Governor appoints McConnell Center Fellow to civil war commission

Governor Steve Beshear appointed Dr. John E. Kleber as a member of the Kentucky Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, with a term expiring Sept. 2, 2014. Kleber is a member of the Kentucky Historical Executive Committee and represents the Kentucky Historical Society.

"John is one of the foremost historians of Kentucky alive today," stated Dr. Gary Gregg, director of the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville. "It's great to see his talents and interests recognized in this way, and I can think of no one I would rather have on such an important Commission than Dr. John Kleber." Kleber is one of five McConnell Center Fellows.

Additional members appointed to the commission to serve for terms expiring Sept. 2, 2014:

• Rep. Brent Yonts, of Greenville, is a member of Kentucky General Assembly representing the 15th House District. He represents the Kentucky House of Representatives and has been appointed by the Speaker of the House.
• Rep. R. “Bob” Damron, of Nicholasville, is a member of Kentucky General Assembly representing the 39th House District. He represents the Kentucky House of Representatives and has been appointed by the Speaker of the House.
• Sen. Tom Buford, of Nicholasville, is a member of Kentucky General Assembly representing the 22nd Senate District. He represents the Kentucky Senate and has been appointed by the President of the Senate.
• Sen. Tom Jensen, of London, is a member of Kentucky General Assembly representing the 21st Senate District. He represents the Kentucky Senate and has been appointed by the President of the Senate.
• Matthew W. Osborne, of Lexington, is the executive director of Government Relations for the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. He represents the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.
• Wayne Onkst, of Erlanger, is the commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives. He represents the Department of Libraries and Archives.
• Shae Hopkins, of Lexington, is the executive director for KET. She represents KET and has been appointed by the Secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
• Kent Whitworth, of Frankfort, is the executive director of the Kentucky Historical Society. He represents the Kentucky Historical Society and has been appointed by the president of the Kentucky Historical Society.
• Gerald Smith, of Lexington, is member of the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation Board. He represents the Kentucky Historical Society and has been appointed by the president of the Kentucky Historical Society.
• Gerry van der Meer, of Lexington, is the commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Parks. He represents the Kentucky Department of Parks.
• Robert Bell, of Louisville, is a retired quality manager for DuPont Performance Elastomers. He represents the Kentucky Heritage Council and the African-American Heritage Commission and has been appointed by the chair of the Kentucky Heritage Council.
• Tiffany Yeast, of Harrodsburg, is the executive director of Human Resources for the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. She represents the Kentucky Heritage Council and the African-American Heritage Commission and has been appointed by the chair of the Kentucky Heritage Council.
• Lori Meadows, of Midway, is the executive director of the Kentucky Arts Council. She has been appointed by the chair of the Kentucky Arts Council.
• Virginia Carter, of Lexington, is the executive director of the Kentucky Humanities Council. She represents the Kentucky Humanities Council and is appointed by the chair of the Kentucky Humanities Council.
• Major General Edward Tonini, of Louisville, is the adjutant general for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
• James Klotter, of Lexington, is the state historian. He has been designated by the executive committee of the Kentucky Historical Society.