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Outstanding leader, educator and family man
Dr. James R. Ramsey is that rare individual
who is revered as much for the problems he's solved
as in the spirited way in which he solves them.
Mayor Abramson: Jim Ramsey has a very unique spirit about him.
You can see it in his smile, you can see it in the twinkle of his eyes
You really have a feel that there's something inside that man
that's beyond the facade you're visiting with
But you take that toward mastering the successes
that he's been involved in
the academic successes, personally
the opportunities he's brought to state government, Western
UofL, North Carolina. Everytime he's been engaged
He's been the master in the area in which he has responsibility for
and he has been a leader in each one of those spaces.
Narrator: A second generation educator
and Hilltopper from Fern Creek, Kentucky
Ramsey's WKU roots run deep
dating back to the mid-50's when the then seven-year-old
had a fated encounter with the legendary coach E.A. ***
following a game.
Ramsey: After the game, Dad took me down on the court and I met coach ***
and he gave me his red towel
that he used during the games.
and I wrote him a thank you note and he sent me a basketball
If that doesn't make you a Hilltopper, nothing will.
There was only one place I was going to school and it was Western.
Retired WKU geography professor, Dr. Jim Davis
remembers Ramsey's student time on the hill.
Davis: From almost the first day
I picked out this young man as someone who I knew was going to be a success
He was tall. He was slender.
He was polite. He was always well organized.
He added to class discussion.
He was friendly. He had it all.
Then on the first test he did so well.
From that point on, I had to separate him from the other 69
as far as grades because he would have killed the curve.
Jim, of course, was very successful in the class
then he was successful at Western and went on and has had a wonderful career
but I knew form the get-go that he was slated for something big.
Narrator: Ramsey recevied a bachelor's degree in Business Administration
from WKU in 1970.
He went onto the University of Kentucky
where he earned his Master's degree and a doctorate in economics.
Dr. Ramsey took a sabbatical from higher education
serving the commonwealth twice as budget director
and as Kentucky's chief economist
through four different administrations.
He returned to WKU as vice president for finance and administration
then back to Frankfort to lead the post-secondary education reform effort
He did a brief stint at the University of North Carolina
before he returned to Kentucky in 2000 for what he calls
a second tour of duty in the Patton administration
Ramsey: I worked three years for Paul
and taught at the University of Louisville
Then in 2002, Dr. Shumaker left UofL
Dr. Garrison left for Unviersity of Alabama-Birmingham
and in a move of desperation
the university asked me if I would be interim, and then later
stay on as president of UofL.
narrator: Dr. Ramsey was named the 17th president of the
Unviersity of Louisville in November of 2002
His tenure there has been marked by great achievement.
And by a growing throng of supporters. Among them
UofL overseer Chuck Denny
the PNC regional president recounts how Dr. Ramsey's signature leadership
helped divert a disaster
when record flooding threatened to postpone the
2009 fall semester.
Denny: When Jim puts that big broad grin on
rallys the troops, rallys the community
and with that spirit, there's nothing we can't accomplish
as long as we work together.
As long as everybody knows where we're going.
and is willing to work.
And Jim sets the standard on the passion, on the work ethic
on optimisim for everyone fortunate enough to be on his team.
Narrator: Dr. Ramsey has received many honors
including Kentucky economist of the year
in 1999
Louisville business leader of the year in 2007
and the 2010 Louisvillian of the Year.
For Jim Ramsey of Fern Creek, Kentucky
remains his foundation in humility.
Ramsey: I always say in life there are three things important. Your faith,
your family and your friends.
Nobody's been more blessed than me.
A few weeks ago I was asaked to speak in front of a group
at the Louisvillian of the year award
I told a story Dero Downing told me over a decade ago
Dero was friends with Ron Meredith, federal judge
and Ron would finish every phone conversation with Dero by saying, 'Dero
don't worry about me, i'm drinking from the saucer
because my cup has overflowed.'
you know, my cup has overflowed, I've been very blessed
with a very strong faith, incredible family
and by friends who believed in me more than i could believe in myself
Narrator: 2010 Hall of Distinguished Alumni
inductee, Dr. James Ramsey.