High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Edward Thompson "Ned" Breathitt, Jr. (November 26, 1924 – October 14, 2003) was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. A member of one of the state`s political families, he was the 51st Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1963 to 1967. After serving in World War II and graduating from the University of Kentucky, Breathitt worked on the presidential campaign of Adlai Stevenson, the senatorial campaign of Alben Barkley, and the gubernatorial campaign of Bert T. Combs. When Combs won the governorship in 1959, he appointed Breathitt as personnel commissioner, where he wrote legislation establishing the first merit system for state employees. He continued to hold appointive offices throughout Combs` tenure, and in 1962, Combs endorsed Breathitt to succeed him as governor.