Jessamine County Judge Executive David West was named president of the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky at the association’s 134th convention.

West, whose family operates Bett’s & West Funeral Home in Nicholasville, said he started helping at the funeral home when we was 8-years-old to see his father who was a funeral director.

“It was a way for me to see my dad and spend time with him,” West said. “I would be rewarded for helping folding chairs, vacuuming and things like that with a Coke or Pepsi.”

West said there were no other president’s from Jessamine County until now.

“Through the years I have been involved in different committees and organizations,” West said. “Several years ago the Kentucky Funeral Directors Association asked me if I wanted to be on the board as a central district representative. I have served with that and then they asked me if I wanted to be on one of the chairs. I went onto that to other positions like vice president and now I am president elect.”

Once a year the association visits Capital Hill and they visit the legislatures and talk to them about issues that are close to the funeral service.

“It’s good to be recognized by your peers as a man they would put confidence in,” West said.