Louie Nunn, 79; Ky. Governor Revamped Mental Health System

FRANKFORT, Ky. —  Former Gov. Louie B. Nunn, who oversaw a revamping of Kentucky’s mental health treatment system and the outlawing of housing discrimination, has died. He was 79.

Nunn collapsed Thursday of an apparent heart attack at his home in Versailles, about 60 miles east of Louisville, the county coroner said.

Elected in 1967, Nunn in his four years as governor saw Kentucky take strides in caring for the mentally retarded, the mentally ill and juvenile delinquents.

A network of 22 mental health centers was completed, and for the first time in Kentucky history, all four state psychiatric hospitals were fully accredited. Nunn later called the revamping of the state’s mental health system his proudest accomplishment.

The state’s university system was also expanded during his term, and housing discrimination was outlawed.

While Nunn won his race for governor in 1967, defeating Democrat Henry Ward, he lost two others -- to Edward T. Breathitt in 1963 and to John Y. Brown Jr. in 1979. He was the GOP’s Senate nominee in 1972, but lost to Walter “Dee” Huddleston.

Nunn was born in 1924 in Park, Ky. After Army service during World War II, he studied at the University of Cincinnati, then received a law degree from the University of Louisville in 1950.

Nunn launched a long political career in 1954, winning election at age 29 as “county judge,” the term for the top executive official, in his native Barren County. After leaving the governorship, he served on the boards of regents of Morehead State University and, later, Kentucky State University in Frankfort.

He is survived by two children, Jennie Lou and Stephen, a member of the state Legislature.