Henry Ward is a reporter, editor, publisher, and public administrator. He started his journalism career as cub reporter for the Paducah News Democrat in 1928, later the Paducah Sun Democrat. He served as city editor from 1935 to 1942, when he was named associate editor. He is active in Paducah civic affairs. Ward was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives between 1934 and 1942; as well as Kentucky State Senate between 1946 and 1948. He left the Paducah paper in 1948 to become State Commissioner of Conservation; he expanded the Kentucky state park system and tourism program. Ward later served as state Commissioner of Highways and became the Democratic nominee for governor in 1967. He is a strong supporter of the watchdog role of press in government, he represented the interests of the press in the Kentucky legislature. Ward became publisher of the Paducah Sun Democrat in 1968; he also served as president of the Kentucky Independent College Foundation and chairman of the Louisville Riverfront Commission. He has provided significant contribution to Kentucky journalism centered on the guidance, counsel and training given to a large number of younger Kentucky journalists throughout his journalistic and public career.