Kirk Fordice

Daniel Kirkwood "Kirk" Fordice Jr., was an American politician and businessman who served as the 61st Governor of Mississippi from 1992 to 2000. His tenure was marked by racial tensions, an extramarital affair with his high school sweetheart, and a subsequent divorce from his wife of 44 years to marry her. He was the first Republican governor of the state since Reconstruction-era governor Adelbert Ames, who served from 1874 to 1876, and the first governor elected to two consecutive four-year terms. Fordice was a staunch conservative, running on a pro-business, anti-crime, low-tax, family values platform.