Daughters Contribute Funds as Mother's Day Gesture

Publicity Flyer (PDF)

HOPKINSVILLE, KY (May 7, 2004) - Pamela J. Thomas of Henderson, Kentucky; Debbie T. James, of Peachtree City, Georgia; and Francie W. Thomas, of Ellijay, Georgia, have invested in the Fulfilling the Promise Major Gifts Campaign for Hopkinsville Community College.

Pam, Debbie, and Francie's $6,000 gift in honor of their mother will allow the Hopkinsville Community College Foundation, Inc. to establish the Frances G. Thomas Round Table Literary Park Endowment. Spending distributions from the perpetual investment will support the preservation and enhancement of Round Table Literary Park. Endowment earnings will also be used to promote and encourage the use of the park by elementary, middle, and high school students; by community college students; and by local civic groups.

Pam, Debbie, and Francie made the gift as a Mother's Day gesture honoring HCC Faculty Emeritus, Frances G. Thomas, who taught English and creative writing from the college's inaugural year in 1965 until her retirement in 1996.

"Mother truly loved teaching at HCC, and Round Table Park is still very special to her," said Pam Thomas. "We wanted to do something to pay tribute to her life's work. An endowment to support the park seemed quite appropriate. When visiting Mother, my sisters and I enjoy family picnics with her at the park, and we are so delighted that the college continues the annual tradition of unveiling the literary magazine at the park."

Since learning of the daughters' Mother's Day gesture, additional investors have pledged over $4,000 toward the project bringing the total principal of the endowment in excess of $10,000. Additional contributions to the endowment may be made by others at any time in any amount. Supporters have set a near-term goal of $20,000 to $25,000 for the endowment.

Professor Thomas and a small group of honor students in her creative writing class established The Round Table literary magazine in 1965, and the first issue was published in 1967. The Round Table has been published by HCC every year since.

Round Table Literary Park was established by Professor Thomas in 1974 in a grove of trees on the northeast corner of campus with the completion of a replica of King Arthur's Sword in the Stone. A replica of King Arthur's Round Table was added in 1975; a Greco-Roman amphitheatre and sculpture of Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy in 1989; a Medieval Wall in 1992; and the Delphian Tholos in 1995. The John T. Robertson Pool and a sidewalk were added with private funds in 1998. Also of historic interest to the community are stones/artifacts from Bethel College, "Circus in the Attic" House, First Baptist Church, Hopkinsville High School, Virginia Street School, and West Side School which were used for the construction of the amphitheatre.

Round Table Literary Park annually serves as the venue for The Round Table Literary Awards and the unveiling of The Round Table literary magazine.

The magazine and literary park have received national and area recognition in American Heritage magazine, Louisville's Courier-Journal, Nashville's Tennessean, Kentucky Living magazine, Lexington's Herald-Leader, the University of Kentucky's UK Communi-T, the Evansville Courier, and Austin Peay State University's The Alumnus.

Pamela Thomas, Debbie James, and Francie Thomas' generosity and foresight will allow HCC to preserve and enhance the Round Table Literary Park for the enjoyment of future generations of HCC students and local citizens.

HCC's Fulfilling the Promise Major Gifts Campaign centers on three primary initiatives: restricted endowments, unrestricted endowments, and seed funds for the proposed student services facility. Strategic investments are sought from individuals, corporations, and foundations that recognize the importance of HCC and are willing to support the college with private dollars to augment public funds.