Jane Beshear

Beshear was born in 1946 as Jane Klinger. She attended the University of Kentucky in Lexington.[1] In 1969, she married Steve Beshear,[2] the couple has two children, Jeffrey Scott Beshear and Andrew Graham Beshear (who is the current Governor of Kentucky), two grandsons, and one granddaughter.[3]

Jane and Steve Beshear at Fancy Farms 2011

In 2007, Beshear assumed the role of First Spouse of Kentucky after her husband, Steve, was elected governor. She held the role until 2015.[2]

A former schoolteacher, Beshear spent five years working with lawmakers to raise the high school dropout age from 16 to 18. She worked to build a consensus for legislation to require students to obtain a diploma or drop out after their 18th birthday. She fostered a compromise that would allow the adoption of the new dropout age to be optional.[4]

In 2015, Beshear helped pass a bill to provide protections from violence from people in dating relationships.[4]

The Jane K. Beshear Capitol Education Center was named in her honor,[5] but less than a year after its opening Governor Matt Bevin renamed the building to honor Kentucky's Gold Star families.[6]

In 2017, Beshear was thrown from her horse while at the Kentucky Horse Park. She was taken to the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital emergency room for treatment. She suffered a broken wrist and arm, as well as a severe concussion.[7][8]