Born in a tenant house in Fallsburg, Kentucky, Paul Patton
had a humble upbringing that held few clues about his future as one of the most
prominent politicians in the history of the state. From the coal mines to the
governor's office, Patton's life exemplifies hard work, determination, and
perseverance, as well as the consequences of personal mistakes.
In The Coal Miner Who Became Governor, Patton, with
Jeffrey S. Suchanek, details his personal, professional, and political life in
Kentucky, starting with his career in the coal industry. After working for his
father-in-law, J. C. Cooley, in the 1950s, he partnered with his brother-in-law
to establish their own coal company, which they sold for millions in 1978.
Patton leveraged his business connections into a political career, raising
money for Democratic candidates before becoming the chair of the Kentucky
Democratic Party. He first took elected office in 1981 as Pike County
judge/executive; he then served a term as lieutenant governor (1991–1995),
followed by an unprecedented two consecutive terms as governor. His overhaul of
higher education in Kentucky led to his role as the University of Pikeville's
president and chancellor, even after his political career.
In this compelling account, Patton reveals the
decision-making process for campaign strategies, selection of running mates,
postsecondary education and workers' compensation reforms, early childhood
development initiatives, and attempts at tax reform. He gives his unfiltered
opinion about Mitch McConnell's "scorched-earth political philosophy"
and how it has failed Kentucky, and he draws connections between public policy
and party machinations during his time in office and the present day. He also
addresses his fall from grace—his extramarital affair with Tina Conner and its
effects on his personal and professional life.
Paul E. Patton served as the fifty-ninth governor of
Kentucky, from 1995 to 2003.
Jeffrey S. Suchanek is the senior oral historian for
the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky and the
author of "Star-Spangled Hearts": American Women Veterans of World
War II and Time On Target: The World War II Memoir of William R. Buster.