Kirk Fordice
| Kirk Fordice | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 61st Governor of Mississippi | |
|
In office January 14, 1992 – January 11, 2000 |
|
| Lieutenant |
Eddie Briggs Ronnie Musgrove |
| Preceded by | Ray Mabus |
| Succeeded by | Ronnie Musgrove |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Daniel Kirkwood Fordice, Jr. February 10, 1934 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | September 7, 2004 (aged 70) Jackson, Mississippi |
| Resting place | Parkway Memorial Cemetery, Ridgeland, Mississippi |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
Pat Fordice (1955–1999; divorced) Ann G. Creson (2000–2003; divorced) |
| Profession | Soldier, Businessman |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Army Reserve |
| Years of service | 1957–1959; 1959–1977 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | |
Daniel Kirkwood "Kirk" Fordice, Jr. (February 10, 1934 – September 7, 2004), was an American politician from the US state of Mississippi. He was the 61st Governor of Mississippi from January 14, 1992, until January 11, 2000. He was the first Republican governor of the state since Reconstruction-era governor Adelbert Ames, who served from 1874–76.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Fordice studied engineering at Purdue University, becoming a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and earning a BS and MS in 1956 and 1957, respectively. After graduation he served with the United States Army as an engineer officer in the 1st Infantry Division for two years. He remained in the Army Reserve until 1977, retiring with the rank of colonel.
Fordice settled in Vicksburg and began a career in heavy construction, eventually taking over the construction company of his father, Daniel Kirkwood Fordice, Sr., and becoming a millionaire. He won the governorship of Mississippi in the 1991 election, first winning the Republican primary against state auditor Pete Johnson and in the general election against Democratic incumbent Ray Mabus, who four years earlier had defeated the Republican businessman Jack Reed of Tupelo, 53 to 47 percent, until that time the best Republican gubernatorial showing in Mississippi during the 20th century.
...
Wikipedia