A president’s perspective: 160 years of UK

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 20, 2025) — A university with all the colleges attached, with ample grounds, buildings and libraries, and “professors of great heads and hearts” offering a high-quality education to all.

That was the vision John Bryan Bowman, regent of Kentucky University, had in mind for higher education in our great Commonwealth. Thanks to his fundraising work to meet guidelines set out by the Kentucky General Assembly, the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky was founded on Feb. 22, 1865.

In the 160 years since that day, what we now know as the University of Kentucky has grown exponentially in its promise to the people of the Commonwealth.

As we celebrate our Founders Day, we look back at the indelible mark left by the leaders of our institution: the 11 past presidents of the University of Kentucky, all of whom believed deeply in the purpose of this place. Their visionary leadership — upheld over generations by a seemingly esoteric obligation to this place and its people — continues to shape UK. All you have to do is look around our campus at the hallowed halls and iconic statues that bear testament to their undending legacy.

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John Bryan Bowman

During the Civil War, John Bowman displayed great spirit and determination as he challenged the state of Kentucky to invest in its future by building a public university in Lexington.

Despite many challenges, Bowman persevered. As an educator and lifelong learner, Bowman understood the power of education to improve the lives of not only its students but the community an institution serves.

As president, Bowman received no salary — his only compensation was the use of Ashland Estate’s historic mansion. From there, he not only lived but also worked, managing the college’s affairs and overseeing classrooms within its storied walls.

Today, Bowman's legacy is honored through a beloved UK symbol: the Wildcat. The statue located on Avenue of Champions across from Historic Memorial Coliseum is named Bowman.

Bowman Hall was completed in 1949 as a dormitory and named for the university’s founder.

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James K. Patterson (1869-1910)

President Patterson was UK’s longest-serving president — in several ways, he is the reason the university is here today.

President Patterson was a fierce and ardent advocate for what is now the University of, for and with Kentucky. Not only did he garner support to keep the university in Lexington as opposed to moving to Bowling Green, but he also led the fight to convince the Kentucky General Assembly to enact legislation establishing a state property tax to raise desperately needed funds and support what was a struggling independent college that weathered extreme financial turbulence. His indefatigable campaign culminated in a more than 2.5-hour testimonial plea to the General Assembly — a call to action that was both ladened and buoyed by all that was possible. 

Patterson — a man who said what he meant and meant what he said — would later use his own money as collateral for loans to finish the first phase of construction on the campus, which included President Patterson's house, previously home to the office of the Deans of Arts and Sciences College; the original White Hall, a dormitory; and UK’s Administration Building.

Today, you can find a statue of “The Grand Ole Man” outside of one the buildings that bears his name: Patterson Office Tower. Student tradition says that rubbing the statue’s right foot before an exam will bring good luck.

We also see Patterson’s legacy preserved with Patterson Hall — the first women’s dormitory at UK. It is the oldest UK building still in existence and is used today as classroom space.

A trust established by Patterson’s will in 1922 led to the creation of a college of diplomacy to be named for his deceased son, William Andrew Patterson. Today, the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce remains faithful to the mission of providing students from across Kentucky, the nation and the world with the practical education needed to engage effectively in diplomacy, international affairs and commerce.

While Patterson lost both of his children, he remained steadfast to the university, writing in a 1910 retrospect, “I have neither son nor daughter to inherit what I may leave behind me; those born to me passed over to the majority long years ago. Should my hopes be realized, I shall make the university my heir.”

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Henry S. Barker (1911-1917)

President Barker, a Kentucky native, faced his own set of challenges following in the footsteps of Patterson. Still, driven by a passion for education and a great appreciation for the success of students, his administration achieved several milestones.

Barker established several new programs including: the Graduate School, the Department of Journalism, the YMCA and the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). Today, ROTC’s offices are housed in Barker Hall, named in the former president’s honor.

The College of Law, university library, College of Agriculture and its Agricultural Experiment Station, as well as the School of Home Economics, all saw expansions. Barker also acquired, at his own expense, the first printing press on campus.

The student newspaper at the time — The Idea — and its successor, the Kentucky Kernel (introduced in the fall of 1915) were published weekly and attracted a broad and active readership. Student government also had its origins in the Barker era with the Student Self-Government Organization founded in 1912. Moreover, Barker, a proponent of physical training, encouraged student participation in athletics, and basketball and football flourished during his tenure.

The university’s enrollment nearly doubled in size during Barker’s presidency. And, just one year before the end of his tenure, the institution's name was officially changed to the University of Kentucky in March 1916.

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Frank L. McVey (1917-1940)

President Frank LeRond McVey assumed his position as the third president during a period of stagnation, uncertainty and, once again, financial troubles. Still, he labored tirelessly for more than two decades to establish the university as a premier land-grant institution, gaining him recognition as one of the leading and progressive educators of the South.  

McVey’s time at UK was marked by his commitment to academic excellence, recruiting outstanding faculty, increasing salaries and expanding graduate programs; the modernization of the university, leading to booming enrollments and increased campus construction; an increase in research augmented by his staunch defense of academic freedom during the nation’s first major anti-evolution controversy; and, without a doubt, incredible acumen while protecting and guiding the university through the 1918 flu epidemic, the Great Depression and growing suspicion around the value of higher education. 

During his tenure, Alumni Gym, Memorial Hall, the Margaret I. King Library, and Boyd and Jewell dormitories were built. The curriculum expanded to include Departments of Music, Anthropology and Archaeology, and Library Science as well as the Colleges of Commerce and Education.

In an effort to give back to the Commonwealth, McVey created a University Extension program with correspondence classes and provided radio-transmitted instruction to people in remote, rural areas of Kentucky.

In fact, UK’s first-ever radio station, WBKY-FM, was broadcast out of McVey Hall, which is now the home of a handful of programs and resources for the College of Communication and Information.

And, in 1918, McVey became the first UK president to reside in the recently acquired Maxwell Place, a large and stately brick Italianate villa that sits on the former site of Maxwell Springs. A site where Henry Clay once said, “No man can call himself a Kentuckian who has not watered his horse at Maxwell Springs.” 

Today, glimpses of McVey line the halls of Maxwell Place — not in portraits or plaques, but in his craft as an amateur artist with a keen eye. These art pieces are glimpses — still and reverent — into moments of brief reprieve during what was another demanding tenure. 
 

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Herman L. Donovan (1941-1956)

Herman Lee Donovan led UK through World War II and the beginning of racial integration, starting with the admission of Lyman T. Johnson to the graduate program in 1949.

His administration faced the challenge of declining male enrollment due to the war, which he addressed by creating early graduate programs for enlistees and making university facilities available to the Army Specialized Training Program.

Donovan also pushed for the opening of an extension center in Covington, established a Department of Geography and College of Pharmacy, and began the development of a Medical School.

Equally, Donovan became a strong advocate of higher education for retired persons. The Herman L. Donovan Scholarship for Senior Citizens, waiving tuition for adults 65 and older, continues this legacy. Today, you’ll find roughly 100 Donovan Scholars taking classes on UK’s campus every fall and spring semester.

A men’s residence hall was built and named for President Donovan in 1955. Although that building has been torn down, a new Donovan Hall still bears his name on south campus.

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Frank G. Dickey (1956-1963)

Although brief, Frank Graves Dickey’s tenure at UK saw significant growth and development, namely the creation and establishment of the Medical Center. It included colleges of medicine, dentistry and nursing, as well as a hospital, a student health service and a medical library.

As more students enrolled at UK, Dickey oversaw the physical growth of campus through more buildings, renovations and land acquisition. The opening of off-campus Extension centers laid the foundation for the later creation of the University's Community College System.

Before serving as president, Dickey was dean of the College of Education. One of the college’s buildings, Dickey Hall, was dedicated and named in his honor in 1965.

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John W. Oswald (1963-1968)

John Wieland Oswald’s presidency, though short, was marked by substantial growth and change. He oversaw dramatic enrollment increases, partially due to expanded financial aid. The graduate program grew, with more doctoral degrees and programs.

Three new colleges were established: Architecture, Allied Health Professions and Home Economics. There was a major expansion of the physical plant and several building projects were completed. Research funding more than tripled and the UK Research Foundation was established, which is critically important to research conducted today.

For decades the Oswald Research and Creativity Competition has helped promote research and creativity in all fields of study. The competition was established in 1964 by then-President Oswald as part of the university’s Centennial Celebration.

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Albert D. Kirwan (1968-1969)

When UK needed an interim president, Albert Dennis Kirwan stepped in to bring “a feeling of serenity and peace, renewed confidence and strengthened morale” to the campus during a time of unrest.

Kirwan had a long and varied career at the university as a teacher, coach and administrator. Before becoming president, he had also served as Dean of Men, Dean of Students, Professor of History, Dean of the Graduate School and Hallam Professor of History.

The Kirwan Tower and Kirwan I, II, III and IV were all dedicated and named in honor of the past interim president, however, they were demolished in 2020.

Today, Kirwan’s legacy of scholarship lives on through the Graduate School’s Albert D. and Elizabeth H. Kirwan Memorial Prize that honors outstanding contributions to original research or (creative) scholarship.

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Otis A. Singletary (1969-1987)

Otis A. Singletary’s presidency began during a time of campus turmoil related to student protests against the Vietnam War. But he was attentive to student concerns, initiating student body representation on the Board of Trustees and increasing student membership in the University Senate.

During his tenure, the university faced financial challenges due to decreased state funding and inflation. Still, campus expanded with multiple new buildings and, by the end of his term, student enrollment grew to 46,550.

Singletary oversaw the creation of the Lucille Parker Markey Cancer Center and the Gaines Center for the Humanities. Also established during his tenure: the Colleges of Communications and Fine Arts, the initiation of an employee health insurance program and the Sanders-Brown Research Center on Aging.

Singletary’s legacy is continued most notably through the Otis A. Singletary Center for the Arts. Named in his honor in 1987, the center has become a major cultural resource for the Commonwealth and accomplishes President Singletary’s wish to provide a succession of brilliant performances, evidence of UK’s continuing commitment to the arts. 

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David P. Roselle (1987-1989)

David Paul Roselle’s primary goal while president of UK was to achieve national recognition for the university’s graduates, scholarship and research.

He also focused on implementing information technology on campus, and the university acquired a supercomputer during his tenure — making UK one of the few institutions with this technology.

David P. Roselle Hall, formerly North Hall, on north campus bears his name. It houses UK’s Fine Arts Residential College for first-year students.

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Charles T. Wethington Jr. (1989-2001)

Significant growth, improved standards and increased research support were the hallmarks of Charles T. Wethington’s tenure at UK.  

A new central library — the William T. Young Library — was built during Wethington’s term, and the library system’s book endowment ranked first among public institutions and second among all universities. Wethington created the School of Public Health, opened the Advanced Science and Technology Commercialization Center, grew the Sanders-Brown Research Center on Aging and developed Coldstream Farm as a research campus.

Wethington’s administration focused on improving academic standards which ultimately led to a record number of National Achievement and Merit Scholars. During his presidency, the university’s academic programs earned 50 national rankings, with 14 in the top 20.

Wethington also made a concerted effort to support and increase campus research. The Research Challenge Trust Fund allocated $110 million for university research initiatives. UK also attracted record funding for research and ranked 14th among land-grant institutions for licensing and patent income.

The Wethington Allied Health Building is in the heart of the medical campus at UK. Named for the 10th president, the building houses laboratories and classrooms for the College of Health Sciences, as well as several UK HealthCare physician offices and the Office of the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs.

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Lee T. Todd Jr. (2001-2011)

Lee T. Todd Jr. focused his efforts as university president on achieving a greater level of national prominence for UK.

He launched the Top 20 Business Plan in 2005, which was widely recognized as the first business plan by a public university in the nation. His efforts led to an increase in venture capital, start-up companies, patents and royalties.

The Todd years saw enrollment and research growth. He also created the College of Public Health and spearheaded an effort to revitalize health care, unveiling the Commonwealth’s Medical Campus of the Future project. Equally important to Todd was community outreach.

Todd also saw the need for larger and improved facilities for the UK College of Pharmacy, consistently ranked among the top five pharmacy schools in the nation. In 2016, the Biological-Pharmaceutical Building on South Limestone was renamed the Lee T. Todd, Jr. Building in his honor.

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For 160 years, this university has changed leadership and names, locations and facilities, logos and mascots and colors. But what has persisted — what continues to be our indelible, intractable truth — is that we were created to advance Kentucky in all that we do, in all that we pursue and in all that we make possible.

And we will do so for the next 160 years and all those that will follow. That is, simply and resolutely, who we are.

The UK Alumni Association invites students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate UK’s 160th anniversary at the annual Founders Day Festival 11 a.m.-1 p.m.  Friday, Feb. 21, at the Gatton Student Center’s Social Staircase. Learn more here.