EKU Alumni Association History

In 1909, when the Eastern Kentucky State Normal School Alumni Association was founded, only 15 people were qualified to join. Only that many “diplomas” (not degrees) had been awarded.

In the nearly 100 years since, Eastern has not only grown into a great university, but those numbers have increased significantly: Nearly 100,000 degrees and thousands of professional certificates have been granted.

Over the years, our graduates have distinguished themselves in nearly every field of endeavor, including education, medicine, law, law enforcement, media, science, government, entertainment and business. Many of these people were the first in their families to go to college, and the opportunities available at EKU helped them create better, more fulfilling lives. They, in turn, have considered it important to stay involved with Eastern through the Alumni Association, and to help Eastern continue to be a “school of opportunity” for future students just like them.

Today, the EKU National Alumni Association has more than 115,000 members and includes folks in all 50 states and many countries around the world. Which makes the work of this association – keeping our alums interested and involved in this great university and in touch with one another – more important than ever.

Our members continue to play an important role in the growth and success of their alma mater as it strives to become a regional university of national distinction.

The Association – Past and Present

The first alumni secretary, Melba W. Carter, was appointed in 1926 and served until 1929. Others who served in this capacity include Mary Floyd (1929-30), R.R. Richards (1930-32, 1933-36), Lucile Derrick (1932-33), Sam Beckley (1936-42), Mary Frances McKinney Richards, for whom the Richards Alumni House is named, (1942-61) and Clarence D. Harmon (1961).

J.W. “Spider” Thurman, himself a 1941 EKU graduate, became Eastern’s first full-time alumni director in 1961 and served in this capacity for 20 years. He was succeeded by Ron G. Wolfe (1981-86), Larry W. Bailey (1986-2000), and Dr. Skip Daugherty (2000-04). Today, the organization is being led by Jackie Collier, who took over in 2004 when Daugherty retired.

Eastern’s division of Alumni Relations provides a variety of services for the university and for the association’s membership. The division serves as the official alumni records repository, communicates with alumni, administers scholarships to the children of alumni, and plays a key role in planning University events such as Homecoming and Alumni Weekend.

In 1995, the Alumni Association recognized the first group of EKU Pioneers – men and women who earned their degrees from Eastern more than 50 years ago. Each year a new class of Pioneers is inducted during Alumni Weekend festivities, and today nearly 400 people belong to this elite club.

The Pioneers – and all of our alumni – recognize that as the prestige of Eastern Kentucky University increases, so does the value of their degree. EKU alumni give unselfishly of their time, talents and resources in helping their university continue to grow and prosper.

At Eastern, we like to say that we’re “Moving Forward Together,” and our alumni are an integral part of that progress.