Family builds a ‘King’-sized legacy of tradition at UK

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 15, 2025) – The University of Kentucky is celebrating the annual tradition of Homecoming this week. Students, friends and alumni are gathering as one Big Blue family to celebrate what was, and is, their UK home.

UK has always been “home” to many, if not most, members of Howard and Elizabeth King’s family, originally from Brandenburg, Kentucky. To date, the family spans three generations and includes 54 UK graduates, representing more than 70 degrees. Careers in the King family include bankers, financial advisors, accountants, attorneys, engineers, pharmacists, physicians, surgeons, dentists, physical therapists and one aeronautical engineer.

Howard King, now 99 years old, and wife the late Elizabeth King had 12 children: the late Jill King Thompson; Howard Patrick King Jr.; the late Phillip Terry King; Martha Jan King; Jennifer King Hobbs; Anthony Kevin King; Denis Gerard King; Jacqueline (Jackie) King Repass; Jonathan Shawn King; Kyle Joseph King; Karen King Morris; and Lisa King Babb.

Nine of the 12 children attended UK, with eight earning degrees. In addition to undergraduate degrees, there are two pharmacy degrees, two D.V.M.s, a law degree and a medical degree in the original nine.

Forty-three grandchildren followed and multiple great-grandchildren. Of the second and third generation and their spouses, there are 44 UK attendees earning more than 70 degrees or entrance into a professional program.

The immense number of UK graduates in the King family might be considered a phenomenon by some. But as Karen Morris, daughter of Howard and Elizabeth explains, “the decision for so many family members to attend UK naturally evolved over time as the older siblings paved the way to UK for future family members.

“We grew up Wildcat fans,” Morris continued. “I don’t think we thought UK was the only school, but the experience of the older siblings continued to be positive and had a great impact on family members to follow as they decided on a school. UK provided a great education; it was affordable and close to home.”

Current UK students from the King family include Lawson King and Benjamin Hobbs (both undergraduates in the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering); Madeline Hobbs (in the College of Education); and Olivia Hamilton, Kaylee Morris and Kara Morris (all currently in the UK College of Dentistry).

“Growing up in a big family of Wildcats has instilled a deep sense of pride and tradition,” said Kaylee Morris. “As a little girl at UK football games, I dreamed of the day I’d walk onto campus as an official Wildcat — and today, as a student in the UK College of Dentistry, that dream is my daily reality. The University of Kentucky has shaped who I am through its community, academics and the values my family has passed down.”

Morris says obtaining not only her bachelor’s degree, but also her DMD from UK is “beyond special.”

“The university that my family and I hold so dearly has been the place that has prepared me to become the dentist I have always aspired to be and to serve my fellow Kentuckians.”

Lawson King said he also knew he wanted to attend UK at a young age.

“I never really looked anywhere else or visited another school,” he said. “Both of my parents along with the majority of my family went here, so growing up, I was constantly surrounded by all things Kentucky. I remember going to football games and watching Randall Cobb when I was little and being obsessed with Kentucky ever since. What is most important to me as a current UK student and being part of a UK family is everyone up here feels like family. Also, knowing family is always close and they would drop anything for me if I needed them.”

A legacy of pride and tradition

“We grew up in a large Catholic family and our faith has been very important in the way we’ve grown up,” said Jackie Repass, daughter of Howard and Elizabeth. “It’s a tribute to our mom and dad and the way they lived their lives. We have learned much from them and we’ve tried to emulate them.

“I have four kids, two physicians;  three of them have MBAs, and one is in dental school. I would say they all bleed blue. I think if you ask any of my eight grandkids now, they would all say UK is where they want to go to school.”

Repass graduated from UK in 1981 with an associate’s degree and started pharmacy school in 1995. She graduated as part of UK’s first all-PharmD class in 1999.

“As I approach the end of my pharmacy career, I’m back at UK again, working in Central Pharmacy,” she said. “My love for UK is deep — for the financial stability it has provided through my degree, to the love of memories created here, to seeing all of my children graduating from UK. It’s truly a great place to be.”

Memories and matches made at UK

Denis King, son of Howard and Elizabeth, and Jackie Repass say some of their fondest memories at UK are football games and tailgating.

“It was not unusual for us to have a tailgate with 35 people just spending time together before the game while Denis would cook,” Repass said. “Some of our nieces and nephews would bring their UK friends with them so we never knew how many hot dogs and hamburgers we were going to cook that day.”

Cameron Hamilton, Repass’s son, calls UK football games “mini family reunions.”

“All of my siblings went to UK, and now we get to give our eight kids the same experience together,” he said. “I helped tutor younger cousins or feed them dinner as a young graduate, and now the current students make great babysitters for my girls — some of the perks of building our family network around a stop at UK.”

UK has also been the site of multiple family members meeting their significant others and future spouses, including Hamilton and his wife Christy. The two met during UK’s K Week, where they each served as chairs of the annual event that welcomes new and returning students to campus. Hamilton says the experience was so much fun that he encouraged his cousin, Ryan Babb, to volunteer for K Week, where he met his future bride, Catherine.

“The rich tradition continues,” Karen Morris said. “We have been a blessed family where our question has not been, ‘Are you going to college’ but a proud, ‘I’m attending the University of Kentucky.’

“Our family continues to expand and yet there are dozens more to follow, looking for their turn at the University of Kentucky.”