Life of mentorship a 'pleasure' for Capps by M. Blake Harrison
Dr. Randy Capps '57 has made a career of teaching, mentoring and leading. He can trace his start back to investments in him made by KWC professors including Jane Forgy, Ray Waggoner, Doug Sasser and Corinne Cowgell. His career has taken him to Quebec, Malaysia and France, has included mentoring executives at IBM and Coca-Cola, and consulting for Fortune 100 companies such as General Electric and Pepsi. Capps has also mentored six college presidents. Grew up in Princeton, Ind., and Burkesville, Ky.
Education Kentucky Wesleyan College, Bachelor of Arts, 1957 Western Kentucky University, Master of Arts, 1961 ● University of Virginia, Doctor of Education, 1970 ● Vanderbilt University, postdoctoral work ● ●
Career Instructor/professor, Western Kentucky University, since 1962 ● Founder, Leadership Strategies, 1994 ● Visiting professor, University of Lyon (France), since 2007 ●
Honors KWC Honorary Doctor of Humanities and Outstanding Alumnus, Sigma Nu Hall of Honor, WKU Outstanding MBA teacher (twice), Outstanding Global Advocate by Chamber of Commerce of Warren County
Civic boards KWC Board of Trustees, Greenview Hospital, Bowling Green Arts Alliance, WKU Foundation, Good Samaritan Foundation, River Valley Behavioral Health, Sigma Nu Fraternity, Bowling Green Rotary Club, Kentucky United Methodist Commission on Higher Education and Campus Ministry, Episcopacy Committee for Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church, Omicron Kappa Delta Kappa
10
"I've known Randy Capps and his late wife Joan for about 60 years. Although we weren't at KWC at the same time, his reputation and fingerprints were everywhere. He served, and still serves, as a role model for many. When I came to WKU as president, I wasn't surprised to learn that Randy and his excellent faculty team had our Communications Department nationally competitive. True to form, his humble leadership style made us better."
DR. THOMAS C. MEREDITH '63 WKU President from 1988-97
Dr. Gene Crume, president of Judson University and Owensboro native, has known Capps his whole life. Capps encouraged Crume to earn his master's and Ph.D. and even drove him to his doctoral interview at the University of Virginia. "I deeply appreciate his mentorship," Crume said. "He not only shares his counsel with me; Dr. Capps also provided me with opportunities in the classroom, with consulting and with coming alongside of me both personally and professionally." Dr. Crume also recalled Capps' communication skills.
Kentucky Wesleyan Magazine
