentucky State Police honor guard on Monday, Sept. 25, where, according to Capitol police, well over 1,500 folks filed past to pay their respects to the Jones family. Numerous political leaders attended including Governors Andy Beshear and Steve Beshear, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr, former State Auditor Crit Luallen, former Jones Cabinet Secretary Phillip Shepherd, Jones administration Chief of Staff Dianna Taylor, current Transportation Secretary and former Lexington mayor Jim Gray, and Woodford County Judge-Executive James Kay. But the majority of attendees were composed of regular folks from Midway and Versailles, former members of the press, current and former state employees, family and friends from West Virginia and colleagues from the equine industry. The funeral, presided over by Forks of Elkhorn Baptist Church pastor Reverend Todd Lester, included remembrances from long-time friend and colleague Danny Reed, who as a Kentucky state trooper was with Jones when the state helicopter crashed in Aug. 1992. His children, Bret and Lucy, also shared rembrances. A private burial followed the service. In a tribute to Jones at the Sept. 26 Woodford County Fiscal Court, Kay said Jones told him years ago, “I came to Kentucky by choice, not chance.” Kay went on to share the influence Jones had on him in deciding to run for office, “It was my great honor to have known Gov. Jones and to call and rely upon his advice and counsel. Soon after being elected to the legislature, he imparted a lot of wisdom to me, encouraging me to remain vigilant against self-interest and special interests that dominate Frankfort. He inspired me to remain true to higher ideals and independence.” In an earlier interview, Kay summed up Jones as “a great man who loved God, his family, his farm, Woodford County and Kentucky.” Loren “Squirrel” Carl, former Woodford County Sheriff and United States Marshall, remembers that Jones was a “true statesman and inspirational, but not full of himself . . . he loved being a regular guy around Midway, Versailles and Woodford County.” Carl also knew well Jones’ playful side like when he saw Carl behind him at the McDonald’s drive-thru in Versailles and leaned his head out at the cashier’s window and shouted “You need me to buy your breakfast AGAIN?” But Carl’s favorite memory took place at Airdrie Stud on Old Frankfort Pike where a dunking booth had been set up when he was still sheriff for a charity fundraiser Jones and Libby were holding. Carl recalls, “Well, when I got there Brereton yells over to me and says ‘Squirrel, get in the dunking booth – we need to raise some real money.’ Well, I was nervous because there were a whole lot of people around who wanted to see me wet and he wanted me to go first. What I didn’t know is he had the tank filled with spring water – which is as cold a water you could get. I got up there and of course, the first person who aimed for the button hit it and down I went in that freezing water, thrashing in wet clothes, gasping for air and all I could hear was Brerie laughing his head off!” When asked to sum up how he felt about Jones, Carl turned serious and with emotion in his voice, said, “A friend and proud to call him my friend. My governor. A great guy.” Another close friend of Jones and Libby, and trusted colleague, is former Kentucky Auditor Crit Luallen, who served as secretary in both the Tourism Cabinet and Finance and Administration Cabinet in Jones’ administration. Luallen said, “I’ve worked with and for seven governors and seen how each led. Brereton was charismatic, dynamic, upbeat and positive. Always focused on the next step and very supportive of his cabinet secretaries. He just drew people to him.” When asked for a specific example, Luallen was quick to point to a significant bond issue that would fund a much-needed and long overdue upgrade and refurbishing of state park lodges and grounds. “We needed to get the legislature’s approval for that $100 million bond issue and we traveled all over the state, worked day after day at all hours and he was fully committed. We didn’t get all of it, but most of it and we were able to take care of all the lodges and a lot of other things.” Luallen remained close to Jones and his family after his term expired in 1995. “I joined forces with Libby, with a lot of help from Brereton, on land conservation and protecting the Bluegrass region. Even when he was governor, he understood the threat and took action. Under his leadership, we created a state program and put money into it as well as encouraging local efforts to purchase development rights from farm owners. I think this was a turning point, and hallmark for land preservation and spurred programs like Lexington’s PDR.” Another veteran of Jones’ executive cabinet, Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd, who served as the secretary of the Natural Resources Cabinet, remembers Jones’ love of Woodford County, “No question, he and Libby have deep roots in Woodford County and Airdrie is one of the defining accomplishments of his life. He was deeply, deeply rooted in it and Woodford County. He loved the people there, interacting with them as just another guy, loved going to community events and supporting local businesses and non-profits. People meant a whole lot to him.” This love of Woodford County and the Bluegrass also informed his policies as governor, Shepherd said, “As governor, he was extremely committed to preserving farms, farming country and supporting the opportunity for people to stay on the farm.” Shepherd continued, “This passion also informed his environmental policies, which was situated in my cabinet: clean water, clean air and land preservation . . . he was a rare policymaker and leader who understood that a good environment was also good for business and the community . . . in that way, he looked at the big picture – he wasn’t just focused on the next budget cycle but the next generation, and his policies have paid off today.” But outside of Frankfort and the political maelstrom, Jones is remembered by many as one of the most talented horsemen of his or any other generation. Tracy Farmer, owner of Shadowlawn Farm in Midway, a breeding and racing operation, and winner of the Belmont Stakes in 2019, said, “Brereton was just a great person – I knew him for over 40 years both in politics and the horse industry. Brereton was one of the successful ones.” As a farmer who bred some of his mares to Airdrie stallions and bought a few horses at Keeneland bred by Jones, he said, “Brereton always did what he said he was going to do. He absolutely loved Thoroughbred horses, knew every detail of the horse business and succeeded at every one of them – including a bunch of graded stakes wins and three Kentucky Oaks victories.” Jones’ tie to Kentucky began with a romance. The funeral program says, “. . . during a visit to Keeneland, he met Libby Lloyd. They were married and soon moved to Kentucky in 1972 converting a grain and cattle farm into a Thoroughbred operation.” From the stories and anecdotes to the remembrances and eulogies heard at the the visitation and funeral this week, in conversations with folks standing in line up to three hours at the State Capitol (according to Capitol police) or in chats imbued with laughter as they gathered at the funeral at the small Baptist church, it is plain the romance bloomed into a full-fledged love not just of Libby, his children and grandchildren, his many friends and colleagues, but a love for the people and the place of Woodford County.
Brereton Jones . . . A Woodford Countian by choice, not chance
