By Ralph Derickson

Former Sen. Walter (Dee) Huddleston is interviewed by Lexington's WLEX-TV videographer Steve Collins at the ceremony in the Margaret I. King Library-North.

U.S. Sen. Joe Biden characterized Huddleston as "one of the most honorable men I have ever met." He said Huddleston had credibility you could "touch, taste and smell."

June 18 , 2002– (Lexington, Ky.) – Former Kentucky U.S. Sen. Walter (Dee) Huddleston today presented the public papers from his 12-year senatorial career - all 1,000 boxes -- to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

U.S. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, chairperson of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke at the dedication ceremony in the Wendell H. Ford Research Center and Public Policy Archives of the Margaret I. King Library.

Sen. Biden, who began his first term in the U.S. Senate in the same year Huddleston was first elected, called Huddleston's papers "a roadmap of what we are and what we might be." Biden characterized Huddleston as "one of the most honorable men I have ever met." He said Huddleston had credibility you could "touch, taste and smell."

The senator, who has been touted as a presidential candidate, said Huddleston was "the kind of senator who would take a hit to do the right thing."

In addition to many members of Huddleston's family, the dedication ceremony was attended by two former Kentucky governors, three former UK presidents, and members of Huddleston's staff when he was a U.S. Senator, including Kentucky Lt. Gov. Steve Henry, who was an intern in Huddleston's senate office in 1974.

Clay Ford, a grandson of former U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford read a message from former Sen. Ford and noted he had worked on the archival preparation of Sen. Huddleston's papers when he was a student at UK.

After welcoming remarks from Acting Provost Michael T. Nietzel, a special video tribute to Huddleston was presented to some 180 luncheon guests. Sen. Biden was introduced by former Kentucky Gov. Edward T. (Ned) Breathitt.

During his terms in the Senate, Huddleston was active on Senate intelligence subcommittees and was recognized in 1985 with a Distinguished Service Medal presented by then Central Intelligence Agency Director William Casey. Huddleston also served as majority floor leader in the Kentucky State Senate in 1972, the same year he was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Huddleston, a graduate of UK with a degree in radio arts, was a sports and program director for WKCT in Bowling Green in 1949. He was general manager of radio station KIEL in Elizabethtown in 1952 and was a partner and director of radio station WLBN in Lebanon in 1957, the same year he served as president of the Kentucky Broadcasters Association.

He was elected to the Kentucky State Senate in 1965 and re-elected in 1969. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972 and re-elected in 1978. A member of UK's Hall of Distinguished Alumni, Huddleston also served on the UK Board of Trustees.