Kirk Fordice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kirk Fordice
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Fordice in 1997
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| 61st Governor of Mississippi | |
| In office January 14, 1992 – January 11, 2000 |
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| Lieutenant | Eddie Briggs Ronnie Musgrove |
| Preceded by | Ray Mabus |
| Succeeded by | Ronnie Musgrove |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Daniel Kirkwood Fordice Jr.
February 10, 1934 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | September 7, 2004 (aged 70) Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Resting place | Parkway Memorial Cemetery, Ridgeland, Mississippi |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Patricia Owens
(m. 1955; div. 1999)Ann G. Creson
(m. 2000; div. 2003) |
| Children | 4 |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States ArmyArmy Reserve |
| Years of service | 1957–1959; 1959–1977 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Daniel Kirkwood "Kirk" Fordice Jr. (born February 10, 1934 – died September 7, 2004) was an American politician and businessman. He served as the 61st Governor of Mississippi from 1992 to 2000.
Fordice was a very important figure in Mississippi's history. He was the first Republican governor of the state since the Reconstruction era, which ended in 1876. He was also the first governor elected to two terms in a row after a change to the state's constitution. Fordice was known for his conservative views, focusing on business, fighting crime, and keeping taxes low.
Before becoming governor, Fordice was a successful businessman. He took over his father's construction company and became a millionaire. He ran for governor in 1991, supporting many conservative ideas.
Early Life and Career
Kirk Fordice was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on February 10, 1934. He went to Purdue University and studied civil engineering. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1956 and his master's degree in 1957.
After college, Fordice served in the United States Army for two years. He then continued to serve in the Army Reserve until 1977. He retired from the military with the rank of colonel.
Fordice later took charge of his father's company, Fordice Construction Company. In the 1960s, he started a new part of the company that built industrial buildings. In the 1980s, he added a division for building bridges. Because his company worked on many government projects, he became involved in construction trade groups. He became a strong supporter of the construction industry.
Political Career
Kirk Fordice joined the Republican Party in 1964. He became more involved in politics over time. In 1982, he was elected secretary of the Mississippi Republican Party.
In 1991, Fordice decided to run for governor of Mississippi. He faced several opponents in the Republican primary election. Fordice built a strong campaign team and presented himself as someone who was not a "professional politician." He won the Republican primary.
In the main election, Fordice ran against the current Democratic governor, Ray Mabus. Fordice supported ideas like limiting how long politicians could serve and changing the welfare system. He also criticized Governor Mabus for spending too much money. Mabus, on the other hand, focused on supporting public education.
On November 5, 1991, Fordice won the election. He received 50.8 percent of the votes, while Mabus received 47.6 percent. This was a historic win because it was the first time a Republican had won the Mississippi governor's race since 1874. Fordice became governor on January 14, 1992.
Fordice was re-elected as governor in 1995. He won against Democratic candidate Dick Molpus. His second term began on January 16, 1996.
As governor, Fordice was a strong conservative. He supported:
- Cutting taxes
- Ending affirmative action programs
- Reducing the welfare system
- Stricter punishments for crimes
- Building more prisons
In 1996, Fordice made a comment referring to America as "a Christian Nation." He later apologized for any offense caused by his words. He also refused to increase pay for public school teachers in Mississippi, even though the state's teacher salaries were very low compared to other states. He stated that any teacher who went on strike would be fired.
In August 1996, Fordice signed an order that did not recognize same-sex marriages in Mississippi. In 2004, Mississippi voters passed a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman. However, in 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in the case Obergefell v. Hodges that laws banning same-sex marriage were unconstitutional.
Fordice finished his second term and left office on January 11, 2000.
Personal Life and Death
After leaving office, Kirk Fordice lived in Madison, Mississippi. He passed away from leukemia in Jackson, Mississippi on September 7, 2004, at the age of 70. He is buried at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
