Golden Wildcats Remember the Past By Giving Towards UK's Future
Video Produced by UK Public Relations & Marketing. To view captions for this video, push play and click on the CC icon in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. If using a mobile device, click on the "thought bubble" in the same area. Special Thanks to UK Special Collections for many of the photos used in this video.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 24, 2014) — To say times have changed in the 50 years since Bill Bishop graduated from the University of Kentucky is a bit of an understatement.
In 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson was president. Martin Luther King Jr., won the Nobel Peace Price. The Beatle’s “British Invasion” spread throughout the United States.
Closer to home, Adolph Rupp walked the halls of Memorial Coliseum and football fans were happy when UK upset No. 1 ranked Ole Miss 27-21 that year.
As Bishop thinks about the campus he called home 50 years ago, the long-time Lexington businessman recalls times he spent in some of the buildings of today, but is amazed at the physical transformation of other parts of campus.
“I think it’s great,” said Bishop, a Lexington native. “The new residence halls will greatly improve both the social and academic aspects of campus life for the students.”
This year, Bishop is celebrating the 50th anniversary of graduating from UK, making him a Golden Wildcat. Each year the UK Alumni Association celebrates the 50th year anniversary class with a special reunion during Homecoming.
“The graduates of the Class of 1964, and those who graduated in the years before, are special to the University of Kentucky,” said Stan Key, director of Alumni Affairs and executive director of UK Alumni Association. “The Golden Wildcats are a treasured part of our alma mater, and we want to recognize them for reaching such an important milestone as UK graduates. The 50th Reunion stands out in the lifetimes of alumni as a most significant occasion for reflecting on the gift that was the University of Kentucky.”
The Class of 1964 enjoyed a reception and dinner last night and will take part in a variety of special activities over the weekend.
“They bring with them memories and traditions of years past, which are important for today’s students to continue into the future,” Key said.
This year’s group isn’t just making memories, though. The Class of 1964 is working to endow a student scholarship.
“This endowment is a way for reunion classes to give back to their university and preserve the special memories of their time at UK,” said Key. “It embodies their pride and love of the university by helping current and future students. The scholarship endowment from the Class of 1964 will enable them to carry their proud past into the future through other students.”
Bishop is happy he and his classmates can play a role on UK’s campus for years to come.
“It’s a way for me to give back because I’m thankful for what the University of Kentucky has done for me,” Bishop said.
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Toni Jackson Curtis, another member of the Class of 1964. “It’s a way to support the university and deserving students for those who have graduated and are able to give back.”
Key is pleased to see UK alumni so focused on the future.
“The association has placed an emphasis on scholarship gifts in recent years, and it’s great to see this class support our efforts,” said Key. “Many of our alumni clubs around the country have scholarship endowments, and I hope the Class of 1964’s endowment will encourage other classes who follow to do the same. The last class to endow a scholarship through the association was the Class of 1938, and still today scholarships are available to students because of their foresight some 76 years ago. The support from a scholarship endowment secures the education for current and future generations of students.”
Watch the video above to watch UK alum Bill Bishop’s story and discover why this campus is so special to him 50 years after earning his undergraduate degree.
For more information on the Golden Wildcat society, visit: http://www.ukalumni.net/s/1052/semi-blank-noimg.aspx?sid=1052&gid=1&pgid=394.
For more information from UK Alumni about Homecoming 2014, visit: www.ukhomecoming.com.
VIDEO CONTACTS: Amy Jones-Timoney, 859-257-2940, amy.jones2@uky.edu or Kody Kiser, 859-257-5282, kody.kiser@uky.edu
