Dr. William Gladstone Begley, II was born to Ernest Edward and Virginia Bunch Begley and was a Hazard, Kentucky native. William graduated from Centre College before attending University of Louisville Medical School and then serving his residency in otolaryngology at...

Edgar Allen Diddle was born on a small farm near Gradyville in Adair County, KY, on March 12, 1895. Growing up as one of five boys, Diddle developed into a fine athlete and played all sports at nearby Columbia High School. In 1915, Diddle entered Centre College in...

Abner Earl Baskerville was born November 24, 1921 to Nannie Mae Trent and Robert Franklin Baskerville. Earl was a veteran, serving as Private First Class in the Army in World War II. He married Helen Baskerville December 11, 1943, and the couple had one son, Michael...

Earl Valentine Davis was born to Young and Tina Davis on February 8, 1916, in Russellville, Kentucky. Growing up in Logan County, Earl raised dairy cattle for 4-H competitions and worked on a farm outside of Russellville for 50 cents per day. After graduating from...

Edna Earle and Ed Bagian were loyal supporters of WKU. The couple made many contributions to the University. After graduation in 1938, Edna became an English teacher in Louisville, Kentucky. She retired from Barret Middle School in 1974 after working in the...

Born in 1930, Dr. Edward J. Pease earned his B.S. degree from Western Illinois University in 1952, his M.M. Ed. Degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1955, and his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1960. He was a professor at Taylor University and Iowa Wesleyan...

Mrs. Elizabeth (Jenkins) Duncan was a graduate of WKU who went on to have a storied teaching career. She taught elementary school for 44 years in Logan County from 1925 to 1969, including teaching positions in several one-room locations. Mr. Dillard Duncan was a...

Elizabeth S. “Bettye” Jones earned her master’s degree in nursing education in 1966, from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The following year, she began her teaching career. Bettye and her husband, James R. “Jim” Jones, joined the faculty at WKU, she in the...

Douglas Elliott Wells was born on June 5, 1998, to Douglas Ray and Tresa Green Wells in Owensboro, Kentucky. Even as a toddler, Elliott was an athlete. He began playing soccer at the age of 3 and running track and cross country shortly after. As a student at Daviess...

Elmond Gary was born in 1911 to parents Gilbert Gary and Janie Lee Gary. A Butler County native, Elmond co-founded Gary Brothers Crushed Stone Company with his brother Hayward. He was the husband of Dorothy Johnson Gary, who he was married to until his passing in...

Emma E. Buckley was a longtime philanthropist in Kentucky. She was married to Clyde E. Buckley, a Lexington, Kentucky tobacco warehouse owner, until his passing. Among many other contributions, Emma established a wildlife sanctuary in Clyde’s honor in Frankfort,...

Emmitt E. Miller and Josephine Isbell Miller were both born and raised in rural Muhlenberg County in Kentucky. Emmitt was born May 7, 1907, and Josephine was born November 8, 1904. They were both raised in a modest home with siblings and each had a desire to have a...

Dr. Ernest O. Beal was born on March 7, 1928 in Lancaster, Illinois. He received a Bachelor’s degree from Northcentral College in Naperville, Illinois before going on to attain his Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Iowa. He taught from 1954 to 1968...

E. R. Ronald & Associates, Consulting Engineers, was established in 1922 and incorporated in Louisville, Kentucky. The company was led by Edward R. Ronald during the time of the establishment of this fund. Edward Richards Ronald, Senior was born February 6, 1900 and...

Estill “Eck” K. Branham was born to John and Ester Branham. A native of Floyd County, Kentucky, Eck came to WKU in 1933, where he lettered in basketball, football, and baseball and received his master’s degree. He then served in the Army in World War II, before...

Eva Rush Lee was born in Allen County, Kentucky. Mrs. Lee was an educator for many years, serving as a teacher and counselor for 36 years for Allen and Jefferson counties’ boards of education. She was also active in her community as a member of Jefferson County and...

This fund was established by Joe and Cheri Natcher to honor the memory of Mr. Everette Thomas Barger, beloved brother of Cheri. Mr. Barger was a 1986 WKU graduate and passed away unexpectedly in 2012. He made many contributions to his community and to his family,...

Edward Wallace “Sonny” Barr, Jr. was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky in 1924 to Bess Moseley and Dr. Edward Wallace Barr Sr. He graduated Kentucky Military Academy before attending WKU, Maryville College, and Vanderbilt University. He served as a Fighter Pilot...

The Department of Applied Human Sciences at WKU sponsors six pre-professional organizations and a national honor society, which offer leadership opportunities as well as exciting activities. Fashion, Inc. is among these. Fashion Inc. is a student organization that...

Flora Lanham Ford was born July 25, 1909 to Ethel May Thurman and William Henry Lanham in Crittenden, Kentucky. Flora was married to William Ford until his passing in 1938 and then to James Berry. She was a loving mother to Norman Henry Ford, Bobby Joe Ford, Margret...

Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation (WRECC) is a non-profit electric cooperative that was formed in 1938 to bring electricity to individuals and communities in rural areas of South Central Kentucky. Floyd H. Ellis spent 20 years as president and CEO of...

Frances Matilda Hayden Bickett was born August 21, 1913, to Will and Catherine Blandford Hayden. Frances was a lifelong resident of Calvary, Kentucky. After graduating from St. Catherine College in Springfield, Kentucky, she attended WKU. While on the Hill, she...

Frances Richards was born on November 8, 1893, to Edwin Lovin Richards and Minnie Dixon Richards in Allen County, Kentucky. After spending her young life in Simpson County, Frances came to Bowling Green in 1921 to begin her Hilltopper legacy at the Western Kentucky...

Frank L. Atkinson was a long-time supporter and dear friend of WKU. To honor his memory, Frank’s wife established the Frank L. Atkinson Scholarship Fund. The fund recognizes deserving senior WKU students majoring English. Through this fund, Frank’s legacy lives on in...

A. Franklin Brown (’86) graduated from WKU with a double major in Speech Communication and Broadcasting. While on the Hill, he was an active member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and the Inter-Fraternity Council. Franklin subsequently received a Master’s in Organizational...

Franklin Bank and Trust Company is "Hometown Banking at its Best Since 1958.” Since opening their doors on December 1, 1958, Franklin Bank and Trust Company has become a core part of the Franklin and Bowling Green, Kentucky communities, with branches throughout...

Mrs. Freda Clark Embry graduated from Norton Memorial Infirmary School of Nursing to earn her Diploma in Nursing. As a Registered Nurse, Mrs. Embry became a two-time graduate of Western Kentucky University. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1990...

Gary Andrew Boman was born September 17, 1949, to Eva and Roy Boman in Brainerd, Minnesota. Throughout high school and college, Gary was an athlete and served as St. Cloud State’s wrestling team co-captain. He worked as a lieutenant at the St. Cloud Reformatory for...

Dr. Gary Eugene Dillard was born April 26, 1938, in Ridgway, Illinois. He began his Hilltopper legacy when he came to WKU in 1968. Dr. Dillard then served as a Biology Professor for 33 years. He also served as the president of the Southern Appalachian Botanical...

Geneve Anne “Nevann” Mitchell was born April 11, 1931, to John Comer and Golda Gibson Comer. A Lafayette, Indiana native, she graduated from Round Grove High School in 1949 and later graduated from Home Hospital Nursing School in 1952. She married Cletus Mitchell on...