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President Jimmy Carter speaks at Tri-State Airport in Kenova, West Virginia on Oct. 27, 1980. On the podium, from left, are West Virginia first lady Sharon Rockefeller, Kentucky’s U.S. Sens. Wendell Ford and Walter (Dee) Huddleston, Carter, U.S. Sen. Jennings Randolph, D-West Virginia and West Virginia Gov. Jay Rockefeller. Standing behind Rockefeller is Kentucky Rep. Carl D. Perkins. (Tim Gearhart | The Ironton Tribune)

Lawrence County Clerk of Courts Dale Burcham and Lawrence County Commissioner W.H. “Buddy” Kaiser greet President Jimmy Carter on his visit to Tri-State Airport in Kenova, West Virginia on Oct. 27, 1980. (Tim Gearhart | The Ironton Tribune)

President Jimmy Carter works the rope line and shakes hands with the crowd during his visit to Tri-State Airport in Kenova, West Virginia on Oct. 27, 1980. (Tim Gearhart | The Ironton Tribune)

The Fairland High School marching band performs at Tri-State Airport in Kenova, West Virginia during a visit by President Jimmy Carter on Oct. 27, 1980. (Tim Gearhart | The Ironton Tribune)

Ohio Rep. Ron James shakes President Jimmy Carter’s hand, as White House press secretary Jody Powell, at right, looks on during a visit by the president to Tri-State Airport in Kenova, West Virginia on Oct. 27, 1980. (Tim Gearhart | The Ironton Tribune)

Carter made Tri-State stop in 1980 election campaign

The nation paid its respects on Thursday to Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States.

Carter died at his home in Plains, Georgia on Dec. 29, 2024 at age 100, the nation’s longest-lived president and the chief executive with the longest post presidency.

The former president passed one year after his wife, Rosalynn, to whom he was married 77 years, the longest for a presidential marriage.

Prior to being elected president in 1976, Carter served as governor of Georgia for one term.

In 1980, the president ran for re-election, facing Republican California Gov. Ronald Reagan in his battle for a second term.

That campaign brought not only the first lady to the Tri-State, but the president himself, who visited Tri-State Airport in Kenova, West Virginia on Oct. 27 of that year, a little over a week before the general election and just ahead of his final debate with Reagan.

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Tim Gearhart was executive editor of The Ironton Tribune at the time, and shares his memories of covering the event, 44 years ago:

“Carter asked for support from voters from throughout the Tri-State area of West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. (…) Democratic politicians and supporters from the three states were on hand to hear his message.

The crowd was estimated at 2,000 and, as noted in the story, many were students from honor bands selected to perform — including the Fairland Dragons Marching Band.

Carter spoke for about 20 minutes then worked the rope line to greet supporters and VIPs. I did get to ‘shake’ his hand — as these things go, you put your hand out and he touches it.

Lawrence County was represented by local Democrats, County Clerk of Courts Dale Burcham, County Commissioner W.H. (Buddy) Kaiser and State Rep. Ron James, all of whom greeted Carter in the VIP area, along with Lawrence County Democratic Party chairman David McCown and his wife, Joan.

(…) A week ahead of the president’s visit, the first lady made a stop in the area at Cannonsburg, Kentucky. That was on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Don Mayne and I covered that event — Don reporting the story and me behind the camera.”

• • •

Carter ultimately lost the election to Reagan in November. As for the Tri-State, the results were a split decision, with Reagan winning Ohio and Kentucky, while West Virginia, then a reliable Democratic stronghold, was one of just six states, along with the District of Columbia, that went for Carter.

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