Home » Gov. Beshear appoints Carol Martin ‘Bill’ Gatton as lifetime honorary trustee on UK Board

Gov. Beshear appoints Carol Martin ‘Bill’ Gatton as lifetime honorary trustee on UK Board

Gatton is largest single donor in school’s history

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 26, 2015) — Gov. Steve Beshear today appointed Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton as a lifetime honorary member of the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees.

Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton
Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton

“Bill’s support for excellence in education at all levels is simply unparalleled,” Beshear said. “A native Kentuckian and a proud UK alum, he has never forgotten that education played a key role in his success, and he’s devoted his life to ensuring others have those same opportunities. By designating him an honorary trustee, his wisdom, counsel and guidance will continue to be an immeasurable benefit to the Board as it governs one of our leading educational institutions in the Commonwealth.”

Gatton is the single largest donor to UK in the school’s history. His recent $20 million contribution for the construction of a new university student center, in addition to generous support for the renovation and expansion of the Gatton College of Business and Economics, bring his total philanthropy to UK to more than $45 million, with a total gift impact of nearly $57 million.

He also provided the founding donation for the creation of the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science at Western Kentucky University, which has been named the best high school in America for three years and was the lead donor to the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy at East Tennessee State University.