27 Facts About Gerald Neal

Gerald Anthony Neal was born on September 22,1945 and is an American politician who has served as a member of the Kentucky Senate since 1989.

Gerald Neal has been the longest-serving member of the senate since the resignation of David Williams in 2012.

Gerald Neal pursued graduate studies in Political Science at the University of Michigan, and later returned to Kentucky to begin his legal career.

In 1975, Gerald Neal served on the Jefferson County Welfare Advisory Board and campaigned for Aubrey Williams in the Jefferson County Commissioner race.

Gerald Neal lost the 8th ward Democratic aldermanic primary in April 1977 but soon after that, he was elected to the school board steering committee in July 1977.

Gerald Neal was elected President of the Kentucky National Bar Association in 1977.

Gerald Neal stepped into presidential politics when he joined the Walter Mondale coordinating committee in 1984.

Gerald Neal's tenure has been marked by his involvement in significant initiatives, including his role as a member of Task Force 2000, which addressed the merger of Jefferson County and Louisville.

Gerald Neal is the founder of the Kentucky African American All Children's Caucus which was dedicated to addressing issues of educational diversity, and the promotion of high educational standards facilitated by appropriate methodologies.

Gerald Neal is the founder of The African American Community Agenda Initiative which focus on policy research, development, and community education.

Gerald Neal was elected to represent District 33, being the second African American to serve, and first African American man elected to the Kentucky State Senate.

Senator Gerald Neal was first elected in 1989 and has since been re-elected consecutively over the years.

Gerald Neal was elected Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman, becoming the first African American elected to a leadership position in the history of Kentucky.

Gerald Neal was inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame, and the Gallery of Great Black Kentuckians.

Gerald Neal has served as vice president, regional director and parliamentarian of the National Bar Association, and as president of the Kentucky Chapter of the National Bar Association.

Gerald Neal is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association and is a Louisville and Kentucky Bar Association Fellow.

Gerald Neal has served as assistant director of Public Health and Safety for the City of Louisville, was a hearing officer for the State Workers' Compensation Board and worked as a juvenile probation officer.

Gerald Neal served five terms as chair of the Louisville-Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District, where he increased the transparency of the agency, opening it to public scrutiny and involvement.

Gerald Neal is the founder of the Kentucky Education Reform African American and All Children's Caucus.

Gerald Neal sponsored the law that created the KCHIP Program to provide health care coverage for more of Kentucky's uninsured children and expanded Medicaid coverage for children.

Gerald Neal sponsored laws that required the identification of the special needs of the minority elderly population and created the African American Heritage Commission.

Gerald Neal sponsored legislation amending the Kentucky Constitution to remove segregation by race, prohibit racial profiling by law enforcement, and prohibit the execution of a person when evidence shows racial bias in prosecution.

On May 27,2010, the Senate adopted Senator Gerald Neal's resolution reaffirming the principles of equality preserved in the US Constitution, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Kentucky Civil Rights Act of 1966.

Senator Gerald Neal has received many honors and commendations for his distinguished service to community, the legal profession, and as a Kentucky State Legislator.

Gerald Neal served as a United Nations observer and Monitor for the historic April 1994 all- race elections in South Africa.

Gerald Neal is a 2001 inductee of the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

Gerald Neal was hospitalized in Louisville with COVID-19 on September 7,2020.