Eula Hall
Recipent of Leadership Kentucky's
2009 Flame of Excellece Award
On Thursday, December 9, 2009, a large group of Leadership Kentucky alumni and friends gathered in Lexington at the Lexington Convention Center for the 8th Annual Executive Forum & Luncheon. The highlight of this annual forum is the presentation of Leadership Kentucky’s Flame of Excellence Award.
Barbara W. Jones, ’01, Chair, kicked off the day’s festivities with her warm welcome to all attendees. Mrs. Jones then introduced Elmer Keith Whitaker, ’06 & LKY Board. Mr. Whitaker serves as Executive Vice President of Whitaker Bank Corporation of Kentucky, the Presenting Sponsor for the Forum. He spoke briefly to the assembled group about his Leadership Kentucky experience and Whitaker Bank Corporation’s interest in supporting leadership throughout the Commonwealth.
Diana Ratliff, President, ’97, introduced the newest alumnae of the organization, the members of the Class of 2009. They stood and were recognized by a round of applause from the group for their accomplishment.
Steven R. (Steve) Price, ’09, did an outstanding job with the Invocation. Steve serves as organist and worship coordinator for the Georgetown Baptist Church.
After an excellent meal, our featured luncheon speaker, Dr. Terry Anderson, former AP Reporter/Middle East Hostage, took the stage. Dr. Anderson currently teaches a course on international journalism at the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications, and works on projects with the UK Institute of Rural Journalism and Community Issues. Through his remarks and soft-spoken manner, he shared his global perspective on leaders and leadership with the group. Dr. Anderson then graciously fielded several questions from the group.
Next on the day’s agenda was the formal presentation of the 2009 Flame of Excellence Award by Barbara W. Jones, ’01, Chair, to Dr. Eula Hall, founder of the Mud Creek Clinic. Mrs. Hall has been called “Kentucky’s Godmother to the Poor” and her life’s work has been spent toiling in one of the poorest most isolated sections of America. Without formal education, but fueled by her passion and desire to help others, Eula Hall is a true leader in every sense of the word. She embraced the mountain tradition of leftist political activism early, guided by her father’s Good Samaritan attitude.
To celebrate the occasion, Mrs. Hall was joined by two of her sons, Troy and Dean. Also present for the event were Dean’s wife, Shelia and their son, Brandon, close friends John and Jean Rosenberg from Prestonsburg, and Kiran Bhatraju, who is working on a Eula’s biography.
Mac Wall, ’04, LKY Board, Executive Director of KET, conducted an on-stage interview with Mrs. Hall after she was presented with the Flame of Excellence Award. Mac did his usual excellent job with the interview, posing questions that allowed Dr. Hall to talk candidly about her experiences. She spoke passionately about what life was like when she was a young girl in a remote section of eastern Kentucky and the incredible suffering she saw because of the lack of medical attention for the poor – she watched as her mother almost bled to death as a result of childbirth. Many in her community died from the lack of care and it certainly left its mark on Eula. Her tireless efforts have saved many lives and given hope to many where there was none.
For her many years of hard work and dedicated service to others, Mrs. Hall is the recipient of two honorary doctorate degrees, one from Trinity College in Hartford, CT and the second from Berea College. During the interview, Mac disclosed that while receiving her honorary degree from Berea, she rode in the limousine and talked at length with another recipient, Desmond Tutu.
Despite her age and age-related health issues, Eula Hall remains invigorated by her work, pushed by the ever-present need, and feels a sense of joy that some progress has been made. She continues to work long hours every day and spends a great deal of her personal income on medications for members of her community who cannot afford their prescriptions.
At the conclusion of the interview, Diana Ratliff, President, offered her sincere thanks to Dr. Terry Anderson, featured speaker; Dr. Eula Hall, Flame of Excellence Award Recipient; Steve Price; and Barbara Jones for the important roles they played in the day’s program. She also recognized again the sponsors for this successful event: Presenting Sponsor: Whitaker Bank Corporation of Kentucky; Gold Sponsor: Kentucky Power (AEP); and Silver Sponsors: Cooley Medical; EKU-Continuing Education & Outreach; E.ON U.S.; and Hall Funeral Home.
The Flame of Excellence Award is given to proudly honor significant Kentuckians bravely leading the way. Leadership Kentucky is privileged to honor Eula Hall for the contributions she has made to Kentucky and beyond.
Past Flame of Excellence Award Recipients:
2002 Dr. Thomas D. Clark
2003 Edward T. “Ned” Breathitt
2004 John R. Hall
2005 Martha Layne Collins
2006 Wendell H. Ford
2007 Albert P. Smith, Jr.
2008 David A. Jones
