Kirk Fordice

Kirk Fordice
60th 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. (1934-02-10)February 10, 1934 Memphis, Tennessee
Died	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
Religion	Methodist
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army Army Reserve
Years of service	1957–1959; 1959–1977
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	Vietnam War 1st Infantry Division

Daniel Kirkwood Fordice, Jr., known as Kirk Fordice (February 10, 1934 – September 7, 2004), was an American politician from the US state of Mississippi. He was the 60th 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 to 1876.

Fordice was a staunch conservative, running on a pro-business, anti-crime, low-tax, family values platform. A successful businessman, Fordice took over his father's construction company and became a millionaire. He ran for governor in 1991 as a Republican, championing various conservative causes and seeking the abolition of affirmative action. Although initially popular among voters, Fordice gained notoriety for his controversial statements. He championed anti-crime programs, led welfare reform efforts, and proudly touted his conservative Christian views. For this very reason, many liberal voters protested against the Fordice administration.

Early life and education

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.

Career

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. Fordice was re-elected in 1995 against Democratic Mississippi secretary of state Dick Molpus. His second inauguration was on January 16, 1996.

An outspoken conservative, Fordice advocated tax cuts, the abolishment of affirmative action, reductions in the welfare system, expanded capital punishment, tougher prison conditions and the building of more prisons.

Fordice also alarmed Jewish groups such as B'nai B'rith by referring to America as "a Christian Nation" during a Republican governors conference. South Carolina governor Carroll Campbell quickly offered a correction, adding "Judeo-" as a prefix to Christian, but Fordice snapped back that he meant what he said. Fordice later apologized for any offense.

Fordice also refused to discuss any increase in public school pay rates across the state, even though Mississippi ranked 49th in the nation. When teachers discussed striking he ordered that any teacher who went on strike be immediately fired.

In August 1996, Fordice signed an executive order banning recognition of same-sex marriages in Mississippi. Lawmakers said then that they would back up the executive order with a law. In 2004, Mississippi voters passed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman and further banning recognition of same-sex marriages from other states and countries.

Fordice said he would have quit his position of Governor while still in office, except that he didn't want to give the Democratic candidate, Lieutenant Governor Ronnie Musgrove, any spot-light time of running the state before the actual election. Musgrove won the election anyway and became Mississippi's next Governor.

Personal life

Fordice's tenure was also roiled by an extramarital affair with his high school sweetheart Ann G. Creson, which led to his divorce from his wife of forty-four years, Pat Fordice. The controversy included 65-year-old Fordice's threat to "whip your ass" when reporter Bert Case went to Fordice's house to question him. After leaving office, Fordice married Ann, but they also divorced later.

After retiring, Fordice settled in Madison, Mississippi. He died of leukemia in Jackson at the age of 70 with his ex-wife Pat by his side. He is buried at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

See also

• Bob Barr
• Jesse Helms
• Steve King
• Trent Lott

References

• The Associated Press. "Kirk Fordice, 70, Former Governor of Mississippi." The New York Times. September 8, 2004.
• Edsall, Thomas B. "Miss. Governor Ending Historic Tenure," The Washington Post, February 27, 1999; Page L1
• Sansing, David G. "Kirk Fordice," Mississippi History Now

External links

• Photo

Political offices
Preceded by Ray Mabus	Governor of Mississippi January 14, 1992 – January 11, 2000	Succeeded by Ronnie Musgrove