By AP
Murray, KY – Former Governor and northwest Tennessee native Ned McWherter has died. McWherter's administrative assistant, Madelyn Pritchett, says the Dresden native died today (Monday) at a Nashville hospital where he was being treated for cancer. McWherter was governor from 1987 to 1995, following 20 years in the Legislature. He also was a political adviser to Bill Clinton during his presidency. A child of sharecroppers, McWherter became a millionaire through various business enterprises before he was elected governor. As governor, he supported many education improvements including increased teacher pay and smaller class sizes. Ned McWherter was 80 years old.