Elizabeth Griffin McCoy named 2026 Flame of Excellence Honoree
Leadership Kentucky will present its Flame of Excellence Award to Elizabeth Griffin McCoy, Chief Executive Officer of Planters Bank, during the organization’s 25th Annual Alumni Luncheon in Lexington at the Central Bank Center on January 7, 2027..
The Flame of Excellence Award honors an outstanding Kentuckian who bravely lights the way for others and has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a strong commitment to making a lasting difference throughout the Commonwealth.
The event will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Leadership Kentucky alumni, board members, and guests invited for networking, followed by lunch and the Flame of Excellence Award presentation. Tickets are $100 per person and may be purchased here.
“It is a true privilege for Leadership Kentucky to honor Elizabeth Griffin McCoy with the Flame of Excellence Award,” said Janice Way, President and CEO of Leadership Kentucky. “Elizabeth’s heartfelt commitment to strengthening communities across our Commonwealth is reflected in all she does. Through her leadership at Planters Bank, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the University of Kentucky, and many organizations throughout Kentucky, she continues to make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of others.”
McCoy has served as CEO of Planters Bank, which has 14 locations across Western Kentucky and Montgomery and Davidson counties in Tennesee, for more than over two decades. Under McCoy’s leadership, Planters Bank has grown significantly over the last 25 years with assets totaling $2 billion as of December, 2025.
In addition to her role at Planters Bank, McCoy serves on the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees, where she chairs the Athletic Committee and serves on the Investment and Audit Committees. She also serves on the Kentucky Economic Development Partnership Board, Gatton College of Business Economics Dean’s Advisory Council, and Hopkinsville Industrial Foundation.
McCoy is a past chair of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and prevously served on the St. Louis Federal Reserve Board. She has received numerous honors for her leadership and service, including the Martha Layne Collins Leadership Award as well as the Kentucky Chamber Woman in Leadership Award in 2023.
Originally from London, Kentucky, McCoy graduated from the University of Kentucky and the Gatton School of Business, where she received her MBA. Before becoming CEO of Planters Bank, McCoy worked as a Certified Public Accountant. She lives in Hopkinsville with her husband, Hal, and their son.
Past Leadership Kentucky Flame of Excellence Recipients:
2002 – Dr. Thomas D. Clark, Kentucky Historian Emeritus
2003 – Edward T. “Ned” Breathitt, Former Governor
2004 – John R. Hall, Retired Chairman/CEO, Ashland Inc.
2005 – Martha Layne Collins, Former Governor; Chair/CEO Kentucky World Trade Center
2006 – Wendell H. Ford, U.S. Senate, retired, Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center
2007 – Albert P. Smith, Jr., Retired Host of “Comment on Kentucky”
2008 – David A. Jones, Founder & Former Board Chairman, Humana, Inc.
2009 – Eula Hall, Founder, Mud Creek Clinic
2010 – Owsley Brown Frazier, Founder & Chairman, Frazier International History Museum
2011 – Dr. T. Pearse Lyons, Founder & CEO, Alltech
2012 – William T. Samuels, Jr., Chairman Emeritus, Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc.
2013 – Dr. Lee T. Todd, Jr., Past President, University of Kentucky
2014 – Bill Goodman, former Host, KET
2015 – John A. Williams, Sr., Computer Services, Inc.
2016 – Helen Carroll, Toyota, retired
2017 – William (Bill) Jones, U.S. Bank
2018 – David Adkisson, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, retired
2019 – Myra Ball, Ball Homes and Donamire Farm
2020 – Alice and Wade Houston, HJI Supply Chain Solutions
2021 – Porter G. Peeples, Sr., Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County
2022 – Former Governor Paul E. Patton and Judi Conway Patton
2023 – Wilson W. Wyatt, Sr., LKY Founder, Statesman, (Posthumous)
2024 – Steven E. Trager, Executive Chair of Republic Bank and Republic Bancorp
2025 – Dr. Eli Capilouto, President, University of Kentucky
2026 – Elizabeth Griffin McCoy, Chief Executive Officer, Planters Bank
