William M. "Bill" Cox, age 75, passed away peacefully surrounded by his immediate family at 5:11 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, November 19, 2017, at Baptist Health Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Bill was born in Madisonville, Kentucky, on February 4, 1942, to the late Mary Elizabeth (Whitfield) Cox and John Henry Cox.
Bill was a 1960 graduate of Madisonville High School and a 1965 graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he was a proud member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Bill was active in business and politics his entire life. He began his professional career at age 23 by serving as Executive Vice President of the Madisonville Chamber of Commerce. He later served as Senior Vice President of Ligon Specialized Haulers (Madisonville, Kentucky), owner of Thomas Heavy Hauling (Madisonville, Kentucky), Vice President of Landstar Ranger (Jacksonville, Florida), and President of Economy Transport (Tampa, Florida). Bill also worked at Presnell Associates (Louisville, Kentucky), QK4 Engineering (Louisville, Kentucky), and the Kentucky Association of Counties (Frankfort, Kentucky).
Bill served one term in the Kentucky House of Representatives and in various appointed positions in state government, including Chief Executive Assistant to the Lt Governor, Vice Chairman of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, Vice Chairman of the Kentucky Educational Television Authority, Vice Chairman of the Kentucky Council on Higher Education, and later Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Revenue. At the federal level, President Jimmy Carter appointed Bill to serve as Federal Highway Administrator. Bill also served as mayor of the City of Madisonville from 1990 through 1994.
Bill was a lifelong member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Among other community activities, he was a member of the Madisonville Noon Kiwanis Club, a UK Fellow, and a Master Mason (Third Degree).
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Edith Ann (Pritchett) Cox; one daughter, Anne McArthur of Louisville, Kentucky; one son, William M. Cox, Jr., (Marci) of Madisonville; two grandchildren, Katie Claiborne and Helen McArthur, both of Louisville, Kentucky; and two siblings, Mary Cox Whitfield and John Horace Cox, both of Madisonville.
Bill also leaves behind a host of friends, exciting adventures, fits of laughter, political stories and other tall tales, and a treasure trove of fond memories.
Visitation will be held at Barnett-Strother Funeral Home in Madisonville on Friday, November 24, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Central Time. Funeral services will be conducted at First Christian Church in Madisonville on Saturday, November 25, at 1:00 pm Central Time, with visitation beginning at the Church at 11:30 am and continuing until the service time. Burial will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Madisonville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the First Christian Church at 1030 College Drive, Madisonville, Kentucky 42431, or the Hurstbourne Christian Church Scholarship Fund at 601 Nottingham Parkway, Louisville, Kentucky 40222
