Former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones was laid to rest today following a private funeral service in Midway.

Jones, a Democrat, served as Kentucky's 58th governor from 1991 until 1995.

Yesterday, in the state Capitol Rotunda, Jones's family received visitors who traveled to Frankfort to pay their respects.

They spoke of his character, his smile and his work ethic.

Kentucky governors, past and present, reflected on his legacy with admiration.

His efforts on health care reform that were unique and really ahead of its time.

You know, it ended up not being successful in the long term.

But every effort like that at that point in time really moved that issue a lot and helped push it to the forefront.

And then, of course, when I got to be governor and the Affordable Care Act passed, I was able to implement that in Kentucky and expand Medicaid and get about 450 to 500000 Kentuckians insured for the first time.

And so I always thought of him and his efforts as we did that, because, as I say, he was ahead of his time on that issue.

One of the real hallmarks of his administration was a commitment to integrity.

He actually created the Executive Branch Ethics Commission.

He he set a whole new level of standard for behavior under the new executive Code of ethics.

And I today serve on that executive Branch Ethics Commission as an appointee of Governor Andy Beshear.

So it's sort of come full circle for me.

I'm now helping to enforce the rules that he set in place when he tried to really put down a marker for his administration of being a champion for ethical behavior in state government.

As horsemanship and as advice and less as the farmer in a mayor or at the sales, and helped me get through whatever current crisis was going on with whatever current horse he was.

He always thought of others and put the horse business, you know, up there and help promote.

And he absolutely loved the game and loved to see people be successful in it and love to see people to be successful with other part of life.

If he could play some small part in that and he did it and it was we love him for that.

When I first filed for office, he's one of the very first people he called me.

And, you know, I can remember he said, go get him and said he was proud of me.

And said he'd help in any way he could.

And that was my very first, very first campaign and very first time getting in politics.

But but he would he would fight the fight even if it was unpopular.

I mean, his push on on health care, on ethics reform wasn't popular with everybody at the time.

He did it because he thought it was right.

And that's something I greatly respect.

But what he would say is, do what you think is right.

You got to be able to put your head down on the pillow at night.

There's always going to be critics.

Don't listen to him.

Listen to the people that you're close to that love you and they'll tell you the truth.

Governor Jones is the second former Kentucky governor to die in less than a year.

Governor john y.

Brown jr. Died in november of 2022.