CRAFTING A PIECE OF HISTORY By STACEY WALTERS
Tiffany Craft ’10 remembers what it felt like when she first came to then Pikeville College: eye-opening. Fascinated by the diverse opinions found on campus, she was eager for college to pave the way to her ambitions, unaware that the road would lead her to become the first woman in history to serve as mayor in the progressive town of Whitesburg, Ky. Raised in the pristine hills of Appalachia, in a small town about 35 miles south of Pikeville, Craft aspired from a young age to fulfill her dreams in Eastern Kentucky and make a difference for her community, leading her directly to the university.
“My family made frequent trips to Pikeville. The appeal of attending Pikeville College and staying close to home was one I couldn’t pass up. The environment is inviting and incredibly supportive,” said Craft. “I light up when I think about my time in college. UPIKE is a place where there is so much freedom to explore new ideas and friendships.” 22
UPIKE MAGAZINE | FALL/WINTER 2021
Upon graduating with a B.S. in communication, she married fellow alum James Wiley Craft ’67. They were married for 10 years and blessed with a daughter, Sammi Lauren Craft. James was a prominent attorney serving Kentucky for more than 50 years and the well-respected mayor for Whitesburg from 2007 until his death in June. One of James’ many efforts serving as mayor was to restore some of the historic buildings in downtown Whitesburg. In August 2019, Reader’s Digest named Whitesburg one of the “25 Most Stunning Mountain Towns in America” on a list that included such
