James E. Bruce, 82, who was the longest serving state legislator in Kentucky history, died Sunday morning, Nov. 2, 2008, at his home of natural causes.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Howard H. Willen and the Rev. Wayne Sayre officiating.
Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hughart and Beard Funeral Home, Hopkinsville.
Bruce was a farmer in South Christian for the last 58 years, but was best known for his long tenure in the Kentucky House of Representatives.
In 2006, he announced he would not run for re-election after having served 42 years. He served as chairman of the banking and insurance committee for a number of years.
In addition, he served on the highway traffic and safety committee and also worked with the agriculture committee.
He also had important roles in numerous legislative committees and the subcommittee for veterans’ affairs where he was instrumental in the location of the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-West in Hopkinsville.
He was a member of the Farm Bureau and had served as vice president of that organization. He was a member of the Elks. A long-time member of the First United Methodist Church, he served on various committees and as a lay leader.
He was honored with the naming of the new convention center in his honor.
He was the recipient of the first James E. Bruce award by the Kentucky Bankers Association in recognition of his government relations efforts and dedication to the banking industry and was credited with having helped Kentucky banks to progress into the 21st century.
Bruce served with eight Kentucky governors, beginning with Hopkinsville native, Gov. Edward T. Breathitt.
He was honored by the Kentucky Press Association with the Freedom of the Press Award for supporting legislation that furthered press freedoms.
He was also known for his beliefs that open meetings benefited the public.
The Christian County Democratic Executive Committee presented him the Ned Breathitt Award for service to the Democratic Party.
There is a plaque on his former desk in Frankfort recognizing his record-setting tenure as a Kentucky state legislator.
A native of Andersonville, Tenn., he was born Aug. 17, 1926, the son of the late William Whit and Mossie Sharp Bruce.
He is a graduate of Morristown High School where he was the Future Farmers of America state secretary and is a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, graduate where he lettered in track and field and earned a degree in agriculture-economics.
“He was one of the most remarkable persons I have ever met. He had such knowledge of political and state government affairs, and he had a memory like an elephant, he could remember anything.” Said Ramsey Morris, who served for 21 years in the state House of Representatives with Bruce.
“He would always sit and listen and then make his decision. He taught me everything I know, he was my friend and I will miss him greatly,” Morris said.
County Judge Executive Steve Tribble said he doubted that the long Bruce record of state service would ever be broken.
“I can’t imagine that happening, just think, few would want to do that, driving back and forth to Frankfort all those years. Think of all the miles he’s traveled, not just to sessions, but to committee meetings and other happenings.”
“I know Janie (his wife) did a lot of the driving. She was always there with him, and the country ham she cooked was always there. Jim was a strong leader for this community and the state. I enjoyed working with him on government issues and I enjoyed working with him at church where he attended regularly. He was a good friend to me, he was my mentor, and I will miss him. He gave advice, and I truly valued his opinion” Tribble said.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Jane Forbes Garnett Bruce; three children, James E. Bruce Jr., Mike Whit Bruce, both of Hopkinsville, Dianne Bruce Anderson, McKenzie, Tenn., and six grandchildren.
--Kentucky New Era, Monday, November 3, 2008, page A1
==============
The Convention Center in Hopkinsville is named for James E. Bruce.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Howard H. Willen and the Rev. Wayne Sayre officiating.
Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hughart and Beard Funeral Home, Hopkinsville.
Bruce was a farmer in South Christian for the last 58 years, but was best known for his long tenure in the Kentucky House of Representatives.
In 2006, he announced he would not run for re-election after having served 42 years. He served as chairman of the banking and insurance committee for a number of years.
In addition, he served on the highway traffic and safety committee and also worked with the agriculture committee.
He also had important roles in numerous legislative committees and the subcommittee for veterans’ affairs where he was instrumental in the location of the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-West in Hopkinsville.
He was a member of the Farm Bureau and had served as vice president of that organization. He was a member of the Elks. A long-time member of the First United Methodist Church, he served on various committees and as a lay leader.
He was honored with the naming of the new convention center in his honor.
He was the recipient of the first James E. Bruce award by the Kentucky Bankers Association in recognition of his government relations efforts and dedication to the banking industry and was credited with having helped Kentucky banks to progress into the 21st century.
Bruce served with eight Kentucky governors, beginning with Hopkinsville native, Gov. Edward T. Breathitt.
He was honored by the Kentucky Press Association with the Freedom of the Press Award for supporting legislation that furthered press freedoms.
He was also known for his beliefs that open meetings benefited the public.
The Christian County Democratic Executive Committee presented him the Ned Breathitt Award for service to the Democratic Party.
There is a plaque on his former desk in Frankfort recognizing his record-setting tenure as a Kentucky state legislator.
A native of Andersonville, Tenn., he was born Aug. 17, 1926, the son of the late William Whit and Mossie Sharp Bruce.
He is a graduate of Morristown High School where he was the Future Farmers of America state secretary and is a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, graduate where he lettered in track and field and earned a degree in agriculture-economics.
“He was one of the most remarkable persons I have ever met. He had such knowledge of political and state government affairs, and he had a memory like an elephant, he could remember anything.” Said Ramsey Morris, who served for 21 years in the state House of Representatives with Bruce.
“He would always sit and listen and then make his decision. He taught me everything I know, he was my friend and I will miss him greatly,” Morris said.
County Judge Executive Steve Tribble said he doubted that the long Bruce record of state service would ever be broken.
“I can’t imagine that happening, just think, few would want to do that, driving back and forth to Frankfort all those years. Think of all the miles he’s traveled, not just to sessions, but to committee meetings and other happenings.”
“I know Janie (his wife) did a lot of the driving. She was always there with him, and the country ham she cooked was always there. Jim was a strong leader for this community and the state. I enjoyed working with him on government issues and I enjoyed working with him at church where he attended regularly. He was a good friend to me, he was my mentor, and I will miss him. He gave advice, and I truly valued his opinion” Tribble said.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Jane Forbes Garnett Bruce; three children, James E. Bruce Jr., Mike Whit Bruce, both of Hopkinsville, Dianne Bruce Anderson, McKenzie, Tenn., and six grandchildren.
--Kentucky New Era, Monday, November 3, 2008, page A1
==============
The Convention Center in Hopkinsville is named for James E. Bruce.
James E. Bruce, 82, who was the longest serving state legislator in Kentucky history, died Sunday morning, Nov. 2, 2008, at his home of natural causes.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Howard H. Willen and the Rev. Wayne Sayre officiating.
Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hughart and Beard Funeral Home, Hopkinsville.
Bruce was a farmer in South Christian for the last 58 years, but was best known for his long tenure in the Kentucky House of Representatives.
In 2006, he announced he would not run for re-election after having served 42 years. He served as chairman of the banking and insurance committee for a number of years.
In addition, he served on the highway traffic and safety committee and also worked with the agriculture committee.
He also had important roles in numerous legislative committees and the subcommittee for veterans’ affairs where he was instrumental in the location of the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-West in Hopkinsville.
He was a member of the Farm Bureau and had served as vice president of that organization. He was a member of the Elks. A long-time member of the First United Methodist Church, he served on various committees and as a lay leader.
He was honored with the naming of the new convention center in his honor.
He was the recipient of the first James E. Bruce award by the Kentucky Bankers Association in recognition of his government relations efforts and dedication to the banking industry and was credited with having helped Kentucky banks to progress into the 21st century.
Bruce served with eight Kentucky governors, beginning with Hopkinsville native, Gov. Edward T. Breathitt.
He was honored by the Kentucky Press Association with the Freedom of the Press Award for supporting legislation that furthered press freedoms.
He was also known for his beliefs that open meetings benefited the public.
The Christian County Democratic Executive Committee presented him the Ned Breathitt Award for service to the Democratic Party.
There is a plaque on his former desk in Frankfort recognizing his record-setting tenure as a Kentucky state legislator.
A native of Andersonville, Tenn., he was born Aug. 17, 1926, the son of the late William Whit and Mossie Sharp Bruce.
He is a graduate of Morristown High School where he was the Future Farmers of America state secretary and is a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, graduate where he lettered in track and field and earned a degree in agriculture-economics.
“He was one of the most remarkable persons I have ever met. He had such knowledge of political and state government affairs, and he had a memory like an elephant, he could remember anything.” Said Ramsey Morris, who served for 21 years in the state House of Representatives with Bruce.
“He would always sit and listen and then make his decision. He taught me everything I know, he was my friend and I will miss him greatly,” Morris said.
County Judge Executive Steve Tribble said he doubted that the long Bruce record of state service would ever be broken.
“I can’t imagine that happening, just think, few would want to do that, driving back and forth to Frankfort all those years. Think of all the miles he’s traveled, not just to sessions, but to committee meetings and other happenings.”
“I know Janie (his wife) did a lot of the driving. She was always there with him, and the country ham she cooked was always there. Jim was a strong leader for this community and the state. I enjoyed working with him on government issues and I enjoyed working with him at church where he attended regularly. He was a good friend to me, he was my mentor, and I will miss him. He gave advice, and I truly valued his opinion” Tribble said.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Jane Forbes Garnett Bruce; three children, James E. Bruce Jr., Mike Whit Bruce, both of Hopkinsville, Dianne Bruce Anderson, McKenzie, Tenn., and six grandchildren.
--Kentucky New Era, Monday, November 3, 2008, page A1
==============
The Convention Center in Hopkinsville is named for James E. Bruce.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Howard H. Willen and the Rev. Wayne Sayre officiating.
Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hughart and Beard Funeral Home, Hopkinsville.
Bruce was a farmer in South Christian for the last 58 years, but was best known for his long tenure in the Kentucky House of Representatives.
In 2006, he announced he would not run for re-election after having served 42 years. He served as chairman of the banking and insurance committee for a number of years.
In addition, he served on the highway traffic and safety committee and also worked with the agriculture committee.
He also had important roles in numerous legislative committees and the subcommittee for veterans’ affairs where he was instrumental in the location of the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-West in Hopkinsville.
He was a member of the Farm Bureau and had served as vice president of that organization. He was a member of the Elks. A long-time member of the First United Methodist Church, he served on various committees and as a lay leader.
He was honored with the naming of the new convention center in his honor.
He was the recipient of the first James E. Bruce award by the Kentucky Bankers Association in recognition of his government relations efforts and dedication to the banking industry and was credited with having helped Kentucky banks to progress into the 21st century.
Bruce served with eight Kentucky governors, beginning with Hopkinsville native, Gov. Edward T. Breathitt.
He was honored by the Kentucky Press Association with the Freedom of the Press Award for supporting legislation that furthered press freedoms.
He was also known for his beliefs that open meetings benefited the public.
The Christian County Democratic Executive Committee presented him the Ned Breathitt Award for service to the Democratic Party.
There is a plaque on his former desk in Frankfort recognizing his record-setting tenure as a Kentucky state legislator.
A native of Andersonville, Tenn., he was born Aug. 17, 1926, the son of the late William Whit and Mossie Sharp Bruce.
He is a graduate of Morristown High School where he was the Future Farmers of America state secretary and is a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, graduate where he lettered in track and field and earned a degree in agriculture-economics.
“He was one of the most remarkable persons I have ever met. He had such knowledge of political and state government affairs, and he had a memory like an elephant, he could remember anything.” Said Ramsey Morris, who served for 21 years in the state House of Representatives with Bruce.
“He would always sit and listen and then make his decision. He taught me everything I know, he was my friend and I will miss him greatly,” Morris said.
County Judge Executive Steve Tribble said he doubted that the long Bruce record of state service would ever be broken.
“I can’t imagine that happening, just think, few would want to do that, driving back and forth to Frankfort all those years. Think of all the miles he’s traveled, not just to sessions, but to committee meetings and other happenings.”
“I know Janie (his wife) did a lot of the driving. She was always there with him, and the country ham she cooked was always there. Jim was a strong leader for this community and the state. I enjoyed working with him on government issues and I enjoyed working with him at church where he attended regularly. He was a good friend to me, he was my mentor, and I will miss him. He gave advice, and I truly valued his opinion” Tribble said.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Jane Forbes Garnett Bruce; three children, James E. Bruce Jr., Mike Whit Bruce, both of Hopkinsville, Dianne Bruce Anderson, McKenzie, Tenn., and six grandchildren.
--Kentucky New Era, Monday, November 3, 2008, page A1
==============
The Convention Center in Hopkinsville is named for James E. Bruce.
Gravesite Details
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._Bruce
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