Martin School announces 2024 Kentucky Public Service Hall of Fame Inductee, Distinguished Alumnus
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 31, 2025) — Former U.S. House Budget Committee Chair John Yarmuth, of Louisville, will be inducted into the Kentucky Public Service Hall of Fame Feb. 21 at the annual Alumni and Friends event hosted by the University of Kentucky’s Martin School of Public Policy and Administration.
The Public Service Hall of Fame is a nonpartisan entity established in 2012 to recognize leaders who have demonstrated “extraordinary public service to their communities and state.” The award is sponsored by the Martin School’s Board of Visitors, chaired in 2025 by Linda Breathitt. Yarmuth will be the 14th member inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“John Yarmuth’s career exemplifies the scope and meaning of public service,” said Breathitt. “He used his platform as a journalist to engage on issues important to his community and state. In Congress, he has honored his congressional district, the Commonwealth and our nation through his years of service, important committee assignments and respect for his constituents and colleagues.”
A Louisville native, Yarmuth graduated from Yale University in 1969 with a B.A. in American studies. His first Washington experience was on the staff of the late U.S. Sen. Marlow Cook, R-Ky., from 1971-75. He has also been a television commentator, associate vice president for university relations at the University of Louisville and health care executive.
Prior to his Congressional service, Yarmuth founded LEO Weekly (Louisville Eccentric Observer) in 1990, as an alternative weekly newspaper that featured opinions and commentary on public issues, government, politics and the arts. Since leaving Congress, Yarmuth has continued investing into the next generation of public policy leaders by teaching at both the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky.
Accepting the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award is Rick Graycarek, a 1994 graduate of the Martin School’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. Graycarek is currently the executive vice president of finance and administration at the University of Indianapolis. He exemplifies the qualities required to be considered for the award as someone who has made significant contributions to their communities and professional fields.
Graycarek is a 1992 graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a double major in economics and political science. After earning his MPA, he spent nearly 10 years with the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission in Frankfort, Kentucky, where he was a staff economist and program review analyst. He then spent another 10 years at the University of Louisville, flourishing in budgeting and financial roles, prior to accepting his current position.
“Rick represents a great example for our current students as he has used the skills he developed at the Martin School to serve the public through his work both within the state and universities,” said Martin School Director Ron Zimmer. “We are very proud of Rick and look forward to honoring him.”
The Martin School’s Alumni and Friends Event will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21. Registration is free, but seats are limited. Please visit the Martin School website for more information.
About the UK Martin School of Public Policy and Administration
A powerhouse for change, the Martin School at the University of Kentucky is a comprehensive school of policy and administration, offering degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level, and graduate certificates. Excelling in research, education and public service, it provides an innovative environment reflective of commitment, strategic thinking and integrity. Beginning in 1976 with the creation of the Master of Public Administration program, the Martin School has been on a trajectory of excellence since then, preparing graduates for a variety of public service careers including those in local, state or federal government and nonprofit agencies.
Its public financial management and budgeting specialization ranks fourth in the country and the school ranks 26th in the country overall among all public policy schools in the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking of public affairs programs. The Martin School engages in cutting-edge, policy analytic research, preparing students to be future leaders able to bridge the gap between analysis and action, helping to solve problems that matter to people and communities.
To learn more about the Martin School of Public Policy, contact Kimberly Pressley at kimberlypressley@uky.edu or visit https://martin.uky.edu/.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.