Class Notes 1960s
Chantal Helen Robbins ’70 and Clell N. Robbins Jr ’69 met at UPIKE and celebrated their 50th anniversary in March.
1970s
Big I Kentucky, the state’s leading insurance trade association, awarded the 2019 E. Starling Holloway Insurer of the Year Award to James England ’70. This award is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution, enhanced the ideals and reputation of the insurance industry or has made a significant contribution to their community, state and country. England is the Senior Vice President of Peoples Insurance Agency, LLC, in Pikeville. A graduate of Pikeville College, England earned his Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) designation in 2005. During his time with Big I Kentucky, he has been involved in every level of the association, including as president in 2005. Most recently, he became treasurer, a member of the Government Affairs Committee and is co-chair of the Kentucky Agents Political Action Committee. Former Paintsville Tiger Head Coach Bill Mike Runyon ’78 was voted into the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame by his coaching peers. Runyon says it is an honor and a very humbling experience. Paintsville had not reached the state tournament in 52 years before Runyon’s arrival, but in his tenure, the Tigers won eight 15th Region titles, eight All “A” Classic titles and 15 57th District crowns. The coach also led Paintsville to the 1996 Sweet Sixteen state championship. Runyon, who is now the Mayor of Paintsville, finished his 29-year coaching career with a 581-388 record and is 27th in all-time wins in the Commonwealth’s history. He retired in 2008, but turned his attention to public service as he was a member of Paintsville’s City Council. Mayor Runyon is extremely proud of his team’s record and his community.
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1980s
Community Trust Bank Inc., was honored for the 11th consecutive year with the “Gold Lender Award” from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as Kentucky’s Top Volume SBA 7a Community Bank Lender in the federal fiscal year 2018-19. The award was presented Nov. 15, 2019, at the SBA Lender’s Conference at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., to Terry Spears ’84, vice president/ small business banking officer. He says they plan to continue to use all lending tools available to help small businesses grow stronger and to create jobs in the communities they serve in Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee.
1990s
Joey Thacker ’97, head girl’s basketball coach for Franklin County High School (FCHS) in Frankfort, Ky., recently celebrated 400 career victories. Thacker came to FCHS in 1999, where he was the football and baseball coach and served as the assistant boy’s basketball coach. He took over the FCHS program in 2003 and is in his 17th year at the school. During Thacker’s tenure at FCHS, the Lady Flyers made three straight state tournament appearances in 2015, 2016 and 2017, finishing as state runners-up in 2016 and 2017. Thacker is currently the president of the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches, the first head girl’s basketball coach to hold the position, and is taking classes to receive his Rank I with plans to become a principal.
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UPIKE MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2020
