By John Scharfenberger

The induction of new members will bring the number of alumni in the hall to 244, out of more than 203,000 men and women who have received degrees from the University of Kentucky.

The induction of new members will bring the number of alumni in the hall to 244, of more than 203,000 men and women who have received degrees from the University of Kentucky.

Every five years distinguished alumni are chosen by a committee consisting of members of the Alumni Association board of directors and other inductees of the Hall of Distinguished Alumni.  Criteria include an earned degree from UK at least 10 years prior to consideration and have achieved prominence beyond the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Year 2000 inductees are:

·        Sam Abell, B.A. ’69; National Geographic Society photographer

·        Robert M. Carey, B.S. ’62; Dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine

·        Paul W. Chellgren, B.S. ’64; Chairman and CEO of Ashland Inc.

·        Maurice G. Cook, B.S. ’57; M.S. ’59; Nationally recognized authority on soil and water conservation practices

·        Constantine W. “Deno” Curris, B.A. ’62, Ed.D. '67; President of American Association of State Colleges and Universities

·        David B. Dick, B.A. ’56, M.A. ’64; Retired news journalist for CBS News

·        Eugene L. DuBow, B.A. '53; Founding managing director of the American Jewish Committee

·        Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, B.S. ’54; Banking and automobile dealer executive and donor of the largest gift ever to the University of Kentucky and for whom the College of Business and Economics was renamed

·        Thomas T. Hammond,  B.S. ’67; NBC-TV network sports announcer

·        James F. Hardymon II, B.A. ‘56, M.S. ’58; Retired chairman and CEO of Textron

·        W. James Host, B.A. ’61; Founder and CEO of Host Communications

·        Oliver H. Raymond (deceased), B.S. ’54; Founder of Raymond Equipment Company

·        Arthur B. Still,  B.G.S. ’80; First-team football All-American and All-Pro in NFL

·        James W. Stuckert, B.S. ’60, M.B.A.’61; Chairman and CEO of Hilliard Lyons Inc.

·        William B. Sturgill, B.S. ’46; Former president of Golden Oak Mining

·        Chris T. Sullivan, B.S. ’72; Founding CEO of Outback Steakhouse

·        W. Reid Thompson (deceased), B.S. ’73; Member of the Voyager 2 and Galileo earth imaging teams with NASA

·        Myra Leigh Tobin, B.S. ’62; Retired managing director of J&H Marsh & McLennan

·        Jefferey A. Van Note, B.A. ’70; All-Pro center in NFL

·        S.J. “Sam” Whalen, B.S. ’49; Retired President and CEO of the Aerobraze Corporation

“All of the inductees have been recognized by their peers as having reached and remained at the pinnacle of their fields, which include business, science, academics and athletics,” said Hank Thompson, chair of the Hall of Distinguished Alumni Selection Committee and a former national president of the UK Alumni Association board.

Tickets to the May 19 banquet and ceremonies at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lexington may be purchased by calling the UK Alumni Association at (606) 257-7162 or (800) 269-ALUM (2586).