UK College of Agriculture Names Rose in Honor of Lexington Mayor Pam Miller

UK College of Agriculture Names Rose
in Honor of Lexington Mayor Pam Miller

Scott Smith, dean of the UK College of Agriculture, presented Lexington Mayor Pam Miller with a bouqet taken from the UK-Lexington Fayette County Arboretum. In addition, Smith presented the mayor with a special rose developed and named in her honor.

The Pam Miller rose, of the class polyantha, was developed by UK horticulturist Tim Phillips. It will be listed in the International Registration Authority for Roses.

Scott Smith, dean of the UK College of Agriculture, presented UK football coach Guy Morriss, at left, with a vintage vinyl recording of "My Old Kentucky Home."

photos by George Lewis

To listen to the presentations, click here

Sept. 12, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- Lexington Mayor Pam Miller got a sweet-smelling surprise today when Scott Smith, dean of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, presented her with a special rose created in her honor and named the "Pam Miller Rose."

Smith made the presentation during one phase of the UK College of Agriculture Roundup, which is being held under a big tent on Farm Road on the UK campus.

Mayor Miller joked that having a rose named after her was preferable to some of the nicknames she has acquired during her tenure as mayor.

The rose, of the class polyantha, was developed by UK horticulturist Tim Phillips. It will be listed in the International Registration Authority for Roses. The flowers are white with a slight pink blush. Polyantha roses were most popular in the first half of the 20th century.

On a more serious note, the mayor praised the university's efforts to move forward with the development of a successful "town-gown" relationship in Lexington.

The mayor wasn't the only person to receive a special gift during the proceedings. Smith presented UK football coach Guy Morriss with a vintage vinyl recording of "My Old Kentucky Home." Morriss is a collector of antique recordings.

The UK College of Agriculture Roundup is an annual event showcasing the myriad aspects of the college. This year, more than 14 events are held during four days. More than 30 hands-on exhibits are on display, including exotic insects, a life-size dairy cow that can be "milked," and a quarter-scale tractor that resembles a hot rod.