A prominent practitioner of law in western Kentucky with his main practice in Hopkinsville, Ken Haggard died January 30 while snorkeling in St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands. He was 65.
According to Suzanne Carlson of The Virgin Island Daily News and a provided police report, Haggard’s death was recorded as a drowning. He was visiting the area with family, and at the time it was unknown if he had any pre-existing health conditions.
Chris Watson, PIO for St. Thomas Rescue, said around 12:30 PM that day, officers were notified of… “CPR in progress at Sapphire Beach, St. Thomas.” A medically-trained officer arrived on scene in less than four minutes, and provided life-saving measures along with bystanders — who had recovered an unresponsive male from the waters.
Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Service transported Haggard to Schneider Hospital by ambulance in critical condition, where Haggard died.
Watson told The Virgin Island Daily News that it was commendable for bystanders to take action to save a life, because the area had experienced almost 20 water-related fatalities in 2023. He said it was important for all individuals and businesses to know how to perform CPR, and to be able to locate an AED in case of emergency.
A 1977 graduate of Ballard Memorial High School, Haggard earned his bachelor’s degree at Murray State University in 1981 — finishing magna cum laude with a double minor in political science and accounting.
From there, he earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1984, and over the last 40 years established himself as a tough defender and litigator for the Commonwealth.
According to The Kentucky Trial Court Review, Haggard ranked among the top 25 in the Commonwealth for personal injury cases tried, out of 15,000 such lawyers, and also worked toward criminal defense and employment law.
A Kentucky Colonel and Life Fellow of the Kentucky Bar Association, he taught business law at UK in 1991, was a member of the Kentucky Association of Justice, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the American Association of Justice.
He also served one-year terms on the Kentucky Bar Association’s Audit and Budget Committee and Directors of the Kentucky Bar Foundation, both from 2012-13.
Arrangements are incomplete at this time.
