Ken Starr Facts for Kids

Academic posts 2004–⁠2016

Chancellor of Baylor University
In office November 11, 2013 – June 1, 2016
Preceded by	Robert B. Sloan (2006)
Succeeded by	Position abolished
President of Baylor University
In office June 1, 2010 – May 31, 2016
Preceded by	John M. Lilley
Succeeded by	Linda Livingstone
Dean of the Pepperdine University School of Law
In office August 1, 2004 – June 1, 2010
Preceded by	Charles Nelson
Succeeded by	Tom Bost

Personal details

Born

Kenneth Winston Starr

July 21, 1946
Vernon, Texas, U.S.

Died

September 13, 2022 (aged 76)
Houston, Texas, U.S.

Political party

Republican

Other political
affiliations

Democratic (before 1975)

Spouse

Alice Mendell

(m. 1970)

Children

Education

George Washington University (BA)
Brown University (MA)
Duke University (JD)

Kenneth Winston Starr (July 21, 1946 – September 13, 2022) was an American lawyer. He also served as a federal judge and the U.S. Solicitor General. Later, he was the president and chancellor of Baylor University. He led an important investigation involving the Clinton administration.

Early Life and Education
Legal Career
Leadership at Baylor University
Later Life and Passing
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Ken Starr was born in Vernon, Texas, and grew up in Centerville, Texas. He went to Sam Houston High School in San Antonio. He was a very good student and was popular with his classmates.

In 1970, Starr married Alice Mendell.

Starr attended Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. He was an honor student there. He was also a member of the Young Democrats. He supported people who protested the Vietnam War.

He later moved to George Washington University in Washington, D.C.. In 1968, he earned a degree in history. He then went to Brown University and earned a master's degree in 1969. In 1973, he earned his law degree from Duke University School of Law. Starr was not eligible for military service during the Vietnam War due to a health condition.

Legal Career

After law school, Ken Starr worked for judges. He was a law clerk for Judge David W. Dyer. This was at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 1973 to 1974. Later, he worked for Chief Justice Warren E. Burger at the Supreme Court of the United States. This was from 1975 to 1977.

In 1977, he joined a law firm called Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher. In 1981, he became a counselor to U.S. Attorney General William French Smith.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan chose him to be a judge. He became a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He served in this role until 1989.

From 1989 to 1993, Starr was the Solicitor General of the United States. He worked under President George H. W. Bush. The Solicitor General represents the U.S. government in cases before the Supreme Court.

Starr became widely known for his role as an Independent Counsel. He was appointed to investigate the Whitewater controversy and other matters during Bill Clinton's presidency. After several years, Starr released a report. This report led to the impeachment of Bill Clinton.

Leadership at Baylor University

In 2010, Ken Starr became the president of Baylor University. Baylor is a large university in Texas. He was the 14th president of the school. His inauguration ceremony was held in September 2010.

As president, Starr worked to keep Baylor University in the Big 12 Conference for sports. In 2013, he also became the chancellor of Baylor. This meant he held both top leadership roles at the university. He was the first person to do this.

Starr resigned as Chancellor on June 1, 2016. He also left his teaching position at Baylor Law School in August 2016.