Thomas Bartram Givhan

Thomas Bartram Givhan departed this life peacefully on February 12, 2023. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky on September 24, 1926 to Thomas Holman Givhan and Eva Beck Givhan who predeceased him. He graduated from Henry Clay High School where he excelled academically and played football. He was recognized as an All State football player which led to him playing football with a scholarship at the University of Kentucky until he was drafted for service in World War II. He was a seagoing Marine who served aboard the USS Falls River in the Pacific Theater. He was with a company of forty sharp shooters slated to be in the initial land invasion of Japan of whom he was the last survivor. He returned to the States and spent a year in veterinary school at Iowa State and then. transferred to the University of Kentucky where the two most significant events in his life occurred. The first was his decision to go the University of Kentucky Law School. The second was he met the love of his life, Sharon Rose Richard, whose last name he promptly changed to Givhan. After his graduation from the University of Kentucky, they moved to Shepherdsville in 1951 and made their life together there. They were a true partnership of equals. She predeceased him in 1989. Her loss caused him a grief that remained with him until the day he died.
He became active in Democratic politics and practiced law in Shepherdsville until shortly before his death. Beginning in 1976 he practiced law with his daughter and son-in-law, Elise and John through 2007 when his daughter went on the bench. He then practiced with his son-in-law until the end of his life. He served as the Bullitt County Democratic Party Chairman. He served five terms as the Bullitt County Attorney and two terms in the Kentucky House of Representatives. He also served as the city attorney for Shepherdsville. As Bullitt County Attorney he helped start the Planning and Zoning Commission so Bullitt County could develop to its potential. He was as concerned an innocent person would not be wrongfully prosecuted as he was a guilty person would be convicted and punished. He served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee while in Frankfort. He was most proud of getting the Rape Shield Law passed in order to protect women from abuse on the witness stand and of his work in reforming the judiciary, both in structure and the educational standards required to serve as a judge as well as mandatory ethical standards. He said he thought of how he would want his daughters to be treated when trying to secure better treatment for victims. He was a charter member of the VFW Post 5710, a life member of the United States Sea-Going Marines Association, a 32nd decree Mason, Bullitt Lodge #155, the Kentucky Bar Association, the Bullitt County Bar Association, the University of Kentucky Alumni Association, the Sigma Chi Alumni Association, and the Order of Kentucky Colonels. He was a former member of the Louisville Boat Club, the Hurstbourne Country Club, the Jefferson Club, and the L&N Golf Club. He was a University of Kentucky Fellow and a Life Fellow of the Kentucky Bar Foundation.
He loved the law above all pursuits. He was proud of his peer generated A Rating from Martindale-Hubble. Farming came in a close second to the law. He was a huge fan of World War II movies regardless of the country of origin or the existence of subtitles in small print. He enjoyed studying World War II. He loved to travel to foreign countries. He compulsively read the newspapers everyday. He loved people, talking, and jazz.
He is survived by his three children, Judge Elise Givhan Spainhour (John) of Shepherdsville, Ellen Foster Givhan of Shepherdsville, and Aaron Givhan (Janet) of Louisville, his two grandchildren, John Christian Givhan Spainhour (Laurel) of Decatur, Georgia and Lauren Rose Givhan of Louisville and cousins. He and his wife, Sharon, provided their children with a warm home, the opportunity for education, and more love than can be imagined. Their children grew up in a home where bigotry was not tolerated and where all people were considered to be equal. They instilled a family bond death cannot diminish.
Visitation will occur at the family home at 5833 Highway 44 East, Shepherdsville, Kentucky, on Friday, March 24, 2023 from 3 :00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. The Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 25, 2023 2:00 P.M. at the Church of the Advent, 901 Baxter Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky. In lieu ·of flowers the family requests donations be sent to Honor Flight, Bluegrass Chapter, P.O. Box 991364, Louisville, Kentucky 40269-1364 or the charity of the donor's choice.