Valley mourns passing of Kenny Guinn

Then Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn, right, enjoys a laugh with friends George and Darlene Randall of Kernville, and congressman Kevin McCarthy at the dedication of Little league ballpark, Randall Field, on July 23, 2006. Guinn died last week at his Las Vegas home at the age of 73.

Valerie Cassity
Special to the Sun

Kenny Guinn, former governor of Nevada and part-time Kernville resident, died last Thursday morning. He was 73.

Reportedly, Guinn was climbing a ladder to work on the roof of his Las Vegas home when he collapsed. He was transported to University Medical Center in Las Vegas where he died.

A long-time friend of Kernville residents George and Darlene Randall, Guinn spent a considerable amount of time in Kernville, where he owned a home on the river. Guinn is survived by his wife Dema and their sons, Jeff and Steve.

“He was the most loyal, honest man I’ve ever known,” said George Randall. “We’ve been friends for 40 years, and not once did we ever have an argument. We may have disagreed on some things, but we always talked things through.”

A true American success story, Guinn was born in Garland, Ark., in 1936 and was raised in Exeter, Calif., the son of migrant farm workers.

“He came from Arkansas with a mattress on his back,” Randall said. “His father was illiterate and Kenny used to read him the newspaper every morning.”

Determined to make a better life for himself, Guinn applied himself at everything he did, especially loved sports.

At Exeter Union High School, Guinn competed in football, basketball, and swimming. “When he was in school, in the 50s, Kenny used to come to the valley to compete,” Randall noted. After high school, he attended Fresno State University, playing football and basketball for the Bulldogs, while earning a degree in physical education. Even though he was very active in school, Guinn still had time to fall in love and marry Dema in 1956. The couple recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.

Guinn earned a master’s degree in physical education at Fresno State, followed by a doctorate in education from Utah State University in 1970.

Former Clark County school superintendent, millionaire bank chairman and CEO of Southwest Gas, Guinn was a Democrat-turned-moderate Republican who served two terms as governor of Nevada, from 1999 to 2007. One of the state’s most popular governors, Guinn’s commitment to getting things done within budget and improving the lives of those in his jurisdiction was legendary.

Guinn will be missed by all of his Kern Valley friends.