Georgetown College Alumni Magazine | Fall 2023

GEORGETOWN COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Greenhouse comes to life 2,000 Basketball Wins | Alumni Awards | Homecoming

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The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

CONTENTS

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Message from the President

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Distinguished Alumni Awards

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Opening Convocation

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Incoming Class

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$1 Million Donation from Brown Foundation

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New Faculty / Robbi Barber Recognized

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“Silence” Showcases Theatre and Art

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Homecoming 2023

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GC Hall of Fame

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Jennifer Wilson ’93 Brings Greenhouse to Life ATHLETICS

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Athletics Hall of Fame

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Scholar Athletes / Historic Tennis Moment

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Jim Dwyer Named Men’s Volleyball Coach

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Joabe Barbosa ’22 Finds His Calling

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KSR’s Matt Jones Bringing Real-World Perspective

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2,000 Wins for Men’s Basketball Program

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First-Generation Students Thriving GC ALUMNI NEWS

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Class Notes

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In Memoriam FROM THE ARCHIVES

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Rebirth of the Football Tigers

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS Bethany H. Langdon ’93 EDITOR Emily McCarthy DESIGNER Betty Bone ’00 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Olivia Coleman-Dunn ’15 Bill Ellis ’62 Jason Grefer Mindy Hamlin ’91 Emily McCarthy CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Dr. Rosemary Allen Mindy Hamlin ’91 Bethany H. Langdon ’93 Dr. Jonathan Sands Wise COVER PHOTO Ella Frances Wilson PHOTOS Quentin Barclay ’24 Richard Davis Emily McCarthy Lorenzo Fede Pellone ’23 Woody Phillips Hannah Winn ’24 FOR COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, AND INFORMATION, CONTACT: Office of Communications and Marketing 400 East College Street Georgetown, KY 40324 502.863.7922 communications@georgetowncollege.edu FOR ADDRESS CHANGES, CONTACT: Tammy Owens, Director of Donor Relations tammy_owens@geogetowncollege.edu Georgetown College magazine is published by the Georgetown College Office of Communications and Marketing. ©Copyright Georgetown College 2023

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Georgetown College admits students regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status.

Celebrating Our Traditions

A Message from President Rosemary Allen Dear Alumni and Friends, Thanks to everyone who joined us for Homecoming 2023. It is always wonderful to see so many familiar faces on our campus as we celebrate the friends, memories, and traditions that make Georgetown College such a wonderful place.

This year, we hosted the inaugural Brandon D. Lawson Scholarship Gala to raise money for his new scholarship fund, which we hope will become an annual event! Songfest returned with a “Spooky Scary” theme that packed John L. Hill Chapel and delivered delightful entertainment on Friday the 13th. Saturday was a bustle of activity on the main campus, as we welcomed our Golden Tigers back on campus, we hosted a Diversity Brunch to award the Fred Moses scholarships, and alums returned to meet current students at Greek brunches. We also celebrated the Silver Anniversary of the Oxford Programs at Georgetown College, marking 25 years of partnership with Regent’s Park College at Oxford University. Be sure to check out photos from the weekend inside.

The College also honored seven alums at the Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony. These awards recognize alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally and through service to Georgetown College and the greater community. I am extremely impressed by their accomplishments, and I hope you will enjoy seeing this year’s winners.

Our men’s basketball program reached 2,000 NAIA wins on Sunday, November 26 with a 89-57 win over Reinhardt. Inside, we honor this historic event and invite you to read more about the program’s history, our beloved coaches, and the winning game.

We also highlight a few of our first-generation students who are thriving at Georgetown. Senior Silas Emongo is currently interning with Mayor Burney Jenkins ’79 at City Hall, who also served as his sixth-grade science teacher! The connections our students make at Georgetown are invaluable.

I hope you enjoy this issue of GC Moments, where we can celebrate the moments that are changing lives and maintaining the legacy of Georgetown College.

With Gratitude,

Dr. Rosemary A. Allen

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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The 2023

Distinguished Alumni Awards

The 2023 Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony was held on Thursday, October 12, at the James A. and Martha R. Brown Conference Center. The awards recognize alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally and through service to Georgetown College and the greater community. Ken Hale ’69 and Olivia Coleman-Dunn ’15 co-hosted the event.

Distinguished Alumni Awards were presented to: Dave Baker ’82, Sports Anchor, Reporter, and Account Executive at WKYT in Lexington, Kentucky; Andie Burchett Kash ’93, President and Owner of the HI-FLOAT Company in Louisville, Kentucky; Dr. Alicestyne Adams Turley ’94, David and Rosalee McCullough Research Fellow at Marrietta College in Marrietta, Ohio; Dontrese Juan Brown ’96, Co-founder of BROWNBAYLOR Marketing Agency in Richmond, Virginia; Dr. Jennifer Daugherty Fairchild ’97, Professor of Communication at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky; and Susan Douglas ’02, Chief Executive Officer of the Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road in Lexington, Kentucky. The Distinguished Service to Georgetown College Award was presented to Dr. Susan Hart Bell ’75, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Coordinator of Child Development at Georgetown College. Congratulations to all of the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients!

To read more about the award recipients, visit our website by scanning the QR code 4

GC Moments » Fall 2023

Dave Baker ‘82

Bethany H. Langdon ’93 presents the Distinguished Service to Georgetown College Award to Dr. Susan Hart Bell ’75.

Andie Burchett Kash ’93

Dr. Alicestyne Adams Turley ’94

Dontrese Juan Brown ’96

Dr. Jennifer Daugherty Fairchild ’97

Susan Douglas ’02

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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OPENING Convocation Opening Convocation was held at Georgetown College on Tuesday, August 29, in the John L. Hill Chapel. It is a tradition that is almost as old as the College itself and kicks off the new academic year. Provost Jonathan Sands Wise introduced two new faculty members (see page 9 to learn more) and delivered the convocation lecture on the importance of a liberal arts education and why the human mind will always be more valuable than artificial intelligence.

During the ceremony, the 2023 John Walker Manning Distinguished Mentor and Teacher Award was presented to Professor of Art J. Daniel Graham.

“Daniel’s passion for creation and love for art are shared with his students, and he always takes the time to listen and learn from them. He is a truly talented craftsman whose furniture, musical instruments, and other works of art are exceptional. He is a shining example of the Georgetown College spirit Jonathan Sands Wise presents Manning Award to Daniel Graham.

in every way,” said President Rosemary Allen.

Executive Cabinet from left to right: Bethany Langdon ‘93, Kimberly Chandler ‘10, Jonathan Sands Wise, President Rosemary Allen, Curtis Sandberg, Sally Wiatrowski, and Rush Sherman.

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GC Moments » Fall 2023

Scan QR code to watch the 2023 Opening Convocation ceremony

2023 INCOMING CLASS OUTSIDE 19 STATES OF KENTUCKY

ALABAMA, CALIFORNIA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, OHIO, COUNTRIES PENNSYLVANIA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, WASHINGTON, AND WEST VIRGINIA.

USA, AUSTRALIA, COLOMBIA, DENMARK, GREAT BRITAIN, ITALY, NETHERLANDS, POLAND, PORTUGAL, AND SPAIN

53 COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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James A. & Martha R. Brown Charitable Foundation donates

$

Million to Fund Scholarships for Johnson County Students

The James A. and Martha R. Brown Charitable Foundation awarded full-tuition scholarships to three Johnson County high school students to attend Georgetown College. All three students accepted the scholarships and began their GC journey in the fall of 2023. The scholarship recipients are Zoe Jordan ’27 and Cami Robinson ’27 from Paintsville High School and Ethan Biddle ’27 from Johnson Central High School.

“Georgetown College is blessed to have this partnership with the James A. and Martha R. Brown Foundation, because it allows us to honor the Browns and provide life-changing education to exceptional students from Johnson County,” says GC Provost Jonathan Sands Wise. “We look forward to seeing generations of Brown Scholars excelling at Georgetown College for many years to come.”

About James A. and Martha R. Brown James “Jim” Brown was raised in Johnson County, Kentucky. He was a pilot in the United States Air Force and owned several businesses, including Farmers Deposit Bank in Cynthiana and the Ramada Inn in Paintsville. He and his wife Martha were Johnson County residents for many years but relocated when James accepted a position with the Kawneer Company. For the next 60 years, he and Martha acquired numerous businesses around Kentucky. Martha was actively engaged in their businesses, concentrating primarily on operating their nursing homes. Both were extensively involved in their community, serving on boards, committees, and civic organizations. Martha passed away in 2006, and James resolved to make a positive difference for future generations by creating the James A. and Martha R. Brown Foundation. James passed away in 2017, but his vision endures through the work of the foundation.

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New Faculty Shelia Kustelski

Visiting Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Health Sciences B.S., Cumberland University; M.B.A., King University Kustelski is a Board-Certified Athletic Trainer and a native of Nashville, Tennessee. She has spent the past 20 years in higher education. She served in multiple roles, including Head Athletic Trainer, Senior Woman Administrator, Assistant Athletic Director, and Adjunct Professor during her time at King University from 2002 to 2020. Most recently, she was the Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Leader at Cumberland University from 2020 to 2023. Kustelski relocated to Lexington, Kentucky, in May 2023.

Clarisa Williams

Visiting Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Health Studies B.A., Berea College; M.S. Eastern Kentucky University Williams has over four years of teaching experience, holding positions at Berea College and Eastern Kentucky University. She is passionate about applying data-driven approaches to enhance the wellbeing, performance, and learning outcomes of students, athletes, and communities. She has presented and published multiple articles on wellness, physical activity, human anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and biomechanics. She is currently pursuing another master’s degree in data analytics from Southern New Hampshire University.

Robbi Barber recognized for

Outstanding Community Service

Robbi Barber, Assistant Dean of Students, Director of Bishop Scholars, and Director of Diversity and Inclusion at GC, was recognized for outstanding community service on Friday, September 1, at the Echoes of Our Ancestors Unity Breakfast held at the Cardome Center in Georgetown, Kentucky. The event was attended by community leaders across the Commonwealth, including Kentucky’s Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman, who is pictured with Barber and President Rosemary Allen.

At GC, Barber mentors students, organizes leadership events, and is a passionate advocate for the rights and needs of students. She accepted the award graciously and considers her service to others a calling. “When you are chosen, you have no choice but to do,” said Barber. “The Lord gave me that voice. He knows when nobody else will speak, I will speak.”

Award honorees also included P.G. Peoples, CEO of the Lexington Urban League; Rev. Richard Gaines, Pastor of Consolidated Baptist Church in Lexington; Rev. H.M. Dailey, Pastor of Zion Baptist Church; and Kentucky State Representative George Brown, Jr.

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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Silence: A 13th Century Medieval Adventure

Takes Center Stage for the First Time The first full-length adaptation of the 13th-century French poem “Silence” delighted audiences at the Ruth Pearce Wilson Theatre Lab in November. The play was adapted by Dr. Ed Smith '88, Professor of Film and Theatre at Georgetown College. The manuscript was discovered in 1911 at Wollatan Hall in Nottingham, England, resting in a box marked “old papers—no value.” It has since become a text of interest to medievalists, gender studies scholars, and readers interested in Arthuriana.

The play tells the story of Silence, the most perfect woman in the world who is raised as a boy. Although Silence must live in disguise in order to inherit her parents’ land and wealth, she goes on to become the greatest minstrel and the most valiant knight in England and France. The medieval atmosphere was enhanced by set pieces that feature illustrations from the story, created by Professor Boris Zakic and his painting students.

Benches and swords were created by Professor Daniel Graham, and still photos showcasing the colorful production were taken by Professor Darrell Kincer.

“I am so proud of this production. It was a true collaboration of the cast, crew, and campus community,” said Dr. Smith. “My goal was to translate directly to the stage as much of the reading experience as possible. The story is meant to portray the intricate nature of gender inequality and gender identity, which resonates with modern discussions on these topics and the scientific questions around nature versus nurture."

To watch a recorded version of the play, visit our YouTube channel by scanning the QR code below. Search for “Silence: A 13th Century Medieval Adventure.”

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CAST Devan Cole ’24 Narrator Lily Mahoney ’26 Female Narrator/Reason Leon Johnson, IV ’26 Male Narrator Izzie Lambros ’25 Silence Lukas Welsh ’27 Cador Donovan Smith ’25 King Evan Katie Duffey ’26 Eufeme/Female Ensemble/Nature Ally Stone ’25 Eufemie/Count Nevers Haley King ’24 Old Man/Merlin/Dead Count 1 Sidney Smith ’26 Female Ensemble/Dragon Ensemble/ Innkeeper/ Cador’s Cousin/Lady in Waiting Lin Gutierrez ’27 Female Ensemble/Dragon Ensemble/ Countess Renald/King of France/Count Conant Keith Rodgers ’27 Count Blois/Male Ensemble/Dead Count 2/ Count Renald/Seneschal Ethan Decker ’27 English Chancellor/Count with Twins/Count’s Squire/ Male Ensemble

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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EYE OF THE HOMECOMING

TIGE

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Songfest kicked off Homecoming weekend on Friday the 13th in the John L. Hill Chapel with “Spooky Scary” skits from eight different student groups. Hundreds of people packed the Chapel and co-hosts Meredith Cave ’13 and Renea Dixon ’87 kept the performances moving. Sigma Kappa won First Place Overall and Most Original, casting a spell on the audience with their quest to find a dash of spirit, a Tiger archive, and a magical elixir. Winners also included Alpha Gamma Delta for Third Place Overall; Phi Kappa Tau for Most Comical and Second Place Overall; Tiger Pride Entertainment for Best Choreography; Phi Mu for Most Musical; and Kappa Delta for Most Georgetown Spirit. On east campus, we hosted the inaugural Brandon D. Lawson Scholarship Gala.

a Roaring Good Time

Homecoming brunches started Saturday morning, with a special Silver Anniversary Celebration of the Oxford Programs, a Golden Tiger brunch for alums who graduated over 50 years ago, Greek brunches in the Quad, and a Diversity Brunch where four students were presented with $500 scholarships from the Fred Moses Scholarship Fund.

Alumni also gathered for tailgating around Toyota Stadium on East Campus, gearing up for a Tiger football win. Kara Shepherd ’13 returned to GC to sing the national anthem, and Dontrese Juan Brown ’96 led the invocation before the game. Georgetown got off to a great start, dominating Cumberland University with a 21-0 lead at the half.

During halftime, the 2023 Homecoming Court was announced. 2022 Homecoming King, Berk Watts ’23 and the 1979 Homecoming Queen, Vickie Patterson Gross ’80, joined President Rosemary Allen at mid-field to crown Isaac Sullivan ’24 as Homecoming King and Emma Claire “EC” Bedo ’24 as Homecoming Queen. The remaining homecoming court included first-year students Caleb Martin ’27 and Annabel Shone ’27; sophomores Garrett Moore ’26 and Riley Shepherd ’26; juniors Luke Landers ’25 and McCall Burkhalter ’25; and seniors EJ Harrison ’24, Emma Hill ’24, Jake Manning ’24, and Alyssa Adams ’24.

The Tigers dominated the Homecoming 2023 football game, preventing any Cumberland scoring until the fourth quarter. The Tigers delivered a 42-14 victory over the Phoenix to cap off an amazing weekend.

Thanks to everyone who celebrated Homecoming with us at GC!

Senior Wide Reciever Dillon Warren

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GC Moments » Fall 2023

ER Alumni gather at the Thurman Meetinghouse to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the GC Honors program with Oxford University.

Songfest Winners — Sigma Kappa

Vickie Patterson Gross ’80 and Berk Watts ’23 joined President Allen to crown Homecoming King Isaac Sullivan ’24 and Homecoming Queen Emma Claire “EC” Bedo ’24.

Kara Shepherd ’13 and Dontrese Juan Brown ’96

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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GA LA L AWS O N

President Rosemary Allen with Brandon D. Lawson ’13 and wife Ashley

Senior Linebacker Chad Holleran #25 and Senior Linebacker Colton Cornish #41

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Junior Wide Reciever JC Shegog

Golden Tigers Brunch

Vicki Patterson Gross ’80 presents Fred Moses scholarships at Diversity Brunch.

FOR ALL THE

HOMECOMING PICTURES SCAN THE QR CODE

Professors Tom Cooper, Terry Clark, and Cliff Wargelin

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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The Georgetown College Hall of Fame was established in 1993 and is intended to recognize those who honor the College and promote understanding of the distinctive contributions to our society made by Georgetown College and its people. This year, we inducted five new members.

Dr. John Blackburn Dr. John Blackburn graduated from Westminster College in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

He attended graduate school at Vanderbilt University and received his doctorate degree in chemistry in 1972.

Dr. Blackburn came to Georgetown College in the fall of 1972 and taught physical, inorganic, general, forensic, and environmental chemistry. He served as Department Chair in the 1970s and 1980s. While at Georgetown, he served as advisor to various student organizations such as Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, Explorers’ Club, American Chemical Society Student Affiliates, and First Tee Scholars. He also served two four-year terms on the Georgetown College Board of Trustees and rotated off the Board in December of 2022. Dr. Blackburn’s two daughters, Jennifer and Melissa, are alums of Georgetown College.

Dr. Keon Chi Dr. Keon Chi was born in South Korea and became a U.S. citizen in the early 1970s. Dr. Chi held master’s and doctoral degrees in government from Claremont Graduate University. He taught for 36 years at Georgetown College as a professor of political science. During his tenure at GC, Dr. Chi taught political science to several generations of students, served as chair of the department of political science and interim provost, and won the Cawthorne Excellence in Teaching Award in 1996. He was nationally recognized in 1998, when he was named the Carnegie Foundation’s Kentucky Professor of the Year. Dr. Chi was the editor-in-chief of “The Book of the States,” a premier reference book on American state governments published annually by The Council of State Governments. He was author or co-author of more than 100 journal articles, monographs, book chapters, and columns on current government issues. He was married to In Soon Chi and they have two sons, Ron and John.

Ron is a 1989 alum of GC.

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Dr. Ben Warf ’80 Dr. Ben Warf is a pediatric neurosurgeon specializing in hydrocephalus, spina bifida and neuroendoscopy with a passion for training the next generation of surgeons. He graduated from Georgetown College in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1984. From 2000 to 2006, Dr. Warf served as chief of surgery and founding medical director at CURE Children’s Hospital in Uganda, where he developed a new operative procedure to treat infant hydrocephalus, now commonly referred to as “The Warf Method.” In 2012, he received a MacArthur “Genius” grant, which he used to fund his global neurosurgery work. Dr. Warf is currently the director of Neonatal and Congenital Neurosurgery and holds the Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida Chair at Boston Children’s Hospital. His wife Cindy is a 1979 GC graduate, and their six children are Joanna, Micah, Naomi, Sarah, Asa, and Ezra. They also have seven grandchildren.

Robert “Flash” and Carol Williams ’66 Carol Williams graduated from Georgetown College in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in art and a minor in English and earned her master’s in education in 1970. Flash graduated from Georgetown College in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Carol and Flash met at Georgetown College and were married in 1968, one week after Flash arrived home from the Vietnam War. Carol taught at Scott County Schools from 1968 to 2000 and was a professor at GC from 2000 until her retirement in December 2015. She is also a long‐standing member of the Woman’s Association of Georgetown College. Flash came to GC on a basketball scholarship and was inducted in the GC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. After nearly 30 years at GTE as an internal auditor and director of public affairs, he returned to Georgetown and started the women’s golf team and coached both the men’s and women’s programs. Flash coached an NAIA All‐American, two Mid‐South Conference Golfer of the Year winners, one MSC Freshman of the Year and 31 MSC All‐Conference honorees. He was twice MSC Women’s Golf Coach of the Year. They have one child, Lindsay, also a graduate of Georgetown College.

Hall of Famers

JAMES JEFFERSON RUCKER LORENZA EUGENE “BRAD” JONES IRA J. PORTER JOHN GORDON MEIN ROCKWOOD GIDDINGS ARTHUR YAGER ROBERT TAYLOR HINTON RENA CALHOUN HOWARD MALCOLM LOUISE DUDLEY BLANTON LONG COLLIER MARY E. WHARTON 1996 BASIL MANLY, JR. JOHN SHERMAN COOPER COLEMAN ARNOLD MARY LOUISE FOUST 1997 GEORGE MATT ASHER JR. GEORGE WALKER REDDING S. SHEPARD JONES BOB W. BROWN 1998 STEPHEN F. GANO H. CHURCH FORD W. VINSON PIERCE H.Y. MULLIKIN

1999 CHRIS AND DON CAWTHORNE JAMES P. LEWIS DWIGHT M. LINDSAY DANFORD THOMAS 2000 VIRGINIA M. COVINGTON RALPH L. CURRY CARL R. FIELDS ROMIE D. JUDD 2001 WILLIAM HENRY BRANHAM ROBERT AND MILLIE MILLS GLADYS GWYNNE PETERS J. FOLEY SNYDER 2002 ROBERT G. BRATCHER GOV. JAMES F. ROBINSON FLORENCE WALNE J. ELMER WELDON 2003 DAVID EDGAR FOGLE WILLIAM BRISTOW JONES 2005 ELOISE JONES WOODRIDGE SPEARS SAMUEL CHILES MITCHELL DIANA YAGER ESKEW

2006 THOMAS E. CORTS PAUL RICHARD CORTS JOHN LEONARD HILL LLOYD CASWELL KELLY LELAND WINFIELD MEYER 2007 HOLLIS SPURGEON SUMMERS BILLY OVERTON WIREMAN BUELL KAZEE ISSACHAR PAWLING 2008 RHODES BURCH THOMAS ALEXANDER WARREN LARUE JESSE AUTON JONATHAN FARNAM 2009 W. WAYNE JOHNSON RONALD E. MEREDITH 2010 HORACE AND MARIBETH HAMBRICK BILL AND ALICE MARSHALL 2011 VERLIN KRUSHWITZ JOE DAN OSCEOLA ALLAN E. INGLIS

2012 LEE E. CRALLE, JR. PAUL PARKS GRUNDY AND JEAN JONES 2013 CLYDE AND ANNA ASHCRAFT ENSOR ROBERT WILSON 2014 JOHN M. BALLBACH WILLIAM B. AND ANN BOLTON BEVINS 2015 WILLIAM L. STAKELIN WALLY AND GERRY MONTGOMERY 2016 JACK BIRDWHISTELL BOB TERRELL ROLLIE AND LENA GRAVES 2017 ROBERT AND ZANE COHEN RANDY AND GINNY FOX 2018 TOM AND MARY ANN DOWLING FRANKLIN AND DEBRA ENSOR 2019 FRANK AND RITA PENN ROBERT L. DOTY

2020 BOB AND BETTY LYKINS BUDDY AND JEAN ALBRIGHT GWEN CURRY BETTY JEAN CHATHAM 2021 EARL AND VICKI GOODE KEN AND SANDY HALE PRICE AND JUDY SMITH 2022 BOB AND ROXANN HIEB S.B. WOO MACY WYATT 2023 JOHN BLACKBURN KEON CHI BEN WARF ROBERT “FLASH” AND CAROL WILLIAMS

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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A Labor of Love for Jennifer Lonsway Wilson ’93 When Jennifer Lonsway Wilson first entered Georgetown College’s greenhouse as a freshman biology and English major, her first thought was, “This is where I belong.”

It quickly became her first greenhouse job.

“My love of greenhouses sprouted at GC,” she remembered. “At the time, it was full of plants, and if you were a student in the sciences, you had the opportunity to work in the greenhouse. At any given time, there was a handful of students who kept the plants healthy and growing, set up class experiments, and just did a lot of hard greenhouse work.”

Today, Wilson is the owner and CEO of Wilson Nurseries & Plant Co. in Frankfort and Lexington, so when her friend and GC’s Vice President for Advancement and Communications Bethany Hornback Langdon ’93 asked her to help bring the greenhouse back to life, she answered with a resounding “Yes.” The next day, she was in the greenhouse assessing what needed to be done to restore it.

“People have an attachment to this greenhouse,” said Wilson. “But it really hasn’t served the College as it should for a very long time.”

To restore this GC landmark, which is attached to the Asher Science Center, would require a team. While the “physical structure has great bones to it,” Wilson quickly determined the scope of the project was sizable. “Greenhouses, by virtue of what they are, require ongoing maintenance and upkeep,” she said.

Armed with a group of volunteers and the backing of President Allen and biology professors Dr. Tim Griffith, Dr. Jana Henson, and Dr. Rick Kopp, they went to work scrubbing, cleaning, and painting. Specialists were brought on board to repair the mechanical system, metal structure, window panes, and temperature controls.

“One of our goals is to ensure faculty can use this space for teaching and it will be accessible to more students on campus, regardless of their major,” Wilson pointed out. “Greenhouses are healthy and healing places, and I would love to see the campus, as a whole, be able to appreciate it.”

Two of her first volunteer recruits were GC environmental science and American studies major Jullian Dulje ’24 and Olivia Poczatek ’24, a biochemistry major.

The two had been leading student interest in reopening the greenhouse. They also recruited members of the College’s Biology Club and Georgetown Sustainability Initiative. Together, they are developing a long-term plan for greenhouse growth and success.

The project has several phases. Phase one, which was completed over a fivemonth period this year, focused on restoring and reopening the greenhouse with plants for classroom and student use. Next, the faculty and students, with Wilson as an alumna advisor, will explore ways to make the greenhouse self-sustaining, beginning with seasonal plant sales for the campus and broader community.

Jennifer Wilson, Dr. Tim Griffith, Jullian Dulje, Dr. John Blackburn, and Olivia Poczatek.

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Small-scale crops will also be grown and sold to local restaurants to support and maintain the greenhouse. “Balancing student education with revenue generation to reinvest into the greenhouse, I believe, is the key to the longevity of this project,” Wilson said. “In the future, some ideas we are working on include recreating the outdoor space between the library and the science building,” she said.

Greenhouse

Renovation Upgrading the existing outdoor classroom and designing native gardens and landscaping surrounding the science building is a priority moving forward.

“Expanding the scale of this project will be a big undertaking, but we know it will provide hands-on teaching tools with the added benefit of campus beautification and improved green spaces,” Wilson pointed out.

Wilson is not only the project lead on the greenhouse renovation. Her company, Wilson Nurseries & Plant Co. has helped cover the cost of repairs and labor and donated all of the plants to revive the greenhouse. For her, it is a labor of love and an easy, intuitive way to give back. Over the years, she has stayed in contact with several former professors. This connection is important to Wilson, and she sees it as one of the things that sets GC apart.

“Staying in touch with my professors from more than 30 years ago, now working with GC students on this project, as well as having alum Jacob Stewart ’17 as my Nursery Stock Purchasing Manager, brings everything full circle,” Wilson explained. “GC was great to me and I am motivated to pass that along.”

It is the old and new connections she has made at GC that inspired her to lead the project, creating what she calls “A long-term, living legacy where the greenhouse outlives us all.”

If you worked in and loved the GC greenhouse or you would simply like to provide support for this project, please let us hear from you. Contact Tammy Owens, Director of Donor Relations, at tammy_owens@georgetowncollege.edu or call 859.863.8009.

This article was written by Mindy Hamlin '91. She earned a B.A. in English with a minor in history. In 1994, after studying at Baylor University, Mindy earned her M.A. in English from the University of Dayton.

Today, she is a strategic communication consultant after years of honing her skills at government and nonprofit agencies.

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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ICS ET HL AT

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Clyde Mcconnaughhy, Jermaine Brown, Keith Stephens, Tom Fink, Brittany Hunt Lawrence, Suzanne Witten Cates, Flash Williams, Eric Metzger, Ron Pinchback, and Bob Olson.

2023 Athletics

HALL OF FAME ON AUGUST 26, 2023, EIGHT STUDENT-ATHLETES AND TWO COACHES TOOK THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE GEORGETOWN COLLEGE ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME. BASKETBALL Jermaine Brown ’96 was a key factor in Georgetown’s 1996 National Runner-up finish in the NAIA Tournament. He led the team in scoring with over 18 points per game. Brown is one of fewer than 60 players in the 1,000-point club at Georgetown and is still in the top 10 all-time in career blocks. He was a 1996 NAIA First Team All-American.

FOOTBALL Tom Fink ’72 was twice named Lineman of the Year and was named All-South 1st Team by the Knoxville News Sentinel all four years at Georgetown. In that time as a four-year starter, he never missed a single defensive play. He was also a 1970 NAIA Honorable Mention All-American.

Eric Metzger ’87 held the football program’s single-season record for sacks and tackles for loss records for many years. He was a team captain, two-time All-District honoree, and a 1984 NAIA Honorable Mention All-American.

Bob “Merlin” Olson ’72 (Football/Track) is in the top-five all-time at Georgetown for career receptions (146) and receiving yards (2,140). In 1968 and 1969, he ran track and garnered two letterman awards. In football, he was a four-year letterman, three-time All-District, and two-time Honorable Mention All-American.

Ron Pinchback ’77 was a 1974 District 24 All-Star, 1975 NAIA All-District honoree, and a Rhodes Scholar candidate. He led the Tigers to a 60-41 win over Gardner-Webb in 1976, which set a record for points in a game at Georgetown that stood until 1985.

SOCCER Brittany Hunt Lawrence ’08 is in the top 10 all-time twice for goals in a season, three times for assists in a season, and three times for points in a season. She was a 2004 All-American, three-time All-Region (2004-06), fourtime Mid-South All-Conference, Mid-South Academic All-Conference, and a NAIA Scholar Athlete.

BASEBALL Keith Stephens ’67 was a four-year letterman, 1964 Freshman of the Year, 1966 Honorable Mention All-American, and was selected in the 1967 MLB Draft. He chose law school over pro baseball and returned to Georgetown College to teach Education Law in our Graduate Education Program.

SOFTBALL Suzanne Witten Cates ’04 is arguably the greatest pitcher in Tiger softball history. In four years, she tallied 63 wins and 651 strikeouts, while never having an earned run average over 2.09. Her 207 strikeouts in 2002 still stands as the school record. She was a four-time Mid-South All-Conference, four-time All-Region, and still holds records for pitching appearances, strikeouts and opponent batting average.

COACHES Clyde Mcconnaughhay ’67 played football at Georgetown from 1963-66 and was a key part of the 1965 team that went undefeated (9-0). In 2000, he returned as a football coach and was vital in the Tigers’ 2000 and 2001 National Championships. When he retired from coaching in 2014, he was part of 143 wins and two national titles while on staff at Georgetown.

Robert “Flash” Williams ’66 started the women’s golf program at Georgetown in 1996. He took over coaching both the men’s and women’s teams in 1998, doing so until his retirement in 2015. Williams was a two-time Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year. He coached an NAIA All-American, two conference golfers of the year, and 31 All-Conference honorees.

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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TIGERS DOMINATE in the Classroom for 2022-23

With the conclusion of the 2022-23 academic year, Georgetown Athletics boasted a total of 126 NAIA Scholar-Athletes across 21 varsity sports.

In order to qualify for the honor, a student-athlete must have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and have been enrolled at Georgetown for one full year. Women’s soccer finished with the most honorees at 15. Men’s soccer was next with 13. As a whole, Georgetown Athletics finished with an aggregate GPA of 3.22. Below is a breakdown of the number of scholar-athletes by sport.

Women’s Soccer: 15 Men’s Soccer: 13 Football: 12 Women’s Track & Field: 12 Women’s Volleyball: 11 Cheer: 9 Women’s Cross Country: 8 Softball: 8 Baseball: 6

Men’s Track & Field: 6 Men’s Cross Country: 5 Men’s Volleyball: 5 Lacrosse: 4 Men’s Tennis: 4 Men’s Golf: 2 Women’s Basketball: 2 Women’s Golf: 2 Women’s Tennis: 2

In total, 19 of the 21 varsity sports were named NAIA Scholar Teams.

To qualify, a team’s cumulative GPA must be higher than 3.0. Below is a breakdown of the cumulative grade point averages for the teams named as NAIA Scholar Teams.

Cheer: 3.07 Football: 3.01 Men’s Cross Country: 3.36 Women’s Cross Country: 3.5 Men’s Golf: 3.11 Women’s Golf: 3.20 Women’s Volleyball: 3.32 Men’s Soccer: 3.35 Women’s Soccer: 3.54 Women’s Basketball: 3.24

Men’s Tennis: 3.38 Women’s Tennis: 3.13 Men’s Volleyball: 3.04 Softball: 3.44 Women’s Lacrosse: 3.30 Men’s Outdoor Track: 3.13 Men’s Indoor Track: 3.13 Women’s Outdoor Track: 3.63 Women’s Indoor Track: 3.62

Barriere Makes Men’s Tennis History On September 23, sophomore Max Barriere ’26 made men’s tennis history by becoming the first player in the history of the program to reach an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Regional Singles Tournament final.

Georgetown played host to the four-day ITA Southeast Regional tournament featuring singles and doubles competitions for men and women from colleges around the Bluegrass region. Barriere navigated his way past several high seeds in the 64-player field, including a 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 semifinal win over a Cumberland University player seeded 5th in the tournament.

Barriere would ultimately fall in the finale against the top seed from Lindsey Wilson, but it did not diminish his historic moment for Georgetown College Athletics. Congrats Max!

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GC Moments » Fall 2023

Coming off another run to the NAIA national tournament, Georgetown men’s volleyball begins a new chapter with the hiring of Jim Dwyer as the program’s second-ever head coach.

Jim Dwyer

Hired as Georgetown Men’s Volleyball Head Coach

Dwyer comes to Georgetown after a two-year stint as head coach at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, WI. While there, Dwyer coached four all-conference players and grew the roster from just 11 players in 2021 to 20 before taking the job with Georgetown.

“I think what most excited me was getting the opportunity to come to a program that has had success right off the bat and continued that success.

It is thrilling to work with guys that are competing at the highest level in the NAIA,” says Dwyer. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about the players academically and how well-known they are on campus. There is a great program and great people here in Georgetown, and it intertwines with what I want to accomplish and help them get through college.”

Dwyer will inherit a Tiger team that returns the bulk of its roster off consecutive NAIA Tournament appearances and was ranked inside the top 10 for the entire 2023 season. He spoke with the team recently and expressed his excitement to get to work. “It was great getting to meet with the team,” Dwyer says. “The returners were just as enthusiastic about getting to see each other since the end of the year as they were meeting with me. That gave me a good understanding of the strong bond that they hold with each other.

They are determined to get to work this fall. I am very excited about getting to coach this group!”

Senior leadership will be vital to the Tigers’ success in the spring and that is not lost on Dwyer as he takes the reins of the program. “I think a big benefit for me here at Georgetown is that there are a lot of seniors,” says Dwyer.

“I can find out what works for them and combine that with my coaching expertise for the best outcome. I think we can accomplish some great things together, and I am really looking forward to it.”

Senior Middle Blocker Tyree Wesley #13 and Senior Outside Hitter Tyler Chazez #9

Coach Jim Dwyer

Senior Outside Hitter Krzyzstof Kowalski #15 and Senior Outside Hitter Ryan Gunn #8

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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Joabe Barbosa ’22 Learns to Combine Service with Sport “People ask how I was able to complete a hat-trick of majors,” he said.

“It was all a matter of planning classes ahead of time, taking 18 credit hours every semester, and doing homework on the way to soccer matches.”

Barbosa credits his professors with helping him navigate the required coursework and his soccer schedule. “I developed good relationships with the professors,” he pointed out. “GC’s supportive faculty members were instrumental to me completing my courses while playing soccer. They understood my athletic commitments and helped me stay caught up.”

It was at GC that he learned that the depth of relationships was more important than the number you build with fellow students and professors.

“I loved going to this small school because it allowed me to build good relationships with my professors, meaning they could advocate for me when the time came to write good letters of recommendation,” Barbosa said.

Joabe Barbosa ’22 was living in London, England, when he committed to Georgetown College as a soccer player. At the time, he hadn’t visited GC and couldn’t point to Kentucky on a map. “That was part of the fun,” he said. Soon, the College became his home as he paved the path to his future by combining his love of soccer with a calling to service.

When it was time to focus on his future, Barbosa knew he wanted to play soccer, but he also wanted to attend college. Combining the two is uncommon in England, so he turned to a London-based recruiting agency that matches U.K. soccer players with American colleges and universities.

“In England, or anywhere else in the world, sports aren’t that big at universities, but that is very different in the USA,” Barbosa explained.

While he was offered scholarships to several different schools, he chose Georgetown. “GC just made sense because it is a Christian College and that gave my father good vibes because he is a pastor,” Barbosa said. “GC was also different. The College isn’t in a big city, which I am used to, which made me realize that I could experience what small-town America is like.”

Barbosa first major was religion, planning to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a pastor. He soon learned, however, that there are many ways to serve.

“I realized I could still help people in other areas, which is what made me choose to pursue psychology. I also chose to major in media and communication, because these skills are important.”

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GC Moments » Fall 2023

After graduating from GC, he spent two summers indulging his love of soccer as a coach at the Barca Soccer Academy, part of the renowned sports school in Spain. He trained six to 16-year-old soccer players up and down the East Coast, identifying students who would go on to train in Spain. The position furthered his interest in sports psychology. He is currently working towards his doctor of psychology in clinical psychology studies at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

Barbosa credits GC for guiding him on his path. His experience, he said, was “Nothing short of amazing. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for GC.” Written by Mindy Hamlin ’91 — biography on page 19.

nts a e d u t S s e v es Gi n o J t t a M

e v i t c e p s r e aw p L s t d r o l p S r o on w l a e r Since Matt Jones returned to Kentucky after graduating from Law School at Duke University in 2003, he has been very busy making a name for himself across the Commonwealth. After a short career practicing law, he started Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR). Since then, he has written a book, launched a Lexington sports bar, and become one of the owners of Louisville-based Ohio Valley Wrestling. Despite his hectic schedule, he makes time to teach a sports law course at Georgetown College.

Turns out, Jones had been thinking about teaching for a while. “I missed talking about law and the theoretical part of it. I enjoy talking to people who are starting out, and I was looking for an opportunity to do that.”

By the end of the course, students have been introduced to the major parts of American law and have learned the importance of an argument and how it is made. Half of the class is interested in going to law school, while the other half is interested in sports administration. With a focus on topics such as Title IX and the First Amendment, Jones teaches law through a lens that applies to all students.

For Dummer, finding someone who works in the field and brings hands-on experience to the classroom and the students was important. “Having someone teach them who has applied this knowledge in their career gives them a tangible way to think about the concepts,” said Dummer. “Matt’s breadth of knowledge in both law and sports is evident when you talk to him, and it is part of what makes his classes so interesting. He is speaking from experience and can include insights that others might not have.”

While observing Jones’ class on copyright law, Dummer said he connected students with the subject matter by using cases they were interested in already.

“When you are going over the law, it is not about who is right but about the arguments on each side of the issue,” Jones explained. “One example is prayer at a football game; I want the students to understand the law and what both sides of the argument are.”

Susan Dummer, Chair of the Department of Communication and Media Studies, reached out to Jones after talking to another communication professor who happened to have her master’s degree in sports administration.

While practicing law, Jones and a friend started a blog about University of Kentucky sports. The blog became a podcast and website, and it’s now a radio show heard on more than 40 stations across Kentucky.

“She said, ‘you know who would be great? Matt Jones!’ We both laughed because we knew how busy he was, but I thought that it wouldn’t hurt to reach out,” Dummer explained. So, she messaged him through Twitter, and a partnership was born.

“I like sports and started the podcast and website as a hobby,” Jones pointed out.

The radio show is known for engaging its listeners on issues beyond sports. “I ask myself, ‘If I am a person who lives in Kentucky and is a UK fan, what do I care about?’” Jones explained. “Politics are 5% or less of what we talk about, but we are not afraid to bring up those issues.”

In the fall of 2021, Jones became the second instructor to teach Georgetown College’s sports law course. From the beginning, he knew what he wanted students to get out of the course.

“My goal is for all of the students in the class to gain a little bit of knowledge in all areas of law, outside of criminal law, to give them an understanding of how sports law fits in,” Jones said. “For example, we discuss First Amendment cases about sports to learn more broadly about the First Amendment.”

As Kentucky Sports Radio grew, Jones stepped away from law and is now focused on the show full-time. In addition to his KSR show, Jones hosts a show on ESPN Radio. He is also the author of the New York Times bestseller, “Mitch, Please,” which examines Senator Mitch McConnell’s legacy in the state. Along with Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, he is also a majority owner of Ohio Valley Wrestling.

However, most of his students are unaware of his resume when they sign up for the class, which is how he likes it. This way, the focus is only on the law.

Written by Mindy Hamlin ’91 — biography on page 19.

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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GC Moments » Fall 2023

WINS Coach Bob Davis, 1953–1973

Coach Jim Reid, 1973–1996

FOR MEN’S BASKETBALL

Coach Happy Osborne, 1996–2011

Coach Chris Briggs, 2011–Present

Georgetown Men's Basketball has long been the gold standard of NAIA Basketball and crossed another milestone on Sunday, November 26 to further cement the legacy. With an 89-57 win over Reinhardt, Georgetown has become the first program in history to reach 2,000 NAIA wins. To read more about the history of the program and this extraordinary achievement for GC athletics, scan the QR code.

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

27

First-Generation Students Gaining New Skills & Mentors Laura Beumala ’26, Sophomore Hometown: Barcelona, Spain Major: Psychology

HOW DID YOU END UP AT GEORGETOWN COLLEGE? “I was recruited here for soccer. I also liked the idea of a smaller college.”

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME CHALLENGES YOU FACED COMING TO COLLEGE? “I was afraid of speaking English in public. College has helped me face that fear and forced me to communicate and practice my speaking skills.”

Silas Emongo ’24, Senior Hometown: Georgetown, KY Major: Business Administration

HAVE THERE BEEN ANY UNIQUE ADVANTAGES OF BEING A FIRSTGENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT? ”It has allowed me to become more independent.

Since I haven’t been able to look to my parents for much assistance, I have had to tackle most of the challenges alone. My parents did not attend college, so they are not familiar with some of the challenges unique to college life."

WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU THE MOST? “I was surprised at the close relationships between professors and students. They are very supportive and always willing to help.”

WHO HAVE YOU TURNED TO FOR SUPPORT? “I have very supportive friends and family. Having a strong supportive network to help me through difficult times has been so valuable to me.”

WHO HAVE YOU TURNED TO FOR SUPPORT? ”My advisor, Dr. Abraham Prades, has helped me select the right classes and orient myself well at Georgetown College. He is always willing to help me. My soccer coach, Leah Castleman, has also been a big help throughout this process. As an international student, everything is new and a little harder. Having them support me has made this process more enjoyable. I am really thankful for them both.”

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION? “I plan to hopefully open my own automotive business and give back to the Georgetown community that has treated me so well my whole life. I am currently interning with the City of Georgetown, working with Mayor Burney Jenkins, who was also my sixth-grade science teacher at Royal Springs Middle School here in Georgetown. I am making good connections for the future.”

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GC Moments » Fall 2023

Georgetown College is often called a family, & part of being a family is celebrating each other.

Help us to congratulate and celebrate with the following alumni and friends in this edition of Class Notes. Throughout the year, share your work promotions, family news, travel adventures, published books and papers, continuing education, career moves, volunteer work, awards, and more for inclusion in GC Moments.

— Email us your updates at alumni@georgetowncollege.edu.

CLASS NOTES

BURNEY JENKINS ’76, Mayor of Georgetown, was presented with an official Lexington Sporting Club (LSC) jersey from the team’s owners alongside President Rosemary Allen in June 2023.

MICHAEL JONES ’79 is beginning his sixth year as Executive Director of the Madison Area Educational Special Services Unit, which is a special education cooperative serving five school districts in Southern Indiana. He formerly served as a teacher, principal and superintendent of schools. Michael lives in his hometown of Patriot, Indiana, with his wife, Marlene Jones, who recently retired from her position as a third-grade teacher. Michael credits the education program at Georgetown for preparing him for a successful career in education. Dr. Louis Polsgrove, Howard Thompson, and David Jester were the professors he credited with helping guide him into a successful education career.

VICKIE PATTERSON GROSS ’80 spearheaded and finalized a scholarship at Georgetown College in memory of her friend and fellow alum Fred Moses ’81. This scholarship was created to help students in need achieve their goals and aspirations.

She also attended Homecoming 2023 and crowned this year’s Homecoming Queen.

DR. AARON STRIEGEL ’85 was selected by the Trinity High School (Louisville, KY) faculty for the “Maximum Effort of the Soul” Award, which is given to a faculty member who displays going beyond the call of duty. Dr. Striegel has served as the Advanced Program School Counselor at Trinity High School since 2002. In recent years, Dr. Striegel was also selected for his high school Hall of Fame at Floyd Central in Floyds Knobs, Indiana, for his athletic accomplishments and his service to humanity.

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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CLASS NOTES DOUG SMITH ’90 is the Co-Owner of Doug Smith Designs + Events. He coordinated the wedding of SAMANTHA HUTCHINSON ’21, who is the daughter of his PHA Brother DR. ROB HUTCHINSON ’88 and wife AMANDA HUTCHINSON ’91.

The wedding was held in June 2023 at Spindletop Hall.

Also included in the photo are GC alumni MATTHEW HARMON ’00, CAMILLE HARMON ’06, and SAMANTHA HUTCHINSON ’21.

JONATHAN FREDRICK ’01 participated in the 2023 Kentucky Book Festival to discuss his latest book, “Bad Men Will Come.” He is the author of the Cain City Novels, crime novels which were inspired in part by his hometown of Huntington, West Virginia.

The previous two books in the series are “Cash City” and “Hum Little Birdie.” His books are all available through Audible on Amazon. Frederick resides in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife and three sons. Learn more about his book series at www. jonathanfrederick.com.

TYLER CAMPBELL ’04 was named the Executive of the Year by the Kentucky Society of Association Executives. He is currently the Executive Director of the Kentucky Rural Broadband Association in Frankfort, Kentucky.

DIANE ALDER TURNER ’08 recently earned her master’s degree from the University of Kentucky in Retail and Tourism Management. She is employed by the City of Hopkinsville.

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GC Moments » Fall 2023

JORDAN (BURTON) THOMAS ’10, Alumni Board Member, married Michael Thomas in June 2023.

KIMBERLY CHANDLER ’10 was named Interim Vice President for Athletics at Georgetown College. She has served at the College as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance since 2014.

RACHEL WARD ’12 recently presented her research at the annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation in Coimbatore, India. She is currently a Project Manager at AEI Consultants in Oakland, California.

DR. CAITLIN WILLIAMS ’12 earned her doctoral degree in communication from Texas A&M in June 2023. She currently works as a senior consultant for Deloitte in Austin, Texas.

DEVON GOLDEN ’13 was named Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Georgetown, Kentucky, after serving as the City Attorney for several years.

BRANDON D. LAWSON ’13 created and hosted the Inaugural Brandon D. Lawson Scholarship Gala on October 13, 2023, as a part of Georgetown College Homecoming festivities.

The purpose of the Gala was to benefit the Brandon D. Lawson Scholarship created for minority students who are business majors at Georgetown College. Brandon is pictured alongside his wife, Ashley, and two sons, Emmanuel and Ezekiel.

NICK GREGORY ’19 & ELLEN (POSTELL) GREGORY ’20 were married in September 2022.

OLIVIA COLEMAN-DUNN ’15 was named as a Philanthropy Officer at Berea College.

MATT LOXLEY ’18 was recently promoted to Manager of Engineering Services at Palmetto Electric Cooperative & completed the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program this past spring.

JODI ANSERT ’19 was named as the University of Kentucky Women’s Basketball Recruiting Assistant. Ansert previously served as the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Pikeville and the Student Manager for the Women’s Basketball team at Georgetown College.

GRIFFIN SMITH ’19 & TAYLOR (IRWIN) SMITH ’19 got married in June 2023.

JESSALYN BROWN ’20 served as the camp pastor for PASSPORT, a national non-profit student ministry. She traveled around the country with a team of 21 young adults providing an inspiring summer camp experience for students in grades 6-12.

As the Camp Pastor, Jessalyn guided the Passport family in experiencing the Kingdom of Heaven, Upside Down!

Jessalyn is currently earning her Master of Divinity at Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

SHAWN DUBIN ’21 made his Major League Baseball pitching debut on June 19, 2023, for the Houston Astros. He came in as a relief pitcher for three innings and struck out four batters.

JOSIAH HALLER ’21 is working as a graduate assistant at Florida State University while pursuing his master’s degree in classics. A portion of his honors thesis from Georgetown College was recently published in “The Crimson Historical Review” at the University of Alabama.

Read his article, “Horace, John Dewey and The State as Moral Educator,” online at crimsonhistorical.ua.edu/current-issue.

MYAH MENFEE ’22 was named as Membership Development Specialist for the Cleveland Cavaliers professional basketball team in Cleveland, Ohio.

RYAN WOOLF ’19 & LAYKEN (CHAPMAN) WOOLF ’20 got married in August 2023.

BETHANY PINNEY ’23 accepted a position as an Art Teacher at West Jessamine Middle School in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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In Memoriam 1940’s Muriel (Powell) Hatfield ’41 1/29/2013 | Rolla, MO

Johanna Starnz ’44

11/27/2022 | Chattanooga, TN

Marjorie (Waltz) Davis ’47 5/5/2023 | Muncie, IN

Joanna (Hurd) Chelf ’48 12/3/2021 | Winder, GA

Dr. Charlie Haggard ’48 5/25/2023 |Georgetown, KY

Dorothy Magruder ’49 8/13/2015 | Casselberry, FL

Mary Baugh ’49

10/8/2021 | Shepherdsville, KY

1950’s Reid Cayce ’50

12/22/2018 | N. Charleston, SC

Carol (Zimmerman) Brown ’51 12/30/2020 | Louisville, KY

Bessierett (Graham) Byassee ’52 3/12/2012 | Bardwell, KY

Ruth (Wineland) Snyder ’52 7/12/2023 | Cincinnati, OH

Doris (Smith) Woodside ’54

6/18/2023 | Frankfort, KY

Dennis Ritchie ’54

4/26/2022 | Florence, KY

Rev. Ross Range ’54

11/25/2012 | Danville, VA

Thomas (Tom) Grissom Jr. ’55

11/15/2023 | Frankfort, KY

Dr. Dick Deen ’56 7/6/2023 | Dallas, TX

Helen Randles ’56

10/14/2023 | Hanover, IN

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GC Moments » Spring 2023

Mary Lou (Barnett) Jenkins ’57

David Rawls ’64

Tamara (Page) LeBahn ’99

Louise (Hunter) Franklin ’57

Raymond Sowder ’64

2000’s

Fount Richards Jr. ’58

Amy Krpata ’09

8/3/2019 | Fordsville, KY

Rosemary Waters ’67

9/11/2023 | Nicholasville, KY

John Jeffries ’58

Rev. Steve McKibben ’67

Dr. Beecham Robinson ’58

Thomas Anderson ’67

Former Students, Trustees, Faculty, Staff, and Friends

6/22/2023 | Louisville, KY

5/12/2023 | Montgomery, AL

5/26/2023 | La Grange, KY 12/17/2019 | Santa Fe, NM

Patricia (Dotson) Massie ’59 6/30/2022 | Paris, KY

7/13/2023 | Owensboro, KY 9/8/2023 | Monroe, NC

5/22/2023 | Charlotte, NC

7/11/2023 | San Antonio, TX

Jerry Schauer ’67

4/7/2018 | Clearwater, FL

1960’s

Charles Hildreth ’68

Donald Adams ’60

Robert Summers ’68

7/28/2022 | Loveland, OH

Helen (Wolf) Behymer ’61 9/22/2022 | Madison, IN

James Reynolds ’61

8/31/2023 | Cincinnati, OH 11/28/2018 | Louisville, KY

Bob Sarver, II ’69

6/1/2023 | Lawrenceburg, KY

6/28/2023 | Orlando, FL

1970’s

Glenna (Littrell) Lee ’62

Sue Ann Overturf ’78

Bess (Miller) Leary ’62

David Kaufhold ’79

7/7/2021 | Corinth, KY

10/26/23 / Sunbury, OH

10/8/2023 | Madisonville, KY

6/17/2023 | Florence, KY

Joanne (Myers) Austin 5/31/2023 | Roanoke, VA

James Baker

10/6/2023 | Lexington, KY

Edward Bratcher

5/8/2021 | Durham, NC

Ben Britton

4/1/2013 | Port Orange, FL

Clarence Brock

4/16/2016 | Fort Myers, FL

Paula Bunton

9/7/2023 | Lexington, KY

Dan Doty

4/10/2023 | Wilmore, KY

5/31/2023 | West Chester, OH

Melissa Flanigan

Price Smith ’62

1980’s

Gary Roberts ’62

Melanie Lynn ’89

Dr. David Fogle

Carol (Riley) Ackley ’63

1990’s

8/2/2023 | Ahoskie, NC

9/29/2023 | Georgetown, KY 5/26/2021 | Harrison, OH

6/13/2023 | Florence, KY

Donald Bivins ’63

5/17/2023 | Lexington, KY

Norm Brown ’63

8/12/2023 | Lexington, KY

Rita (Childress) Lows ’64

8/28/2023 | Mesa, AZ

10/1/2023 | Frankfort, KY

Deborah (Jones) Powell ’90 1/8/2022 | Burlington, KY

Lisa Bersot ’93

7/15/2023 | Georgetown, KY

Gregory Kincer ’93

7/3/2023 | Lexington, KY

Susan Miller ’97

6/22/2013 | Saint Charles, MO

6/15/2023 | Princeton, TX 6/25/2023 | Annapolis, MD

Theodore Gibson

7/25/2019 | Louisville, KY

Mary (Kelly) Hamblen

12/13/2020 | Owensboro, KY

Ewell Hartford

6/25/2020 | Brandon, MS

James Hopgood

2/2/2019 | Morganfield, KY

Eleanor (Lancaster) Howard 9/9/2022 | Georgetown, KY

Grace Johnson

Ola Sheets

Charles Jones

Dr. Norman Shumate

Susan Keith

Diane (Winks) Smith

Naomi (Campbell) Kennedy

Margaret (Fields) Stevens

Tom Kerns

Eleanore (Day) Swiger

Dr. Joe Lewis

Harry Taylor

Matt Libs

Alvin Watson

Rev. Malcolm Lunceford

Carol Welsh

Robert McMurray

Virginia (Holmes) Whitehead

Della Newman

Elizabeth Williams

Fred Nichols

Harlan Wilson

Bill Nichols

Carolyn Wood

Bob Owsley

Scott Woods

Doris (Neeley) Parham

Robert Veech

8/5/2023 | Georgetown, KY 2/24/2007 | Mitchell, IN 9/2/2023 | Lexington, KY 9/26/2016 | Watkinsville, GA 6/25/2020 | Frankfort, KY 8/30/2023 | Fresno, CA 7/29/2023 | Versailles, KY 3/11/2022 | Frankfort, KY

6/16/2023 | Norristown, PA 9/29/2023 | Louisville, KY 2/6/2003 | Georgetown, KY 9/25/2023 | Lexington, KY 10/13/2023 | Cecilia, KY 7/3/2023 | Winston Salem, NC

1/1/2020 | Tucson, AZ 6/5/2023 | Vine Grove, KY 7/12/2023 | Fishers, IN

5/4/2010 | Fairfield, OH

4/19/2021 | Charleston, WV

3/29/1997 | Georgetown, KY 6/13/2017 | Jacksonville, FL 9/22/1991 | Louisville, KY 1/28/2019 | Union, KY

10/9/2023 | Georgetown, KY 7/27/2003 | Fort Campbell, KY 1/16/2008 | Cordova, TN 9/14/2023 | Greenup, KY 9/20/2017 | Jacksonville, FL

Ola (Sheets) Parker

1/1/2020 | Hot Springs National Park, AR

William Pope

7/6/2023 | Lexington, KY

Charlotte (Huddleston) Scholl 10/3/2023 | Fort Thomas, KY

Jacob Shacklette

9/27/2019 | San Francisco, CA

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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Coach Bob Davis and the Rebirth of the Football Tigers

by Guest Contributor Bill Ellis ‘62

Like many small college athletic teams, the Georgetown College Football Tigers struggled to field a team after World War II and briefly gave up the sport. Bill Screace vividly remembered the reopening of the program in 1955, saying, “The best way of describing the football and basketball philosophy of Head Coach Bob Davis was as a hardnosed taskmaster.” Screace also recalls wearing, for the first time, his “modern helmet” that had a single face bar.

From over 60 preseason players to fewer than 20 by midseason, the Tigers won just one game in 1957. When I arrived on campus for the 1958 season, Davis coached the backfield and Lester Craft the line. The program was on the way to being well-established.

Coach Bob Davis on the sidelines

The 1958 team had some big linemen with ends Charles “Hoot” Gibson and Neal McFerran, tackles Jim “Mustard” Towne and Russ Palmgren and Duke Owens at guard. Center Don Gatewood anchored a big line, except for lightweight Corky Yankee, who played left guard and linebacker. Quarterback Lawrence Kuhl, halfbacks Larry Phillips and Charlie McGuire, and fullback Jack Massie rounded out the backfield. Freshmen tackle Tom Dowling, guard Dave Bogart, halfback Henry Rittenberry, a natural pass defender, played a lot that year.

Carson-Newman transfer Dave Hood from Harrodsburg also filled in at tackle.

In 1958, we lost the first game at Tennessee Martin 33-7, and Coach Davis, true-to-form, led a battering ram practice on Monday. Football

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GC Moments » Fall 2023

and basketball players alike of the Coach Davis era will attest to his dislike of losing. I got to play some at left guard in the Centre College home game that we won 13-0. Georgetown finished the season with six wins and two losses and Centre College never wanted to play the Tigers again after losing two years in a row.

We graduated several seniors, so Dowling, Bogart, and I played a lot of the 1959 season. I was the smallest of the bunch at 5’9” and 175 pounds. Herbie Kays, a transfer from Tulane, played quarterback and was the best all-around athlete I ever knew. Kays played football, basketball, tennis, and baseball equally well.

Jim Hogg, a natural at the high hurdles in track and field, was also a crackerjack end. In my sophomore year, we lost close games with Morehead 12-15, and Emery and Henry 0-7, but we got revenge on Carson-Newman, 21-6, and UT Martin 23-14 at home, to finish with a winning record of 5-2.

Coach Davis later told me it was difficult to find teams to play. In 1960, GC had to pick up powerhouse Howard College. Carson-Newman was ready for revenge and routed us on our home field, and we played top-rated LeNoir- Rhyne as well. We had a lot of injuries and finished with two wins and six losses for the season.

The 1960 season was Coach Bob Davis’s last year as head football coach. It turned out to be my last season as well. I broke my right arm and didn’t play in any games in the fall of my senior year in 1961. My good friend Bob Lykins stepped up to fill in for me.

Duke Owens, Bill Ellis, and Coach Bob Davis catch up on their football days together.

Coach Lester Craft & Coach Bob Davis

1958 Team

Duke Owens intercepts and brings the ball back 35 yards

During a 2023 home football game, I counted the number of Georgetown cheerleaders. Today there are more members of the cheerleading team than we had on the final 1960 Tiger football team at the season’s end.

Today’s players specialize in either offense or defense, but not in the “old days!” I remember those days fondly.

With a lot of hard work from the boys and under the careful guidance of Coach Bob Davis and Assistant Coach Lester Craft, the Tigers had one of the most successful seasons in the history of Georgetown College. The 1958 record of 6 wins and 2 losses will be hard to beat.

— 1959 Belle of the Blue Yearbook

Bill Ellis is a 1962 graduate of Georgetown College where he was a history major and physical education minor. Ellis earned his M..A. in education at GC in 1966, an M.A. in history from Eastern Kentucky University in 1967, and a Ph.D.. in history at the University of Kentucky in 1974. He was a professor of history at Eastern Kentucky University.

The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine

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