H. Foster Pettit

H. Foster Pettit

H. Foster Pettit of Lexington, Kentucky, husband of Brenda Kraak Pettit, formerly of Shreveport, died November 22, 2014 following injuries received in a boating accident. He was first elected to public office in 1964, and remained active in civic affairs and a wide range of non-profit causes until his accident. Pettit's political career began in 1964 when he was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives, and he subsequently held numerous public positions, including Mayor of Lexington and Secretary of Public Protection and Regulation for the State of Kentucky. At the time of his death he was counsel with the law firm Wyatt Tarrant & Combs in Lexington. He graduated from the University of Virginia with both a bachelors and law degree, and served in the United States Air Force.In addition to Brenda, he is survived by his three children, Noble Gregory Pettit of Lexington; Harrison Foster Pettit, Jr. (Lisa Pearlstein) of Portland, Oregon; Van Meter Pettit (Linda Blackford) of Lexington; four stepchildren, Alison Byrd (Edwin), Kurt Cummings (Danielle), Emily Lofton (Travis) of Shreveport, Courtney Caulfield (Lance) of Mandeville, LA; and twelve grandchildren, Addison, Cassius, Stage, Hale, and Hart Pettit, Henry and Pearce Byrd, Carson and Catherine Caulfield, Lilley Cummings, and Kelsi and Camille Lofton. He was preceded in death by a brother, William Pettit III, a sister Dunster Pettit and by a son, Hale Pettit. Donations may be made to the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, 253 Market Street, Lexington, KY 40507.