career spanned over a quarter of a century in elective office. He began as a Kentucky state senator in 1965 and was elected lieutenant governor in 1967. Four years later, he became the Commonwealth's 49th Governor. In 1974, he was elected to the U.S. Senate and served until his retirement in 1998. As a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Ford was the ranking member of its Aviation Subcommittee and served on the subcommittees dealing with consumer and communication issues. He was also instrumental in expanding airport-improvement programs and took a leading role in addressing airport noise policy, aging aircraft, pilot education and other critical aviation issues.