History of western region captured in “The Fall of Kentucky’s Rock”

George Humphreys

A deep dive into Kentucky politics usually focuses on the eastern part of the state. A book coming later this month will look west. “The Fall of Kentucky’s Rock”, a history of western Kentucky politics and life, by Drakesboro resident George Humphreys, shines a light on the region.

“The Fall of Kentucky’s Rock” takes an in-depth look at the often overlooked political history of the western region of the commonwealth, spanning from the New Deal to 1994. This part of the state transformed from avid support for the Democratic Party to its present-day Republican identity, with a handful of governors and a vice president hailing from the region.

Humphreys spent 20 years working as a legislative aide and research director in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, before returning to his home state of Kentucky in 2004. He was born in Fulton County, his wife Becky is from Drakesboro, where they settled. Humphrey’s worked as extended campus director for Madisonville Community College.

Much of the focus on Kentucky politics revolves around the eastern part of the state, but Humphreys demonstrates the impact of political figures from this area as they assumed roles in state and federal government.

The western part of the state produced seven governors in the time period between the New Deal and 1994, beginning in 1931 with Ruby Lafoon, who was from Madisonville. Lafoon served until 1935.

Alben Barkley, who was from Paducah, was a longtime player in federal politics. He served as majority leader in the U.S. Senate during the Great Depression, through World War II and was vice president under President Harry S. Truman.

Barkley grew up in a small community called Loews in Hickman County, and although he came from a poor family, he was a distant relative of Adlai Stevenson, vice president to President Grover Cleveland more than fifty years earlier.

“He is a very interesting character,” Humphrey’s said. A trap of writing a historical book like this, Humphrey’s said, is getting sucked into the characters and their lives, which makes for interesting reading.

In the end, Barkley returned to Kentucky, and nearing 80 years old was elected again as a U.S. Senator. He died while giving a speech. His final words during a speech at Lee University in 1965 were, Humphrey’s recalls, “I had rather be a servant in the house of the Lord than to sit in the seat of the mighty.” He then collapsed and died.

To write this in-depth look at history, Humphrey’s was granted access to archives from university collections, historical societies, museums, and local libraries. He took part in several oral interviews which are now cataloged in an oral history project, and spoke to historians with expertise in Kentucky politics at the national level.

Humphrey’s book also focuses on life outside politics in western Kentucky. Using old newspapers, he paints a picture of what was happening in local communities. “I cover what’s going on in the region socially, with roads, colleges, all sorts of things.”

Western Kentucky was very isolated in the early years this history covers, Humphrey’s said. “There is a map in there I really like,” he said. “It’s a reproduction of the 1931 road map.”

With rivers carving the borders of the western part of the state, Humphrey’s said there were few bridges for people to easily travel. The New Deal and powerful local politicians helped make the road system we have today.

“The Fall of Kentucky’s Rock – Western Kentucky Democratic Politics from the New Deal” is available through University Press of Kentucky and can be found at bookstores and online after Jan. 18, 2022.