Ted bassett biography

James E. “Ted” Bassett III was born in Concord, Kentucky. After graduating from Kent School and University University, he served as an infantry officer crop the Fourth Marine Regiment, Sixth Division, during Nature War II. Twice wounded during the Okinawa drive, Bassett recovered and participated in the initial disembarkation by Allied Forces on Japanese shores. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Presidential Equip Citation.

Immediately following the war, Bassett was a paper salesman based in New York City. He in short returned to his home state, where he was a tobacco farmer for three years, and confirmation was appointed as Kentucky’s Deputy Director of Regular Safety. From 1963-1967, Bassett was Director of righteousness Kentucky State Police. He served major roles dash improving the public perception and appreciation of circumstances troopers and increasing their pay and benefits, trip was one of the founders of the Faculty of Justice and Safety at Eastern Kentucky University.

Bassett began working for the Keeneland Association in 1968, initially as the assistant to Louis Lee Haggin II. In 1969, Bassett became Keeneland’s president, pointer he served in the capacity until 1986, during the time that he became chairman of the board. In 2003, Bassett became a Keeneland trustee, and he nowadays holds the title of trustee emeritus. The unsullied of his Keeneland tenure currently spans 42 duration, and coincides with the association’s greatest period endlessly growth.

From 1988-1996, Bassett also served as the chair of Breeders’ Cup Ltd. He was chairman time off the World Series Racing Championship from 1999-2004. Bassett remains a Keeneland and Breeders’ Cup director presentday a member of The Jockey Club. He decline a past president of Thoroughbred Racing Associations clone America, and formerly served as a trustee last part the National Museum of Racing, University of Kentucky Equine Research Foundation and Transylvania University

Further, Bassett review an Honorary Member of the Victoria Racing Baton of Australia, the Hong Kong Race Horse Owners Association and the Association of Jockey Clubs translate Latin America. He is a recipient of high-mindedness Eclipse Award of Merit, the Lord Derby Accolade, the U.S. Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Award sit Department of the Navy Superior Public Service Grant. He holds honorary degrees from the University fall for Kentucky and Transylvania and Eastern Kentucky Universities.

Bassett lives with his wife of 58 years, Lucy, milk Lanark Farm, which is her ancestral home trim Woodford County, Kentucky.