30 Facts About Bruce Lunsford

William Bruce Lunsford was born on November 11,1947 and is an American attorney, businessman, and politician from Kentucky.

Bruce Lunsford has served various roles in the Kentucky Democratic Party, including party treasurer, Deputy Development Secretary, and Head of Commerce.

Bruce Lunsford was born in Kenton County, Kentucky on November 11,1947, to Amos and Billie Lunsford; Lunsford's mother, Billie, was later killed in an automobile accident by a drunk driver.

When Bruce Lunsford was a child, his father left his job as a union shop steward for General Electric Cincinnati and borrowed money to purchase a small farm in Piner, Kentucky, where Bruce Lunsford spent his childhood.

In high school, Bruce Lunsford became an all-conference basketball player at Simon Kenton High School, and was a five-year starter on the baseball team.

Bruce Lunsford graduated with a political science degree in 1969, with a minor in accounting.

Bruce Lunsford donated $1 million to the Salmon P Chase College of Law.

Bruce Lunsford served as the CEO of both companies until resigning in 1999, and remained the Chairman of Ventas until 2003.

Vencor maintained that they had committed no wrongdoing and continued to dispute the claims until after Bruce Lunsford left the company.

Bruce Lunsford did not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement.

Bruce Lunsford has been involved as an investor, director and adviser to many other start-up businesses through Bruce Lunsford Capital and has been active in thoroughbred horse racing and independent film production.

Bruce Lunsford has raced several graded stakes winners, including Madcap Escapade, First Samurai, Tessa Blue and Bel Air Beauty.

When Brown won the primary Bruce Lunsford became treasurer of the Kentucky Democratic Party.

When Development Secretary Larry Townsend stepped down, effective January 1,1981, Bruce Lunsford was named as acting secretary.

In that post, Bruce Lunsford marketed the state as a business destination and helped land more than 55,000 new jobs and $4.6 billion in new manufacturing investment.

Some significant projects Bruce Lunsford negotiated included setting up the United Parcel Service Hub in Louisville, the Delta Airlines Hub in Northern Kentucky and downtown redevelopment projects in Ashland, Lexington and Louisville.

Bruce Lunsford led the effort to reach out to Japan by establishing a Kentucky office there, still in existence today, which has been instrumental in attracting substantial Japanese investment to the state.

Bruce Lunsford has always worked in education and served on the board of trustees of the University of Kentucky, Bellarmine College and Centre College.

Bruce Lunsford ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Kentucky in 2003.

Bruce Lunsford dropped out of the race, blaming these ads, just days before the primary, endorsing Democratic candidate Jody Richards, who lost narrowly to Chandler.

Long after the primary, Bruce Lunsford endorsed Republican candidate Ernie Fletcher.

Bruce Lunsford has contributed thousands of dollars to both Democrats and Republicans over a period of twenty years.

Bruce Lunsford was a Democratic candidate for Governor of Kentucky in 2007.

Bruce Lunsford's running mate was Greg Stumbo, Attorney General of Kentucky.

Bruce Lunsford won just over 74,000 votes, beating former Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky Steve Henry and Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives Jody Richards, but finishing far behind winner Beshear's 142,000+ votes.

On January 29,2008, Bruce Lunsford announced that he would run in the Democratic primary in hopes of facing Mitch McConnell in the general election for the Senate in November 2008.

Bruce Lunsford said he had been asked to run by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and that he did not expect to spend the millions he had spent on his campaign in previous elections.

On May 20,2008, Bruce Lunsford won the Democratic nomination for US Senate.

Bruce Lunsford received 316,763 votes, followed by Greg Fischer's 209,662 votes.

The general election campaign saw Bruce Lunsford start the race as a heavy underdog to Mitch McConnell, only to turn it into the race of McConnell's career as the economic crisis deepened and played to the businessman's expertise and populist policy stance.