
Hall of Distinction inductees for 2012 with Dean Lester from left to right: Dean Lester, D.L. Lobb, Larry E. Whaley, Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch, James W. McCurry
John Wesley Gunn, Class of 1890, earned the first engineering degree awarded by what eventually became the University of Kentucky. Since that modest beginning over 115 years ago, over 21,000 individuals have followed his example and received degrees in engineering and computer science. Through their extraordinary achievements, our alumni have established a lasting legacy of excellence.
Initiated in 1992, the Hall of Distinction recognizes and honors those alumni who have demonstrated distinguished engineering professional accomplishments, outstanding character and commitment to community service. This recognition serves to encourage exemplary achievements by current students and others. It is a symbol of the respect and admiration held by the University of Kentucky College of Engineering for these esteemed individuals.
Past Winners
- Ralph Anderson
- Patrick Atkins
- Thomas A. Auxier
- Merl Baker
- John C. Bailey
- Russell M. Barnes
- Deane B. Blazie
- David K. Blythe
- Paul F. Boulos
- James R. Boyd
- Joseph Boyd
- General Timothy A. Byers
- Carlos A. Cabrera
- John H. Campbell
- Samuel M. Cassidy, Jr.
- James A. Caywood
- L. Berkley Davis, Jr.
- Lewis Berkley Davis, Sr.
- Dr. Mark E. Davis
- James B. Day
- Thomas B. Deen
- Vijay K. Dhir
- Robert M. Drake, Jr.
- P. Elaine Duncan
- Holloway Fields, Jr.
- O. Gene Gabbard
- J. Steven Gardner
- Curtis Michael Garver
- D. Duane Gilliam
- Calvin G. Grayson
- Bobby O. Hardin
- James F. Hardymon
- Billy Harper
- Herman A. Harrison
- Robert D. Hayes
- Joan E. Herbig
- Joseph D. Hicks, Jr.
- Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch
- Richard A. Holloway
- William C. Hopkins
- Dr. Jack B. Howard
- Eliot D. James
- R. William Jewell
- Carl N. Kelly
- Kenneth H. Kennedy
- J. Ralph King
- Margaret Ingels
- Edward Lassiter
- D.L. Lobb
- Joel Irvine Lyle
- John R. (Dick) Lyon
- Joseph B. (Joe) Lyons, Jr.
- Davis L. Marksbury
- Michael L. Marberry
- Aubrey D. May
- Fred T. May
- Roosevelt (Red) Maynard, Jr.
- James W. McCurry
- Roger D. McDaniel
- James F. McDonald
- Robert C. McDowell
- Carl J. McHargue
- Gerald L. Nichols
- Wendell S. Norman
- Ervin J. Nutter
- Ralph J. Palmer
- Paul E. Patton
- L. Stanley Pigman
- Dr. Louis A. Povinelli
- Warren C. Pratt
- Betty Peters Preece
- Clifford W. Randall
- Oliver H. Raymond
- Earnest O. Robbins II
- Kenneth N. Robertson
- Steven S. Saran
- R. Wayne Skaggs
- William R. Sims
- Dr. Cullie J. Sparks
- C. J. “Neil” Starkey
- W. Terry Strange
- James W. Stuckert
- Gregory L. Summe
- Joseph G. Teague
- Reese S. Terry, Jr.
- Paul Y. Thompson
- Clyde R. Tipton
- Dr. Lee T. Todd, Jr.
- Larry W. Turner
- Robert W. Vaughn
- Earl D. Wallace
- Louis Ware
- Harry L. Washburn
- S. J.”Sam”Whalen
- Larry E. Whaley
- James L. Wyatt
- James H. Young
- D. Ralph Young
- William T. Young
- James M. Yowell
Past Winners by Year
1992
- Samuel M. Cassidy, Jr. BSMET 1925, MSMNG 1928
- Eliott D. James, MSEE 1966
- Robert C. McDowell (posthumous), BSCE 1935, MSCE 1943
- Ervin J. Nutter, BSME 1943
- Earl D. Wallace (posthumous), BSMNG 1921
- William T. Young, BSME 1939
1993
- Ralph G. Anderson, BSME 1950
- David K. Blythe, BSCE 1940, MSCE 1948
- Joseph A. Boyd, BSEE 1946, MSEE 1949
- Margaret Ingels(posthumous), BSME 1916, MSME 1920
- Louis Ware (posthumous), BSMNG 1917
1994
1995
- Robert M. Drake, Jr., BSME 1942
- James F. Hardymon, BSCE 1956, MSCE 1958
- James F. McDonald, BSEE 1962, MSEE 1964
- Carl J. McHargue, BSMET 1949, MSMET 1951, Ph.D. 1953
- Oliver H. Raymond, BSCE 1954
1996
- Thomas A. Auxier, BSME 1958, MSME 1962
- L. Berkley Davis, Sr., BSEE 1934
- Gerald L. Nichols, BSCE 1958
1997
- Jack B. Howard, BSMNG 1960, MSMNG 1961
- Paul E. Patton, BSME 1959
- Kenneth N. Robertson, BSCE 1958
- Clyde R. Tipton, Jr., BSMET 1946, MSMET 1947
- Lee T. Todd, Jr., BSEE 1968
1998
- Thomas B. Deen, BSCE 1951
- Holloway Fields, Jr., BSEE 1951
- Louis A. Povinelli, MSME 1956
- Cullie J. Sparks, BSMET 1952, Ph.D. 1957
1999
- Mark E. Davis, BSChE 1977, MSChE 1978, Ph.D. 1981
- O. Gene Gabbard, BSEE 1961
- C. Michael Garver, BSME 1961
- J. Irvine Lyle (posthumous), BSME 1896, MSME 1902
- Joseph G. Teague, BSME 1956, MSME 1958
- Reese S. Terry, Jr., BSEE 1964, MSEE 1966
2000
- P. Elaine Duncan, BSME 1974
- Herman A. Harrison, BSME 1955
- Richard A. Holloway, BSEE 1964
- Roger D. McDaniel, BSChE 1962
- Gregory L. Summe, BSEE 1978
- Paul Y. Thompson, BSCE 1958
2001
- James R. Boyd, BSEE 1968
- James B. Day, BSME 1961, MSME 1968
- Major General Earnest O. Robbins II, BSCE 1969
- William R. Sims, BSCE 1958
- James L. Wyatt, BSMET 1947, MSMET 1948
2002
- Russell M. Barnes, BSEE 1950
- Lt. General John H. Campbell, BSCS 1969
- William C. Hopkins, BSME 1967
- Carl N. Kelly, BSEE 1961
- Kenneth H. Kennedy, Sr., BSCE 1968
- Betty Peters Preece, BSEE 1947
- James W. Stuckert, BSME 1960
2003
- Merl Baker, BSME 1945
- Duane Gilliam, BSChE 1967
- Ralph Palmer, BSCE 1963
- Warren Pratt, BSEE 1974, MSEE 1975
2004
- Vijay K. Dhir, Ph.D. 1972
- Billy Harper, BSME 1966
- Edward Lassiter, BSEE 1957
- Aubrey D. May, BSCE 1958, MSCE 1960
- C. J. “Neil” Starkey IV, BSEE 1976
- James M. Yowell, BSCE 1959
2005
- Deane B. Blazie, BSEE 1968
- Michael L. Marberry, BSChE 1981, MSChE 1983
- Robert W. Vaughn, BSCE 1963
- Harry L. Washburn, BSMNG 1950, MSMNG 1951
- James H. Young, BSAEN 1962, MSAEN 1964
2006
- Patrick R. Atkins, BSCE 1964
- Carlos A. Cabrera, BSChE 1973
- Robert D. Hayes (Posthumous), BSEE 1948
- D. Ralph Young, BSEE 1953
2007
- John C. Bailey, BSEE 1961
- L. Berkley Davis, Jr., BSME 1966, MSME 1970, Ph.D. 1972
- R. William Jewell, BSCE 1963
- Joseph B. Lyons, Jr. (posthumous), BSEE 1958)
2008
- J. Ralph King, BSME 1960
- Davis L. Marksbury, BSCE 1980
- Wendell S. Norman, BSME 1956
- Larry W. Turner (posthumous), Ph.D. 1984
2009
2010
- Paul F. Boulos, BSC/alumni/hod/paul-f-boulos/E 1985, MSCE 1986, Ph.D. 1989,
- John R. (Dick) Lyon, BSME 1958
- Fred T. May BSEE 1958
- Roosevelt (Red) Maynard, Jr., BSME 1958
2011
2012