Eastern Kentucky University
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Eastern Kentucky University (Eastern or EKU) is a
public university A public university or public college is a university or college that is in owned by the state or receives significant public funds through a national or subnational government, as opposed to a private university. Whether a national universi ...
in
Richmond, Kentucky Richmond is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Madison County, Kentucky, United States. It is named after Richmond, Virginia, and is home to Eastern Kentucky University. In 2019, the population was 36,157. Richmond is the fourth-l ...
. As a regional comprehensive institution, EKU also maintains branch campuses in Corbin,
Hazard A hazard is a potential source of harm. Substances, events, or circumstances can constitute hazards when their nature would allow them, even just theoretically, to cause damage to health, life, property, or any other interest of value. The probab ...
, Lancaster, and
Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The ...
and offers over 40 online undergraduate and graduate options.


History


Founding

Central University was founded in 1874 in
Richmond, Kentucky Richmond is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Madison County, Kentucky, United States. It is named after Richmond, Virginia, and is home to Eastern Kentucky University. In 2019, the population was 36,157. Richmond is the fourth-l ...
. Beset with financial difficulties and small enrollment, Central University consolidated with Centre College in 1901. On March 21, 1906, the Governor signed legislation which established the Eastern Kentucky State Normal School No. 1. On May 7,1906, the
Normal School A normal school or normal college is an institution created to train teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum. In the 19th century in the United States, instruction in normal schools was at the high school level, turni ...
Commission selected the site of the former Central University campus as the location of the Eastern Kentucky State Normal School No. 1; the site continues to serve as the location of EKU.


Renaming

In 1922, "Eastern Kentucky State Normal School No. 1" changed its name to "Eastern Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College;" the College awarded its first degrees under that name in 1925. In 1930, "Eastern Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College" changed its name to "Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College." In 1948, the General Assembly removed the word "
Teacher A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...
s" from the school's name. In 1966, the institution was officially renamed Eastern Kentucky University.


Campus revitalization

The years since 2012 have been marked by a building campaign that has altered the campus layout and improved aesthetics. Funding for the multimillion dollar project has relied heavily on public-private partnerships (P3) under the leadership of then-President Michael T. Benson. The recent construction efforts at the university mark the most significant period of campus facility development since President Robert R. Martin's tenure in the 1960s. Among the renovations and additions are: *Powell Student Center (2019–20) *New Rec Center (2019–20) *Case Dining Hall (2018) *New Science Building (Phase II) (2017) *New Earle Combs Stadium (Baseball Field) (2017) *New Gertrude Hood Stadium (Softball Field) (2017) *Carloftis Garden (2017) *New Martin Hall (2017) *North Hall (previously known as New Hall B) (2017) *Scholar House (2017) *Parking Garage (2017) *Turner Gate (2016) *John Grant Crabbe Main Library's Noel Reading Porch (2015) *Lancaster Avenue Pedway (2015/2017) *Hummel Planetarium upgrades (2015) *1971 Verdin Carillon bells (Keen Johnson Building) (2014) *New Hall 2013 *New Science Building (Phase I) (2012)


Academics


Accreditation and academic charge

In 1922, it became a four-year institution. In 1928, the college received its initial
accreditation Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...
from the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This agency accredits over 13,000 public and priv ...
. As of 2022, the university is accredited. In 1935, Eastern added graduate studies. In 1948, the state legislature granted the college the right to award nonprofessional degrees. In 2010, the University awarded its first doctoral degree through its Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program. EKU serves its service region by offering adult degree completion options and online degree programs in addition to its traditional on-campus offerings.


Rankings

Eastern Kentucky University has achieved national recognition, including mostly recently by the ''U.S. News & World Report'' 2022 Rankings: * #52 (tie) in Regional Universities South (51st in 2021) * #29 Best Graduate School – Occupational Therapy (29th in 2021) * #170 (tie) Best Graduate School – Public Affairs (166th in 2021) * #189 Best Graduate School – Speech-Language Pathology (189th in 2021) * #74 (tie) Best Online Bachelor's Programs (58th in 2021) * #24 Best Colleges for Veterans (32nd in 2021) EKU was also ranked by the 2019 ''Forbes'' Magazine America's Top Colleges: * #641 Top Colleges (637 in 2017 and 647 in 2018) * #248 in Public Colleges (249 in 2017 and 250 in 2018) * #160 in the South (172 in 2017 and 167 in 2018)


Honors program

In 1987, the faculty senate voted to approve an honors program to attract high-achieving students primarily from Kentucky. The Board of Regents subsequently approved the proposal on Saturday, January 16, 1988. The first 34 students entered the program in the fall semester of 1988 under the direction of
Dr. Bonnie Gray Doctor is an academic title that originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb 'to teach'. It has been used as an academic title in Europe since the 13th century, w ...
, a professor of philosophy. The curriculum is interdisciplinary and capped by a senior thesis project. Students who successfully complete all program requirements receive the "Honors Scholar" designation on their diplomas. Each year, the honors program sends the largest delegation to the annual National Collegiate Honors Council Conference to present their research. Additionally, students in the program have received awards, including the
Fulbright The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people ...
. Truman,
Mitchell Mitchell may refer to: People *Mitchell (surname) *Mitchell (given name) Places Australia * Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory, a light-industrial estate * Mitchell, New South Wales, a suburb of Bathurst * Mitchell, Northern Territ ...
, and
Phi Kappa Phi The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (or simply Phi Kappa Phi or ) is an honor society established in 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study, and to promote the "unity and democracy of education ...
. In 2020, the program consisted of five full-time staff and approximately 496 students.


Student life

There are more than 230 registered, active student organizations on campus including the Student Government Association (SGA) and numerous fraternities and sororities.


Student Government Association

The SGA is the formal student governing body of the University. Founded in 1954, the organization consisted of the Student Council (which became the Student Senate in 1971). Currently, the SGA consists of three independent and equal branches: the Student Court, Executive Branch, and Student Activities Council. Additionally, an Advisory Board of University employees provides advice and oversight. Every student enrolled in classes at the University is considered a member of the SGA.


Greek life


Traditions

Among EKU's most prominent traditions is the rubbing of
Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...
's left foot for good luck; the statue features prominently in front of the Keen Johnson Building. More recently, former President Benson initiated the Welcome Walk at the beginning of the fall semester; first year students gather in front of Keen Johnson Building with the President before walking along University Drive and passing through the new Turner Gate.


Athletics

The Eastern Kentucky (EKU) athletic teams are called the Colonels (formerly known as the "Maroons" until the mid-1960s). The university is a member of the
NCAA Division I NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major collegiate athleti ...
ranks, primarily competing in the
ASUN Conference The ASUN Conference, formerly the Atlantic Sun Conference, is a collegiate athletic conference operating mostly in the Southeastern United States. The league participates at the NCAA Division I level, and began sponsoring football at the Divi ...
since the 2021–22 academic year; while its football team competes in the
Western Athletic Conference The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is an NCAA Division I conference. The WAC covers a broad expanse of the western United States with member institutions located in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and Texas. Due to most of t ...
(WAC) until the ASUN launches its own football league, most likely in the 2022 fall season. The Colonels previously competed in the
Ohio Valley Conference The Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Cham ...
(OVC) from 1948–49 to 2020–21. EKU competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.


Accomplishments

The school is best known for its
Football Championship Subdivision The NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA, is the second-highest level of college football in the United States, after the Football Bowl Subdivision. Sponsored by the National Collegiate Athleti ...
football team, which has captured 22 OVC conference titles and two Division I-AA National Championships in 1979 and 1982. Much of the success came during the long tenure of head coach
Roy Kidd Roy Kidd (born December 4, 1931) is a former collegiate football league player and coach. He served as the head coach at Eastern Kentucky University from 1964 to 2002, compiling a record of 314–124–8. Kidd's Eastern Kentucky Colonels won ...
from 1964 to 2002. Kidd, with a career coaching record of 314-124-8, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Now led by first-year coach Walt Wells, the Colonels returned to the national FCS playoffs in 2011. The Eastern Kentucky University men's
basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
team won the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship and its automatic bid to the NCAA basketball tournament in 2005, 2007, and 2014. The men's and women's cross country team has also been a staple of success over the recent decade. The men's team has won all ten of the last ten OVC Championships, and the women have won nine of the last ten. In 2011 the men's cross country team qualified for NCAA National Cross Country Meet for the first time in school history. Since 2011, the team has qualified for the NCAA National Cross Country Meet five consecutive times.


Media


WEKU

Launched in 1968,
WEKU WEKU (88.9 FM) is a Peabody award-winning National Public Radio-charter member station licensed to Richmond, Kentucky serving central and eastern Kentucky, including nearby Lexington. Owned by Eastern Kentucky University, WEKU primarily broadcas ...
is a charter member of the educational radio network,
National Public Radio National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other n ...
(NPR). WEKU features NPR news and talk programming in addition to locally produced news, arts and cultural programming. WEKU broadcasts across nine FM stations in Central and Eastern Kentucky: * 88.9 FM
Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, Californi ...
/Lexington * 90.9 FM
Hazard A hazard is a potential source of harm. Substances, events, or circumstances can constitute hazards when their nature would allow them, even just theoretically, to cause damage to health, life, property, or any other interest of value. The probab ...
* 88.5 FM Corbin * 90.1 FM Pineville * 106.7 FM Frankfort * 96.3 FM Harlan * 96.9 FM Barbourville * 95.1 FM Pikeville * 102.5 FM Middlesboro WEKU also has a 24-hour classical musical channel which can be accessed via its website and mobile app.


''The Eastern Progress''

''The Eastern Progress'', also known as ''The EP,'' began in February 1922 and serves as the official student newspaper.


Notable alumni

* Josh Anderson – (baseball) former
center fielder A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the ...
,
Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
*
Yeremiah Bell Yeremiah Neavius Bell (born March 3, 1978) is a former American football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Kentucky and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2003 ...
– (football) retired,
Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team p ...
,
New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The ...
,
Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division, and play th ...
*
Eula Bingham Eula Bingham (July 9, 1929 – June 13, 2020) was an American scientist, best known as an Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) during the Presidency of Jimmy Carter. During her tenure as the head of OSHA, she e ...
– occupational health scientist * Elmo Boyd – (football) former wide receiver,
San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's Nationa ...
and
Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. It is the t ...
* Chad Bratzke – (football) former defensive end,
New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisio ...
and
Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...
* Dwight Butler – member of Kentucky House of Representatives representing the 18th District * John "Bam" Carney – educator/coach; member of
Kentucky House of Representatives The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a ...
representing the 51st District * Wally Chambers – (football) former defensive tackle,
Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine ...
and
Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The cl ...
. Winner of 1973 Defensive NFL Rookie of the Year Award * Sam Champion – weather editor/anchor for "
Good Morning America ''Good Morning America'' (often abbreviated as ''GMA'') is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends with the debut of a Sunday edition on January 3, 1993. ...
" and
ABC News ABC News is the news division of the American broadcast network ABC. Its flagship program is the daily evening newscast '' ABC World News Tonight with David Muir''; other programs include morning news-talk show '' Good Morning America'', '' ...
; former weather forecaster for
WABC-TV WABC-TV (channel 7) is a television station in New York City, serving as the flagship of the ABC network. Owned and operated by the network's ABC Owned Television Stations division, the station maintains studios in the Lincoln Square neig ...
*
Tom Colbert Tom Colbert (born December 30, 1949) is a former Associate Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. He was appointed to the Court's District 6 seat in 2004, by Governor Brad Henry, becoming the first African-American to serve on the court. On Janua ...
– first African-American Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice (M.Ed.) *
Earle Combs Earle Bryan Combs (May 14, 1899 – July 21, 1976) was an American professional baseball player who played his entire career for the New York Yankees (1924–1935). Combs batted leadoff and played center field on the Yankees' fabled 1927 team (of ...
– (baseball) former New York Yankee teammate of
Babe Ruth George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Su ...
and
Lou Gehrig Henry Louis Gehrig (born Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig ; June 19, 1903June 2, 1941) was an American professional baseball first baseman who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (1923–1939). Gehrig was renowned f ...
, member of the
Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
*
Danny Copeland Danny Lamar Copeland (born January 24, 1966, in Camilla, Georgia) is a former American football defensive back who played five seasons in the National Football League. He started in Super Bowl XXVI for the Washington Redskins. College career He ...
– (football) defensive back,
Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) ...
. Starter on the Redskins
Super Bowl XXVI Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Buffalo Bills to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion fo ...
champions. Currently a motivational speaker in Meigs, Georgia. * Dale Dawson – (football)
placekicker Placekicker, or simply kicker (PK or K), is the player in gridiron football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals and extra points. In many cases, the placekicker also serves as the team's kickoff specialist or punter. S ...
;
Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansi ...
,
Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team play ...
, and Green Bay Packers * Jessamyn Duke – professional mixed martial artist formally for the UFC * Jason Dunn – (football) tight end,
Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The t ...
* Alecia Webb-Edgington – former executive director, Kentucky Office of Homeland Security; member of Kentucky House of Representatives representing the 63rd District *
George Floyd George Perry Floyd Jr. (October 14, 1973 – May 25, 2020) was an African-American man who was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest made after a store clerk suspected Floyd may have used a counterfeit tw ...
– (football) defensive back, New York Jets, member of the
College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vo ...
* Danny Ford – House Republican Whip, member of Kentucky House of Representatives representing the 80th District * Christian Friedrich – (baseball) starting pitcher, free agent *
J. Dudley Goodlette J. Dudley Goodlette (born May 18, 1948, in Hazard, Kentucky) moved to Naples, Florida, with his family in 1954, and is a lawyer. Goodlette served as a Representative in the House of Representatives of the U.S. State of Florida from 1998 to 2007, ...
(born 1948), politician and lawyer * Myron Guyton – (football) defensive back, New York Giants and
New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...
. Starter on Giants
Super Bowl XXV Super Bowl XXV was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Buffalo Bills and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion New York Giants to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the ...
champions. Currently a businessman in Atlanta. * Ole Hesselbjerg – 2016 Rio summer Olympian * Silas House – writer best known for his novels. *
Carl Hurley Carl Hurley is a former Eastern Kentucky University professor, and nationally recognized Lexington, Kentucky comedian and lecturer. In his early career, he was often billed as "America's funniest professor." He is a common entertainer for loca ...
– humorist and motivational speaker; former EKU professor. *
Chris Isaac Christopher Dwight Isaac (May 15, 1959 – October 19, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Eastern Ke ...
– (football) CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 1982 * John Jackson – (football) former NFL tackle (171st person in NFL history to play in at least 200 games) * Aaron Jones – (football) former NFL defensive end *
Roy Kidd Roy Kidd (born December 4, 1931) is a former collegiate football league player and coach. He served as the head coach at Eastern Kentucky University from 1964 to 2002, compiling a record of 314–124–8. Kidd's Eastern Kentucky Colonels won ...
– (football/baseball) eighth-winningest coach in college football history, two-time NCAA National Champion (1979 and 1982). Member of the College Football Hall of Fame *
Kim King D. Kimbrough ("Kim") King (October 6, 1945 – October 12, 2004) was Georgia Tech's starting quarterback for three seasons beginning in 1965. During his career, he led the team in 712 plays, completing 243 passes for 2763 yards and 21 touchdowns ...
– member of Kentucky House of Representatives representing the 55th House District * Laura Kirkpatrick – runner up of America's Next Top Model Cycle 13 *
Homer Ledford Homer C. Ledford (September 26, 1927 – December 11, 2006) was an instrument maker and bluegrass music, bluegrass musician from Kentucky who specialized in making Appalachian dulcimer, dulcimers. Born in Alpine, Tennessee, Alpine, Tennessee, he s ...
– former bluegrass musician and member of the Cabin Creek Band * Lee Majors – (attended as Harvey Yeary)
Six Million Dollar Man ''The Six Million Dollar Man'' is an American science fiction and action television series, running from 1973 to 1978, about a former astronaut, USAF Colonel Steve Austin, portrayed by Lee Majors. After a NASA test flight accident, Austin is re ...
, The Fall Guy (1962, History/Physical Education) * Antwaun Molden – (football) 3rd-round (79th overall) pick of the
Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division, and play their home games at NR ...
in
2008 NFL Draft The 2008 NFL Draft was the 73rd annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, on April 26 and April 2 ...
*
Virgil Moore Virgil C. Moore (born December 4, 1933) was a member of the Kentucky State Senate from 1992 to 2004 representing the state’s 5th Senatorial district. In 2003, he ran for the Republican nomination for Governor of Kentucky. He resided in Leitchf ...
- former member of the Kentucky State Senate * Dan Patrick – co-host of
ESPN ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...
's
SportsCenter ''SportsCenter'' (SC) is a daily sports news television program that serves as the flagship program and brand of American cable and satellite television network ESPN. The show covers various sports teams and athletes from around the world and o ...
, attended EKU for two years on a basketball scholarship. * Steve Pence – former Lieutenant Governor and Justice Secretary of Kentucky * Dallas Robinson - Kentucky's sole Army veteran Olympian from 2014 Olympics. Team USA athlete for two years with USA rugby team and four with USA bobsled team. In 2008 was ranked 1st in world in the 55m dash, indoor track and field. EKU Hall of Fame. High School Track and Field Coach hall of fame. * Thaksin Shinawatra – former Prime Minister of
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
(1975, M.S. in criminal justice) * Garfield Smith – (basketball) former NBA and ABA player * Teddy Taylor – (football) 1969 Milestone Outstanding Athlete, two-time All-American, OVC All-Time Team, 1978 Southeastern Kentucky Football Conference Coach of the Year, inducted into EKU Hall of Fame, named 2013 "Man of the Year" for Richmond, KY. * Ken Upchurch – member of Kentucky House of Representatives from District 52 in Wayne County *
Corey Walden Torrian Corey Walden ( sr-cyrl, Торијан Кори Волден; born August 5, 1992) is an American-born naturalized Serbian professional basketball player for Bayern Munich of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and the EuroLeague. He p ...
– professional basketball player, 2019 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP *
Crystal Wilkinson Crystal E. Wilkinson is an African-American feminist writer from Kentucky, and proponent of the Affrilachian Poet movement. She is the winner of a 2022 NAACP Image Award, a 2020 winner of the USA Fellow of Creative Writing, and a 2021 O. Henry P ...
– writer, poet, educator, and winner of 2016 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence


References


External links

*
Official athletics website
{{Authority control Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Educational institutions established in 1906 1906 establishments in Kentucky Public universities and colleges in Kentucky Richmond, Kentucky Education in Madison County, Kentucky