Charlie Grizzle Named 2018 Henry Clay Distinguished Kentuckian

Carrie Stambaugh, Managing Editor


    The 2018 Henry Clay Distinguished Kentuckian recipient Charlie Grizzle got his start in politics early. His upbringing “at his grandfather’s knee” in eastern Kentucky politics, led Grizzle into a life of dedicated public service. He began as a Republican political organizer then served in two government agencies before founding his government relation’s consulting firm. 

    He has always considered politics as “the art of compromise,” in the spirit of Kentucky Statesman Henry Clay known as “The Great Compromiser.”  Like Clay, Grizzle believes beneficial compromise is essential to accomplishing public good and has spent much of his public service in Washington, D.C., encouraging bipartisanism despite his dedication to Republican politics.

     The Henry Clay Distinguished Kentuckian Award was itself conceived by Grizzle himself 20 years ago when he served as President of the Kentucky Society of Washington.  Given biennially, the award was created “to honor and recognize the accomplishments, both past and present, of a living Kentuckian whose pursuits in public service, arts and sciences, business and industry, academia, journalism, broadcasting or philanthropy have received acclaim and brought honor to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

    The award was not just for the purpose of recognizing a Kentuckian who has made a significant contribution but also for that recognition to “pay it forward” to the next generation of Kentuckians seeking to serve. Funds generated by the gala dinner held at the historic Williard InterContential Hotel, support the Henry Clay Internship in Public Policy program, which Grizzle was also instrumental in founding.  To date, it has brought 48 from four-year Kentucky colleges and universities to Washington, D.C., for summer internships.

    “I think that for young people who have an interest in public policy it is an invaluable experience to spend some time in Washington,” explained Grizzle. “I want to repay my great good fortune. That is the only way I know how to do it.”

    He added, “With our fractured public discourse, we have to train and educate young people in civil discourse. Regardless of where you come from or the perspective you bring to the table, whether it is from the left or the right or in between, we have to work together for common ground. I have given up on the current crowd and hope that educating young people will reap some benefits down the road. Once the dust settles you have a responsibility to govern and to do something that improves the lives of our countrymen and it is just really distressing to me that we have fallen into this rut.”

    His newest endeavor on this front is serving on the Board of Directors of the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship. Its goal is to “educate young people in the mission of beneficial compromise in the model of Henry Clay.” The center, now in its 11th year, has an annual “intensive” education programs for 50 Kentucky high school seniors and 50 national college seniors.

    Grizzle’s unwavering dedication to his younger Kentucky brethren has earned him the nickname “Mr. Kentucky,” in Washington circles, according to longtime Kentucky Congressman Hal Rogers. “Anyone who knows Charlie knows this is an honor of a lifetime – a well-deserved testament to his tireless advocacy for Kentucky interests and business growth,” he wrote in his congratulatory remarks to Grizzle.

    Senator Mitch McConnell, with whom Grizzle has had a 40-plus year friendship, often refers to him as the “Kentucky Godfather” and encourages new arrivals to pay him an immediate visit. In offering his congratulations, McConnell wrote, “His proud career of leadership and public service continues to improve our Commonwealth and our nation.”

    Grizzle never expected to end up in Washington, D.C., where he has now worked for more than three decades. Born in Argillite, Grizzle graduated from Wurtland High School in 1966 and attended the University of Kentucky and then the University of Louisville Law School. His earliest political memories are of Election Day in 1956 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower was re-elected. He spent the day riding between his father and grandfather as they drove deep into the hollers of Greenup County to haul residents into town to vote. “My grandfather would say, “Go in and pull the straight Republican ticket,” Grizzle recalled with a laugh.  

    He recalled too that when his senior class was bussed to Greenup County Courthouse to register to vote he overheard a clerk tell an undecided classmate, “If he wanted to vote in the primaries he had to register as a Democrat.”  Young Grizzle promptly called out: “If you try to encourage someone how to register, that is illegal and I’ll report you to the state board of elections!”

    Grizzle went on to serve as chairman of the Kentucky Federation of College Republicans  and in 1980 took a leave of absence from his banking job to serve as the Deputy Chairman for the Reagan-Bush campaign in Kentucky, as well as an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention.  Then in 1981, President Reagan appointed him to a post in the Department of Agriculture. President George H. W. Bush later appointed him to a post in the Environmental Protection Agency.

    In 1991, Grizzle made the leap to lobbying, first joining the Jefferson Group before founding The Grizzle Company in 1993. The company assists its clients in “framing and presenting their issues and concerns to members of Congress and federal agencies.