Larger than life.
A jokester.
A proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, later an advocate for his brothers and sisters in the Armed Forces.
A husband of 53 years to former Princeton Mayor, Dixie Gale, and a father to Davis Rudd.
And a strong advocate of the Pennyrile, during his 14 years in the District 4 seat of the Kentucky House, serving first as a Representative, and second as a Democrat.
It’s these traits, and many more, that came to life Tuesday afternoon at 200 Industrial Drive in Crittenden County, as scores from all over the Jackson Purchase gathered to relive memories of the late Mike Cherry — before officials unveiled new signage dedicating and memorializing more than five miles of new U.S. 641 in his honor.
Governor Andy Beshear called it “fitting.”
Beshear’s senior advisor, Rocky Adkins, vividly remembers serving in the state’s house alongside him — different geographical sides of the Commonwealth with one similar goal.
Martha Jane King — who served in the House from 2009 until 2017, and now assists Beshear through the Department of Local Government — reflected on a man who, through the Veteran Affairs Committee, avoided political battle lines.
Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom noted the ongoing U.S. 641 project was first discussed 35 years ago, only now seeing some fruition in the labor.
Cherry, he added, played a large role in seeing those talks advance past preliminary stages.
But it’s a 2010 phone call from the Princeton native, Newcom said, that sticks with him most.
Newcom was running for his first term as Crittenden County’s top leader, and had created a “come one, come all” advertisement for a “Meet The Candidates” of political west Kentucky.
Turns out, Cherry was interested.
Gale closed by quoting her husband, urging that “everything has been said, but everyone hasn’t said it.” Still, she shared one of her favorite moments from more than five decades with him — a snapshot at Fohs Hall in Marion.
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