Former faculty & staff
6
7
Geneva Cox Turpin Masters, retired campus bookstore employee 6. Dr. Kimberly Merritt, assistant director for recruitment in Admissions (degree awarded posthumously in December 2015) Rich Middleton, ’94, former Director of Facilities Services Dr. Dale Monsebroten, Department of Geography and Geology faculty Shird Riley Powell, retired maintenance mechanic William Frank “Billy” Rawlins, former Facilities Services employee 7. Dr. Byno Rhodes, professor emeritus of English Harold Rose, who served in Facilities Services for 28 years Jesse Samons, ’67 ’72, retired director of Billings and Collections Nancy Shanks, former custodian Dorothy Higgins Smith, ’64 ’68, who taught courses in child development Ethel Watts Blanton Smith, retired faculty member and administrator Wayne Steele, former coordinator of Kentucky Motorcycle Program Carol Jeanett Thomas, retired Libraries staff member. Merritt Warren, former custodian
Dr. William E. Sexton, ’57, retired dean and vice president, joined his alma mater’s faculty in 1957 and taught drafting and design. He went on to chair the Department of Industrial Technology from 1965 to 1969 and then serve as dean of what was then the College of Applied Arts and Technology from 1969 to 1975, a time of expansion and reorganization for the College. He capped his career by serving as Vice President for Public Service and Special Programs from 1975 until his retirement in 1986. He was also named to the University’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni. An endowed scholarship for technology students bears his name.
James Wyatt “Spider” Thurman, ’41 ’52, left an indelible mark on Eastern as both standout student athlete and long time administrator. The son of a coal miner, Mr. Thurman directed the Eastern football team to two Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles. He was a three-time all-conference selection and a Little All-American in 1940 after quarterbacking the Maroons to the first undefeated and untied season in school history. He also lettered in basketball and track, and Coach Rome Rankin considered Thurman his most outstanding performer in any sport. After a highly successful coaching career at Clay County High School, he returned to his alma mater and served from 1962 to 1983 as Eastern’s first permanent Director of Alumni Affairs. During his tenure, the Alumni Association’s active membership grew tenfold. The J.W. Thurman Alumni Scholarship Fund honors his contributions and continues to help deserving students achieve their own educational dreams. He is a member of the University’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni and the EKU Athletics Hall of Fame. Mr. Thurman’s son, Tom Thurman, ’69, taught in EKU’s College of Justice & Safety from 1998 until his recent retirement and is also a member of the University’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni. Dr. Virginia Wright, retired professor of economics and former chair of the Faculty Senate, served Eastern from 1982 to 1999, specializing in the economics of health care, particularly relating to the costs of smoking and the regional significance of hospital systems. She was also a major contributor to the Department’s general education courses. Dr. Wright received an Excellence in Teaching Award. She had also served as executive director of Growth and Research Organization for Women (GROW). Dr. Wright’s late husband, Dr. J. Ward Wright, was a professor of management at EKU and also served a term as chair of the Faculty Senate.
Daniel Upton White, former English professor Ruby Anglin Willis, retired custodian Dr. Bruce Wolford, retired professor in the College of Justice & Safety and founding director of the University’s Training Resource Center
EKU MAGAZINE 43