Donnie Gedling

Donnie Gedling
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 18th district
In office January 1984 – January 1, 1995
Preceded by	Mary Ann Tobin
Succeeded by	Dwight Butler
Personal details
Born	(1939-12-09)December 9, 1939 Owensboro, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	December 4, 2024(2024-12-04) (aged 84) Owensboro, Kentucky, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Residence(s)	Hardinsburg, Kentucky, U.S.

Donald Joseph Gedling (December 9, 1939 – December 4, 2024) was an American politician who was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1984 to 1995, representing the 18th district. He was also a tobacco farmer from Breckinridge County, Kentucky.^[1]

First election and early General Assembly work

Gedling was first elected in a January 1984 special election following the resignation of incumbent Mary Ann Tobin to become Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts. Gedling was later elected to the Kentucky General Assembly in November 1984 when he ran unopposed as a Democrat from Hardinsburg, Kentucky.^[2] At the time, the district was composed of Breckinridge County as well as parts of Meade and Hancock Counties.^[3] He ran unopposed again in 1986^[4][3] and 1988.^[5][6]

During this time he served on the House's Agricultural and Small Business Committee and the State Government Committee. He was the Vice Chairman of the Counties and Special Districts Committee.^[7] He also served as Chairman of the General Assembly's Tobacco Task Force.^[8]

Later General Assembly work

In 1990, Gedling received his first challenge for his seat when Republican James Holbrook ran against him. He defeated Holbrook with 73 percent of the vote.^[9][10] In 1992, he again ran unopposed. By this time, parts of Hardin County had been added to the district.^[11][12]

In the late 1980s and early 1990s Gedling became known as a fierce defender of tobacco and smokers’ rights. In 1990 he was able to get a Smokers’ Bill of Rights bill passed by the Kentucky House of Representatives.^[13] During this time he was still the Chairman of the General Assembly's Tobacco Task Force. He was highly critical of the University of Louisville when it became the first state university in Kentucky to have smoking restrictions. He thought it was very hypocritical to take state funds (much of which came from the tobacco industry) and then try to ban the product from areas of campus.^[14][15][16]

In Gedling's later terms he was a member of the Joint Committee on Agricultural and Natural Resources; the Joint Committee on Counties, Special Districts, and Local Government; the Joint Committee on State Government; the Tobacco Task Force; and a sub-committee for rural fire protection. .^[17][18]

In 1994, Gedling retired and his son, Joey, lost the election to Republican Dwight Butler, 55 percent to 45 percent.^[19][20]

Post-political career

Gedling set up a scholarship in his name for any students from Breckinridge or Hancock counties in Kentucky who attend Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky.^[21]

Gedling died in Owensboro on December 4, 2024, at the age of 84.^[22]

References

1. "'Tobacco growers engage in ethics debate". Corbin Times-Tribune. Corbin, Kentucky. July 14, 1994. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
2. "KY State House 018 - 1984". OurCampaigns.com.
3. "General Election, November 4, 1986". Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Elections.
4. "KY State House 018 - 1986". OurCampaigns.com.
5. "KY State House 018 - 1988". OurCampaigns.com.
6. "General Election, November 8, 1988". Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Elections.
7. Chellgren, Mark R. (January 9, 1987). "Committee assignments complete work of organizational session". Corbin Times-Tribune. Corbin, KY. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
8. "University has until Dec. 5 to revise smoking policy". Biddeford Journal-Tribune. Biddeford, Maine. November 23, 1988. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
9. "KY State House 018 - 1990". OurCampaigns.com.
10. "General Election, November 6, 1990". Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Elections.
11. "KY State House 018 - 1992". OurCampaigns.com.
12. "General Election, November 3, 1992". Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Elections.
13. "Smokers' bill of rights to ban discrimination". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. March 6, 1990. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
14. "U of L smoking rules still burn legislators". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. April 18, 1989. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
15. Risner, Brent (April 27, 1989). "State may evaluate smoking policy". The Eastern Progress. Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
16. "University of Louisville softens smoking policy". The Breeze. James Madison University. February 27, 1989. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
17. "FINAL REPORTS OF THE INTERIM JOINT, SPECIAL, AND STATUTORY COMMITTEES 1992-1993" (PDF). Legislative Research Commission, Commonwealth of Kentucky.
18. "MID-INTERIM REPORTS OF THE JOINT, SPECIAL AND STATUTORY COMMITTEES 1994" (PDF). Legislative Research Commission, Commonwealth of Kentucky.
19. "KY State House 018 - 1994". OurCampaigns.com.
20. "General Election, November 8, 1994". Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Elections.
21. "Donnie Gedling Scholarship". EDUInReview.com.
22. "Donald Joseph Gedling Sr". Trent-Dowell Funeral Home. December 5, 2024.