MSUAA Leadership

Murray State Alumni Association Board of Governors

In June of 1926, members of the first Murray State Normal School and Teachers College graduating class gathered after commencement to form the Alumni Association. Since then, the Alumni Association's growth has been guided by the Executive Board President, nominated and elected by fellow members of the Alumni Association Board of Governors. 

Organized to coordinate the efforts of alumni on behalf of Murray State University, the Alumni Association serves as a liaison between the University and its alumni constituency and enables graduates to maintain a close bond with their alma mater. The Association promotes the general interests of Murray State by affording alumni opportunities to work together to engage fellow alumni and advance the mission of their alma mater.

Executive Committee

Bret Cude, '81

Bret Cude, '81

President

Gayle Rogers, '10, '15

Gayle Rogers, '10, '15

Immediate Past President

Scott Grant, '07, '09

Scott Grant, '07, '09

President-elect

Jennifer Cline, '97

Jennifer Cline, '97

Vice President

Board of Governors

  • Tab Brockman, '81
  • F. Keith Brown, '81
  • Pam Stocks Butler, '79, '81
  • Betty Baker-Clayton, '84, '08, '10
  • Jessica Crockett, '06
  • Amber DuVentre, '06, '09
  • Brian Edwards, '06
  • Ashley Stevenson-Joiner, '05, '13
  • Jeffrey Liles, '90
  • Barret Looper, '15
  • David Moss, '01 '10
  • Geco Ross, '08, '15
  • Derek Somerville, '98
  • Travis Taylor, '11
  • Alyson Van Hooser, '10

Applications and nominations are accepted online for board members  year-round.  For more information, call Carrie McGinnis, Director of Alumni Relations at 800-758-8510 or email at cmcginnis2@greenenergyfoam.net

Apply to serve on the Board of Governors

Nominate a Racer alumni to serve on Board of Governors

MSUAA Board of Governors expectations

  • Review onboarding documents
  • Attend all Board meetings (2 per year – Distinguished Alumni weekend in April and Homecoming weekend in October) in-person, telephonically or virtually.
  • Participate on committees and in other meetings throughout the year as deemed necessary by the Executive Council.
  • Contribute your talents and skills to help Murray State achieve its goals and objectives and those of MSUAA.
  • Apply the knowledge, skills and abilities you gained, learned or perfected at Murray State for Murray State.
  • Complete at least one of the following:
    o Donate $250 per year over your three-year term in order to become a Lifetime Member of the MSUAA by the term’s end, OR
    o Maintain yearly membership by paying annual dues ($40 Single Membership/$60 Joint), volunteer a minimum of five hours of services per year and recruit five
    new MSUAA members over the length of your term.
  • Be good stewards of the office to which you are elected and good stewards of the University.

Core Pillars of the MSUAA

  • Alumni Engagement
  • Student Recruitment
  • Philanthropy
  • Public Advocacy

Past Murray State Alumni Association Presidents

Members of the first graduating class of Murray State Normal School and Teachers College in June 1926 gathered after commencement to form the Alumni Association. Since then the Alumni Association's growth has been guided by the appointed Executive Board President.

  • 2020 – 2021
    Tab Brockman '81
  • 2019 – 2020
    Taylor Cline '97
  • 2018 – 2019
    Iain Howard '06, Owensboro, KY
  • 2017 – 2018
    Jerry Penner III '83, Murray, KY
  • 2016 – 2017
    Elizabeth Bailey-Smith  `90  `92, Marion, IL
  • 2015 – 2016
    Shawn Reynolds ’97, Almo, KY
  • 2014 – 2015
    David Moss ’01 ’10, Madisonville, KY
  • 2013 – 2014
    Jason Pittman ’03, Murray, KY
  • 2012 – 2013
    Dave Washburn ’95 ’96, Benton, KY
  • 2011 – 2012
    Karen Cocke Owen ’83, Calvert City, KY
  • 2010 – 2011
    Sonny Smith '78, Paducah, KY
  • 2009 – 2010 
    Bob Upton ’77, Franklin, TN
  • 2008 – 2009
    Jane Freeman Wells ’60, Eddyville, KY
  • 2007 – 2008
    Phillip Van Hooser ’79, Princeton, KY
  • 2006 – 2007
    Sharon McDonald Green ’80, Mayfield, KY
  • 2005 – 2006 
    Alan Stout ’78, Prospect, KY
  • 2004 – 2005
    Darvin Towery ’82 ’91, Mayfield, KY
  • 2003 – 2004
    Christopher McNeill ’88 ’89, Paducah, KY  
  • 2002 – 2003
    Martha Cunningham Lewis ’60 ’69,  Benton, KY
  • 2001 – 2002
    Percy Belt ’73, Hopkinsville, KY
  • 2000 – 2001
    Tom Maddox Jr. ’65, Owensboro, KY
  • 1999 – 2000
    Brian Roy ’95, Benton. KY  
  • 1998 – 1999
    Bob Freeman ’58, Hopkinsville, KY   
  • 1997 – 1998
    Ann J. Smith ’59 ’62, Mayfield, KY 
  • 1996 – 1997
    Bob Jackson ’85, Murray, KY
  • 1995 – 1996
    Roger Perry ’71, Benton. KY
  • 1994 – 1995
    Harold Doran Jr. ’75, Murray, KY
  • 1993 – 1994
    Dennis Jackson ’66, Paducah, KY 
  • 1992 – 1993
    William "Mack" Bushart '80, Winchester, KY
  • 1991 – 1992
    Steve Story ’69, Murray, KY
  • 1990 – 1991
    Jeff Green ’76, Mayfield, KY   
  • 1989 – 1990
    Bill O’Brien ’62, Paducah, KY   
  • 1988 – 1989
    Ben Hogancamp ’68, Paducah, KY
  • 1987 – 1988
    Fred Schultz Jr. ’46, Louisville, KY
  • 1986 – 1987
    Bill Kopperud ’64, Murray, KY
  • 1985 – 1986
    George E. Long II ’68, Benton, KY
  • 1984 – 1985
    Rex A. Thompson ’58, Lexington, KY    
  • 1983 – 1984
    Dan Shipley ’54, Murray, KY
  • 1982 – 1983
    James E. “Buck” Hurley ’39, Benton, KY   
  • 1981 – 1982
    William Ben Humphreys ’50, Murray, KY   
  • 1980 – 1981
    Bill Morgan ’50, Benton, KY
  • 1979 – 1980
    Michael S. Peek ’70, Nashville, TN   
  • 1978 – 1979
    Sid Easley ’62, Murray, KY
  • 1977 – 1978
    Pat M. McCuiston `39, Kirksey, KY  
  • 1976 – 1977
    Richard H. Lewis ’60,  Benton, KY
  • 1975 – 1976
    James H. Johnson ’41, Owensboro, KY   
  • 1974 – 1975
    Edwin O. Norris ’50, Kingsport, TN
  • 1973 – 1974
    William A. Logan ’56, Madisonville, KY  
  • 1972 – 1973
    Martha Robertson Ellison ’45, Louisville, KY
  • 1971 – 1972
    Forrest C. Pogue ’31, Murray, KY
  • 1970 – 1971
    Richard L. Petty ’60, Gainesville, GA
  • 1969 – 1970
    Barkley Jones '49, Parkville, MD
  • 1968-1969
    Max Hurt ’27, Kirksey, KY
  • 1967 – 1968
    J. William Carneal ’40, Owensboro, KY
  • 1966 – 1967
    Angie Basenback Chambers ’59, Charlotte, NC
  • 1965 – 1966
    J. C. Maddox ’30, Jackson, TN
  • 1964 – 1965
    Joe O. Brown ’41, Bardstown, KY  
  • 1963 – 1964
    Wilson Gantt ’41, Murray, KY
  • 1962 – 1963
    Howard V. Reid ’35, Symsonia, KY
  • 1961 – 1962
    J. D. Rayburn ’35, Murray, KY
  • 1960 – 1961
    Charles J. Baugh ’38, Hickory, KY
  • 1959 – 1960
    Pat Gingles ’42, Nashville, TN
  • 1958 – 1959
    W. Roy McDonald ’34, Cadiz, KY
  • 1957 – 1958
    J. Clifton Thurman ’29, Nashville, TN
  • 1956 – 1957
    Eltis Henson ’33, Galesburg, IL
  • 1955 – 1956
    James Phillips ’36, Clinton, KY
  • 1954 – 1955
    Dalton Woodall ’37, Paducah, KY
  • 1952 – 1954
    Rayburn Watkins ’43 Delray Beach. FL
  • 1950 – 1952
    William Ray Mofield ’43,  Benton, KY
  • 1949 – 1950
    Guy Billington ’33, Murray, KY
  • 1947 – 1949
    Hal Houston ’30 
  • 1946 – 1947
    W. Z. Carter ’29 
  • 1945 – 1946
    Holland Rose ’32, Benton, KY
  • 1944 – 1945
    Evelyn Linn Allbritten ’26, Murray, KY 
  • 1942 – 1944
    Dentis McDaniel ’31, Clinton, KY
  • 1939 – 1942
    Adron Doran ’32, Lexington, KY
  • 1938 – 1939
    Robert Everett ’36
  • 1937 – 1938
    Preston Holland ’28, Murray, KY
  • 1936 – 1937
    Matt Sparkman ’28, Murray, KY
  • 1935 – 1936
    Waylon Rayburn ’30, Murray, KY
  • 1933 – 1935
    Carmon Graham ’27
  • 1932 – 1933
    Waylon Rayburn ’30, Murray, KY
  • 1931 – 1932
    Max B. Hurt ’27, Kirksey, KY
  • 1930 – 1931
    S. Jack Gardner ’27, Clarksville, IN
  • 1929 – 1930
    W. B. Moser ’26,  Murray, KY
  • 1928 – 1929
    W.  J. Gibson ’27
  • 1927 – 1928
    Carmon Graham ’27
  • 1926 – 1927
    Emma J. Helm '26, Mayfield, KY

Mission

The MSUAA connects, celebrates and engages alumni and friends of the University through communication, activities and events to foster lifelong relationships that support the mission and strategic plan of Murray State.

Read the bylaws

Vision

The MSUAA will be recognized internationally for excellence in alumni engagement through communication, activities and events, and for collaborating with other University units to produce more effective student recruitment, donor solicitation and stewardship and legislative advocacy.

Purpose

To coordinate the efforts of alumni on behalf of Murray State University, the MSUAA serves as a liaison between the University and its alumni constituency and enables graduates to maintain a close bond with their alma mater. The MSUAA promotes the general interests of Murray State by affording alumni opportunities to work together to engage fellow alumni and advance the mission of their alma mater.

Academic Excellence

Each year the MSUAA awards the Distinguished Alumni award to alumni who have distinguished themselves above their peers personally and professionally and who have made an impact at the local, state and national level. The MSUAA also has the privilege of awarding annually the Distinguished Professor Award. Recipients of the honor are nominated by their students and selected by the Executive Committee of the MSUAA.

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