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BERT T. COMBS (1911 - 1991)
Born in Clay County, future gov. Combs practiced law in Manchester and Prestonsburg. A captain in World War II, he helped prepare evidence against Japanese war criminals.


On Kentucky Court of Appeals, 1951-1955. Gov. of Kentucky, 1959-1963. Federal Court of Appeals judge, 1967-70. A senior partner in Wyatt, Tarrant, and Combs. He won ruling that led to landmark school reform legislation, 1990.




GOV. BERT T. COMBS (1959 - 1963)
Accomplishments during Combs' administration included highways connecting eastern and western Kentucky, expansion of state parks system, a statutory merit system for state employees, an end to segregation in public facilities, increased funding for teachers' salaries and state universities, 3% sales tax, and Kentucky Educational Television.

Former Gov. Bert T. Combs made his retirement home in Powell County up on Cane Creek..but sadly he lost his life on December 4, 1991 while trying to cross a flooded road that led to his home. His widow Sara is now an important figure in Kentucky politics and she still resides in the log house that the couple loved so much. She's a very nice lady.

The Mountain Parkway is one of the most important highways serving eastern Kentucky. It was built in the early 1960s and opened in January 1963 as Kentucky's second toll road, and it provides a modern high-speed link from the Big Sandy Valley section of the mountainous eastern portion of the state to the Bluegrass area. The section from Winchester to Campton is four lanes and is also designated as part of Corridor I in the Appachian Development Highway System; the portion from Campton to Salyersville is two lanes with passing lanes on hills and is designated as part of Corridor R.

The route was originally signed only as the Mountain Parkway. In the late 1970s, the "Bert T. Combs" name was added to honor the governor from the mountains who had the foresight to spearhead construction of this highway. Auxiliary plates were added above the circular Mountain Parkway signs to mark the designation.

Tolls were removed from the four-lane section in 1985, and from the two-lane section in 1986.

Not only is the Mountain Parkway an important connector route, it's a vital link for economic development in the area it serves. It is also a major feeder route, funneling traffic from such cities as Pikeville, Prestonsburg, Paintsville, West Liberty, Hazard, Jackson, Beattyville, Booneville and Irvine toward Lexington and I-75.