1996 Hall of Fame Inductee Bert T. Combs Class of 1937

Bert Combs was born in Clay County on December 8, 1911 and attended the University of Kentucky. Combs graduated  second in his UK law school class in 1937, and began a life of service to the people of Kentucky.

Combs began his law practice in Manchester and later moved it to Prestonsburg. In 1942 he entered the U.S. Army as a private and assisted in the investigation and prosecution of war criminals. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Medal of Honor for his service. 

Returning to his beloved mountains in the early 50’s, Bert Combs received his appointment to fill a vacancy on the court of appeals and defeated Governor Simeon Willis to be elected Judge of the Court of Appeals in 1951. 

In 1955 he resigned the court for a failed run for governor, returning triumphantly in 1959 to win the governorship. AFter his tenure as Governor, he was appointed as circuit judge for the U.S Court of Appeals, resigning in 1971. 

Probably best known for his fight for educational equality (the beginning of the KERA), one of Governor Combs’ true loves was education. He remained close to the University of Kentucky and the College of Law throughout his life. Serving as a member of the College’s visiting committee and a trusted advisor, Bert Combs is memorialized at the College of Law with an endowment established by alumni and friends in his name that continues to provide scholarship funds for some of the College’s top students.

The following is a link to a tribute to Governor Combs from the Kentucky Law Journal, Volume 80, Issue 3: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1802&context=klj