Six Inducted into Union Hall of Fame

Union College Alumni inducted six new members into the Hall of Fame at the Homecoming Banquet held last Saturday evening. Four of the new Hall of Fame inductees were inducted for their athletic accomplishments, while the other two were inducted for their contributions to education and to the business and professional world.

Larry Inkster, Tom Mohr, Dan Sullivan and Malissa Hutchins all were Union athletes, then contributed to their communities through coaching and volunteering for athletic organizations. All contributed their success in athletics to the dedication that Union's faculty, staff and coaches have in their student-athletes.

Irene Hughes, a life-long resident of Barbourville, was inducted into Union's Hall of Fame for her contributions to education.

Hughes began as a freshman at Union College in 1933 and after spending four years at the top of her class, graduated summa cum laude in 1937.

She began teaching at Knox Central High School directly after her graduation from Union in 1933. After eight years teaching the children of Knox County, Hughes became seriously ill suffering pleurisy; infectious rheumatism and she underwent several surgeries. Hughes spent ten years overcoming these illnesses before she resumed her teaching career.

After making a full recovery, Hughes became the first honor's English teacher at Knox Central High School and she held that position until her retirement in 1980. When it was all totaled, Hughes spent thirty-two years teaching at Knox Central.

Nancy Bender, Hughes' niece accepted the award on her behalf saying, "You don't realize what this award means to me and my family. My grandmother came to Union, my mother came to Union and Aunt Irene loved Union. Our family can't thank Union enough for all they have been to us.

Paul D. Dole, executive director of Kentucky Communities Economic Opportunity Council was inducted in the Business and Professional's Hall of Fame for his widespread, national, regional and local contributions to the business community.

Dole, a 1974 graduate of Union, began his career in community action shortly after graduation. He began working at KCEOC as Weatherization Coordinator but quickly moved up the corporate ladder to Executive Director, a position he has held for the last 22 years.

Not only has Dole made an impact on the local economy, he has contributed to the fight against poverty on a national level as well. Dole has served as Treasurer and as President of the Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies, 1st Vice Chair of the Community Action Partnership and is currently National Chair of the Community Action Partnership. He has been a board member of the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation for 10 years and has served on the Appalachian Regional Commission Task Force initiated by Governor Brereton Jones.

In addition to the Hall of Fame inductions, friends and family of the Union College recognized the 1968 Men's Basketball team for their outstanding basketball career at Union. The team, along with Coach Pete Moore and Assistant Coach, Paul Erslan, received a piece of the original basketball floor with a gold plate naming their athletic accolades.

Nearly 200 hundred people from all across the country attended the Homecoming Banquet that was a part of Union's annual Homecoming events.

October 29, 2003

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