W.F and Myrna Chumley
Dr. Willard Franklin “W.F.” Chumley was born August 15, 1931, to Nell Brent Johnson and Marsh Franklin Chumney as the youngest of their seven children. A Kentucky native, W.F. attended WKU, where he studied biology. While on the Hill, he was a LY Lancaster Student and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha.
After graduating in 1953, he attended University of Louisville School of Medicine.
W.F. served in the Naval Medical Corps attached to the Second Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. He later entered the radiology residency program at Louisville, Kentucky, serving as a clinical assistant professor of radiology therapy before moving to Paducah, Kentucky. Following certification by the American Board of Radiology in 1968, he practiced radiology at Paducah’s Western Baptist Hospital until 1984.
A former president of the Kentucky chapter of the American College of Radiology, he served as a diagnostic radiologist at Owensboro Mercy Health System and at Ohio County Hospital, working at Radiology PSC in Owensboro, Kentucky, as well. He also practiced general medicine in Beaver Dam, Kentucky.
In addition to numerous medical association affiliations, he was a member of Owensboro Christian Church and a former member of Paducah’s First Baptist Church. He served on the board of managers of the West Kentucky Easter Seal Center in Paducah and on the board of directors of the former Home Federal Savings and Loan of Paducah.
W.F. was married to Myrna Jean Chumley. Like him, Myrna is also a WKU alumna. She graduated in 1955, with a degree in family and consumer science education. While on the Hill, she was active as a member of Talisman student publications staff. Following graduation, she worked in Louisville County Public Schools. She retired after many years in the field as a home economics teacher.
W.F. and Myrna were married for 40 years until his passing in 1996. They had two children.
To further give back to the university, W.F. and Myrna established the W.F. and Myrna Chumley Student Aid Fund in 1971. The fund assists deserving students at WKU in pursuing their academic goals. Through this fund, W.F. and Myrna’s legacies at WKU live on in perpetuity.