In Memoriam
ALUMNI NEWS
FACULTY & STAFF
Don McNay, ’81
DON McNAY
1. Kelly Ambrose, ’87, former Model Laboratory School teacher 2. Dr. C. Alan Beeler, retired music professor Dr. James Brooks, retired mathematics professor Jack Creech, ’49 ’55, retired Model Laboratory School teacher 3. Dr. Richard Givan, ’70 ’87, retired professor of justice studies Dr. Janet Hibbard, ’55 ’58, retired marketing professor 4. Fran Hindsman, retired professor of health information Dr. Richard “Ritchie” Hunley, ’01 ’03, professor of Appalachian Studies Eldon Lainhart, retired Central Stores employee 5. Dr. Rosanne Lorden, professor of psychology 6. Juran Darnell (J.D.) Parks, former employee who served EKU in several capacities with Student Affairs and Athletics Denise “Dee” Riggs, former assistant librarian Sandra Shapiro, retired nursing professor Donna Simmons, retired payroll manager
One of a kind. A life force. The Great Encourager. Larger than life. Mentor to many. Kind and compassionate. Gentle giant. Fiercely loyal. True Kentuckian. Fearless. Talented writer. Original, provocative voice. Wittily disarming. Courageously straightforward. Expert on many things. Best structured settlement consultant in the country. That’s what folks said about Don McNay, ’81. When Mr. McNay passed away unexpectedly on May 29, 2016, he left behind a legion of admirers, some of whom only knew him through his columns in The Huffington Post, their local newspaper or even just his Facebook posts. And that was just it: you felt like you knew Mr. McNay even if you never met him. As one Facebook tribute read, “We all thought we were your best friend, because you treated everyone like they were your best friend.” He founded McNay Settlement Group in 1982 and became one of the nation’s leading experts in helping people who have been awarded large sums of money — whether from a lucky lottery pick, insurance cases or other means. Some of his eight books touched on that subject, but his final effort, “Brand New Man: My Weight Loss Journey,” chronicled his loss, through bariatric surgery, careful diet and regular exercise, of well over 100 pounds. That he was beginning to enjoy life more than he had in many years made his sudden passing at age 57 all the more sorrowful. Just as he never forgot his friends, Mr. McNay loved his alma mater. He was a member of the University’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni and the EKU Foundation Board of Directors. Donations in Mr. McNay’s honor may be made to the McNay Family Scholarship: Eastern Kentucky University, University Development, 521 Lancaster Ave., CPO 19A, Richmond, KY 40475, or online at development.eku.edu.
7. Dr. Jean Craig Surplus, retired music professor
Correction:
ALUMNI
Dr. Daniel Upton White, retired professor of English Rodney Branum, ’92
Robert Kelly, ’59
John Allen Siekman, ’66
EKU MAGAZINE 47