Honorary Degrees

Eastern Kentucky University awards honorary degrees to persons in recognition of outstanding contributions to the University or to society through achievements in a particular field.

Nominations are accepted year-round. One honorary degree will be awarded at the Spring and Fall commencement ceremonies.

Criteria for Honorary Degrees

Recipients shall be distinguished in their fields and have demonstrated exemplary achievements. This recognition should focus attention on the University community’s commitment to the development of knowledge and the betterment of humanity.
Honorary degrees shall be granted posthumously or in absentia only in unusual circumstances.
The nominee shall have gained distinction worthy of recognition extending well beyond his/her own field of endeavor and geographical area of activity.
No current member of the EKU Board of Regents nor active EKU faculty/staff member shall be so honored.
Former faculty and staff of Eastern Kentucky University shall meet the same criteria as other nominees; current faculty and staff are not eligible.
Although it is preferable for the nominee to have a tie to Eastern Kentucky University or the Commonwealth of Kentucky, such a connection shall not be a requirement.
Elected or appointed officials of the Commonwealth of Kentucky shall not be eligible as honorary degree candidates during their terms of office.
Except on special occasions or in unusual circumstances, the number of honorary degrees awarded at any given ceremony shall be limited to one at the Spring Commencement and one at the Fall Commencement.
The honoree must be present to receive the honorary degree.

Honorary Degrees Awarded

The kinds of Honorary Degrees that may be awarded at EKU shall be:

Doctor of Humanities (L.H.D) – Distinguished service to arts and culture
Doctor of Laws (L.L.D.) – Distinguished service to the public
Doctor of Pedagogy (Ped.D.) – Distinguished service to education
Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) – Distinguished service to science or health
Doctor of Commerce (Com.D) – Distinguished service in business or commerce
Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) – Distinguished service to humanity

Honorary Degrees Nomination Process

Nominations will be sent to the Office of the President and shall include the following:

A letter of nomination, citing the candidate’s contribution to the field, the University, and/or humanity.
A biography or curriculum vitae of the candidate. The committee may request additional documentation about the nominee.
A minimum of two letters of support in addition to the primary letter of nomination.

CONFIDENTIALITY IS CRUCIAL TO THE NOMINATION PROCESS
Under no circumstances should the nominee be informed that his or her name has been put forward. Not all excellent candidates can be recognized, and knowledge of a failed nomination can be embarrassing and harmful. Further, the nominator should not solicit letters of support on behalf of the nominee from people outside the University. Official notification of the University’s wish to confer an honorary degree upon an individual is made by the President on behalf of the President’s Cabinet and the Board of Regents.

The President’s Cabinet shall consider all nominations.
Nominees can be accepted, rejected, or put on hold for consideration for a period of five years.
The names of potential candidates approved by the committee shall be submitted to the President.
The President’s Office will maintain a log of all individuals nominated. The President’s Office will be responsible for all written correspondence with the individual nominating the candidate and with the candidate.
The President will submit candidates to the Board of Regents for approval.
The resolution to the Board shall contain the committee’s recommendation, a citation, a biography of the proposed recipient, and the President’s recommendation.
Upon approval by the Board of Regents, the President’s Office shall notify the recipient and confirm the recipient’s willingness to accept the honorary degree.

Honorary Degree Recipients

A
Mabel Pollitt Adams	EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Letters	1967
A.D. Albright	President, Northern Kentucky University	Doctor of Laws	1993
Betty Asher	Educator, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1989
B
James E. Bassett	Director, Kentucky State Police	Doctor of Laws	1976
Karl D. Bays	Business, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1977
Charles Elmore Beck	Business	Doctor of Laws	1965
Robert D. Bell	Business	Doctor of Laws	1986
Mon. Ralph W. Beiting	Founder, Christian Appalachian Project	Doctor of Humanities	1999
Eula Bingham	Asst. Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Science	1978
Gary Booth	Business, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Science	2005
James M. Boswell		Doctor of Laws	1981
Jane Boyer	Civic Leader	Doctor of Humanities	2010
Edward N. Breathitt	Governor of Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1966
Harry S. Broudy	Philosopher, educator, author	Doctor of Letters	1980
John Y Brown, Jr.	Governor of Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1980
Helen E. Browne	Nurse	Doctor of Science	1977
Frances Burke	State Senator	Doctor of Laws	1989
C
Harold Glenn Campbell	Business, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1998
Rev. Homer W. Carpenter	Minister	Doctor of Letters	1963
Malcolm Scott Carpenter	Commander, US Navy	Doctor of Science	1969
Julian Carroll	Lt. Governor of Kentucky (later Governor)	Doctor of Laws	1974
Tim Lee Carter	US Representative from Kentucky	Doctor of Science	1974
Lillie D. Chaffin	Educator and writer, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Letters	1978
Merritt Madison Chambers	Educator	Doctor of Letters	1969
Paul Chellgren	Business	Doctor of Science	2005
James Chenault	Judge, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1975
Thomas D. Clark	Historian and Scholar	Doctor of Letters	1976
Bill Clements	Business, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Humanities	2010
Earle C. Clements	Governor of Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1966
Nick Clooney	Journalist	Doctor of Humanities	2008
Tom Coffey	Business, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Humanities	2010
Mary Sue Coleman	President, University of Michigan	Doctor of Science	2012
J. Winston Coleman	Historian and author	Doctor of Letters	1976
Martha Layne Collins	Governor of Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1985
Bert T. Combs	Governor of Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1963
Earle B. Combs	Athlete, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1974
C. Vernon Cooper, Jr.	Business	Doctor of Laws	1996
John Sherman Cooper	US Senator from Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1962
Rev. Kevin W. Cosby	Minister, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Humanities	2003
D
Francis L. Dale	Newspaper Publisher		1967
William S. Daugherty	Business, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Science	2008
Richard B. Davis		Doctor of Letters	1980
Felix W. DeWeldon	Sculptor	Doctor of Letters	1974
David Barrow Dick	Author and journalist	Doctor of Letters	2000
Frank G. Dickey	President, University of Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1981
Donald R. Dizney	Health Services	Doctor of Laws	1987
Herman Lee Donovan	President of Eastern Kentucky State College	Doctor of Laws	1962
Adron Doran	President, Morehead State University	Doctor of Laws	1970
Louise Rutledge Dowerman	Librarian, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Letters	1997
Dero Downing	President, Western Kentucky University	Doctor of Laws	1979
John Draud	Commissioner of Education, Kentucky, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Humanities	2009
E
Jo Eleanor Elliott	Nurse	Doctor of Science	1983
Richard J. Evans		Doctor of Letters	1964
Rupert N. Evans	Educator	Doctor of Laws	1982
F
Charles B. Flood	Author and scholar	Doctor of Letters	1982
Wendell Ford	Governor of Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1973
Hanley Funderburk	EKU President	Doctor of Laws	1998
G
Bonnie Gray	Educator	Doctor of Humanities	2011
Clarke T. Gray		Doctor of Science	1988
Mark Grayson	Educator	Doctor of Laws	2005
Clarence Gifford		Doctor of Laws	1971
Ted C. Gilbert	Education Administration, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1998
Raymond E. Giltner	Business, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1991
Lyman V. Ginger	Executive Director, Cardinal Hill Hospital	Doctor of Laws	1991
J. Malcom Grear		Doctor of Letters	1998
H
Ralph Hacker	Radio personality	Doctor of Humanities	2011
John R. Hall	CEO, Ashland Oil	Doctor of Laws	1990
Col. Finley R. Hamilton	Commander & Conductor, US Army Field Band	Doctor of Arts	2003
William S. Hayes	President, Alice Lloyd College	Doctor of Laws	1966
Robert R. Hensley		Doctor of Laws	1976
Thomas Herndon	Educator	Doctor of Science	1984
Carl M. Hill		Doctor of Science	1975
Henry H. Hill	President George Peabody College for Teachers	Doctor of Laws	1963
Mary Jo Hill		Doctor of Letters	1974
Larry J. Hopkins	US Representative from Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1989
Walter D. Huddleston	US Senator from Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1975
Eugene Hughes	President of EKU	Doctor of Laws	2011
Floyd Hunter	Educator	Doctor of Letters	1978
Carl E. Hurley	Educator and Entertainer, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Letters	1997
Francis Hutchins	President, Berea College	Doctor of Laws	1979
Louise G. Hutchins	Doctor	Doctor of Science	1983
I
John Irwin	Educator	Doctor of Science	1985
J
Timothy James	US Military, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Humanities	2009
Ewart W. Johnson	Kentucky State Parks Commissioner	Doctor of Laws	1976
Lyndon B. Johnson	Vice President of the United States	Doctor of Laws	1961
Brereton Jones	Governor of Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	2008
K
Merle B. Karnes	Educator	Doctor of Letters	1977
Cecil Karrick		Doctor of Letters	1999
John M. Keane	Vice Chief of Staff, US Army	Doctor of Public Service	2001
Col. P.K. Keen	US Army, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Humanities	2003
Joseph H. Keller, Jr.	Business, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1982
Jerome P. Keuper	Educator	Doctor of Science	1977
Roy Kidd	EKU Football Coach, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Humanities	2010
Garvice D. Kinkaid	Business	Doctor of Laws	1965
Pauline Knapp		Doctor of Laws	1973
James C. Klotter		Doctor of Letters	1997
L
Joseph E. Lambert	Chief Justice, Kentucky Supreme Court	Doctor of Laws	1999
Peter P. Lejins	Scholar	Doctor of Laws	1986
Homer Ledford	Musician, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Humanities	2006
Chunbo Li	CEO, Zhejiang Medicine Corporation	Doctor of Laws	2011
Margaret Lindsey		Doctor of Letters	1976
Hazel C. Little	Educator and Librarian, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Letters	1996
Thomas C. Little	Educator, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1986
Brad Loar	FEMA, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Humanities	2009
Thomas Logsdon	Aeronautics Engineer, Rockwell, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Science	2007
Irvin Lunger		Doctor of Letters	1974
Pearse Lyons	Founder and President, Alltech	Doctor of Commerce	2011
M
John W. Macy	Chair, US Civil Service Commission	Doctor of Laws	1966
Lee Majors	Actor, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Humanities	2006
Robert R. Martin	EKU President, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1977
Dan Mason	CBS Radio, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Humanities	2006
Bobbie Ann Mason	Kentucky author	Doctor of Letters	1995
Angela Barron McBride	Educator	Doctor of Laws	1991
John Ed McConnell	Business, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1993
Mitch McConnell	US Senator from Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	2006
Thomas McDonough	Educator	Doctor of Science	1967
Dustan McCoy	Business, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	2003
Gale McGee	US Senator from Wyoming	Doctor of Laws	1967
N. Mitchell Meade	Judge	Doctor of Laws	1994
Brenda Miller	Senior Safety Advisor, US Army Combat Readiness	Doctor of Laws	2012
William F. Miller	Business	Doctor of Laws	1965
Mildred L. Montag	Nurse Educator	Doctor of Science	1981
William Robert Moody		Doctor of Letters	1971
Robert B. Morgan	Business, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1987
Craig Morrison	Business, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Science	2007
Thurston B. Morton	US Senator and Representative from Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1969
Irene Steed Muir		Doctor of Letters	1966
Story Musgrave	Astronaut	Doctor of Science	2004
N
Lonnie Napier	State Representative	Doctor of Laws	2007
Robert L. Nichols		Doctor of Science	1973
Louie B. Nunn	Governor of Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1968
Elizabeth M. Nuss	Student Personnel Administrator	Doctor of Laws	1995
O
William F. O’Donnell	President of Eastern Kentucky State College	Doctor of Laws	1962
Allan W. Ostar	American Assoc. of State Colleges & Universities	Doctor of Laws	1972
P
John S. Palmore	Chief Justice, Kentucky Supreme Court	Doctor of Laws	1984
Fess Parker	Actor and Playwright	Doctor of Letters	1968
Norman Vincent Peale	Minister and Author	Doctor of Letters	1964
Steve Pence	Lt. Governor of Kentucky, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	2004
Carl D. Perkins	US Representative from Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1964
Kenneth Perry	Educator, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1983
Joseph W. Phelps	Business	Doctor of Laws	1990
Charles Pilliod	Business	Doctor of Laws	1979
Mon. Felix Newton Pitt		Doctor of Letters	1967
Edward C. Pomeroy	American Assoc. of Colleges for Teacher Education	Doctor of Letters	1968
J.C. Powell	EKU President	Doctor of Laws	1985
R
A.V. Ramayya	Scholar in Nuclear Physics	Doctor of Science	2009
Helen M. Reed	Director of Model Laboratory School	Doctor of Letters	1995
Robert V. Remini	Educator and author	Doctor of Letters	1992
R. R. Richards	Educator, EKU ALumnus	Doctor of Laws	1986
Gen. David Rodriguez	Commander, US Army Forces Command	Doctor of Laws	2012
Hal Rogers	US Representative from Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1988
Carlos P. Romulo	Ambassador of the Philippines to the US	Doctor of Laws	1961
Warren W. Rosenthal	Business	Doctor of Laws	1994
John D. Rowlett	Vice President for Academic Affairs, EKU	Doctor of Laws	1993
S
Harlan Sanders	Founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken	Doctor of Laws	1973
F. Douglas Scutchfield	Doctor, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Science	2004
Betty L. Siegel	President, Kennesaw State University	Doctor of Laws	1992
Robert F. Sexton	Prichard Commission for Academic Excellence	Doctor of Letters	2001
Honorable Eric K. Shinseki	US Secretary for the Dept. of Veteran Affairs	Doctor of Laws	2010
Ricky Skaggs	Musician	Doctor of Humanities	2005
Albert P. Smith, Jr.	Journalist	Doctor of Letters	1982
Louis Smith		Doctor of Laws	1975
Harry M. Sparks		Doctor of Laws	1975
Jane Stephenson	Founder, New Opportunity School for Women	Doctor of Letters	2004
Florence B. Stratemeyer	Educator	Doctor of Letters	1970
Jesse Stuart	Kentucky author	Doctor of Letters	1964
James L. Sublett	Teachers Retirement System	Doctor of Laws	1970
Martha C. Sudduth	Educator	Doctor of Letters	1977
T
Flonnia C. Taylor	Educator	Doctor of Letters	1978
Helen Thomas	Journalist	Doctor of Letters	2002
Kelly Thompson	President, Western Kentucky University	Doctor of Laws	1971
Russell I. Todd		Doctor of Science	1973
Mitchell Tolle	Artist	Doctor of Arts	2002
W
LeRoy T. Walker	Educator	Doctor of Laws	1985
William Wallace	Lawyer, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1974
Elmer Whitaker	Business	Doctor of Laws	1993
Wallace Wilkinson	Governor of Kentucky	Doctor of Laws	1988
Craig E. Williams	Activist and Environmentalist, EKU Alunmus	Doctor of Humanities	2008
Ralph H. Woods	President, Murray State University	Doctor of Laws	1968
Robert M. Worthington	Educator, EKU Alumnus	Doctor of Laws	1972
Y
Lt. Gen. Robert Yerks	US Army, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee (2000)	Doctor of Humanities	2007