Poet Laureate of Kentucky


Poet Laureate of Kentucky is a title awarded to a Kentucky poet by the state's Art Council. In 2013, the position was occupied by Frank X Walker, the first African-American to be so honored.
The poet laureate position was established 1926 by an act of the Kentucky General Assembly. James T. Cotton Noe was the first laureate. Originally appointed to lifetime terms, following 1990 legislation laureates have been appointed by the governor to two-year terms.

List of poets laureate

Poets laureate of Kentucky include:
#Poet laureateTerm beganTerm endedAppointed byNotes
1James Thomas "Cotton" NoeMarch 19269 November 1953 legislature
2Edward G. Hill1 October 19288 November 1937 legislature
3Louise Scott Phillips19451983 legislature
4Edwin Carlisle Litsey19543 February 1970 legislature
5Jesse Hilton Stuart19541984 legislature
6Lowell Allen Williams1956–legislature
7Lillie D. Chaffin1974–legislature
8Tom Mobley1976–legislature
9Agnes O'Rear7 March 19781990 legislature
10Clarence "Soc" Clay1984–legislature
11Lee Pennington1984–legislature
12Paul Salyers1984–legislature
13Dale Faughn1986–legislature
14Jim Wayne Miller1986–legislature
15Henry E. Pilkenton1986–legislature
16James H. Patton Jr.1990–legislature
17James Still19951996–
18Joy Bale Boone19971998–
19Richard Taylor19992000–
20James Baker Hall20012002–
21Joe Survant20032004–
22Sena Jeter Naslund20052006–
23Jane Gentry Vance20072008–
24Gurney Norman20092010–
25Maureen Morehead20112012–
26Frank X WalkerJanuary 20132014–
27George Ella Lyon20152016–
28Frederick SmockMay 1, 20172018
29Jeff Worley20192020Matt Bevin
30Crystal Wilkinson20212022
31Silas House20232024Andy Beshear
32Kathleen Driskell20252026Andy Beshear