The Madisonville Messenger
November 4, 2004

With fishing stories and accolades, many of Brown Badgett Sr.'s friends -- including the governor and two University of Kentucky basketball coaches -- honored him Thursday for his generous contributions to the community.

Brown Badgett Sr. Appreciation Day, held at Glema Mahr Center for the Arts, marked the announcement of his $1.2 million gift to Madisonville Community College. As a result, the planned Energy and Advanced Technology Center will be named in his honor.

"It will be a legacy to Brown Badgett and the Badgett family that always his name will be on that building," Dr. Judy Rhoads, MCC president, said to the crowd of about 500 people.

"Our center is different than other centers in Kentucky because it features energy," she said. "No one has been more supportive of our efforts than Brown Badgett."

The Madisonville businessman flew a group of 12 people to Frankfort to promote the project with Gov. Ernie Fletcher during the last legislative session. The $14 million project received partial funding in Fletcher's recommended budget, but the General Assembly failed to pass a state spending plan because of partisan bickering.

Local officials hope the project will be fully funded next year.

"We are hopeful in the next legislative session, the Energy and Advanced Technology Center will be funded," Rhoads said. "The governor is here. The legislators are here. It's a strong statement that the center is needed and can make a real difference in economic development and education in our community."

Badgett's gift, which comes in the form of an irrevocable life insurance policy, won't be used for construction costs. Instead, it will go to the college's endowments. When combined with his past gifts, it totals nearly $1.6 million, making him eligible to have something at the school named for him.

Fletcher, who sat next to Badgett during the ceremony, called him "a true friend of education, true friend of sports and true friend of the commonwealth of Kentucky."

"Here is an individual that has been contributing to Kentucky for a number of years, but still understands new techniques and technologies are needed," Fletcher said. "As we look at the new technology in coal -- coal-bed methane, particularly -- it's important that we have individuals like this who continue to contribute."

Public colleges need the support of private individuals, he said.

Fletcher praised Badgett for his "work over the years and support of Kentucky in all spectrums, making sure we have jobs available, improving extraction of our natural resources, providing support for our athletic programs and, not only that, support of education."

UK basketball coach Tubby Smith moved up on the program so he could head back to Lexington for basketball practice.

"Mr. Badgett was the one who suggested I better get back for practice," Smith said, to the crowd's laughter.

Smith said he was pleased to be in Madisonville "to help honor Mr. Badgett and show him appreciation for all the things he's done during the year, not just athletics and Kentucky athletics, but for his community."

Then, came the fish stories -- most centering around a fishing trip Smith took with Badgett.

"I made a mistake and caught a fish bigger than Mr. Badgett caught," Smith said. "That was a no-no."

Former UK coach Joe B. Hall and equipment manager Bill Keightley, known as "Mr. Wildcat," -- who were both at Thursday's event -- had warned him not to do that.

"But I couldn't help it," Smith said. "You know, that was the last time I went on a fishing trip."

When Hall came to the podium, he said, "Brown Badgett, first I want to warn Tubby. Catching that big fish was a bad mistake, but telling all these people about it -- you'll never get to go on that trip."

Hall listed his heroes, mostly sports stars.

"We've all had heroes," he said. "People we aspire to be like. ... It doesn't seem like we manufacture heroes like we used to. What's so refreshing is to see a community recognize one of its own as a hero."

Other speakers included Michael Pape from U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield's office and retired Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Thomas B. Spain, who filled his time at the podium with numerous jokes.

"I was a shy, timid lad until I went fishing with Brown Badgett," Spain said.

Then, the presentations began. Badgett was given a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol, a certificate of congressional recognition, a resolution that Thursday was Brown Badgett Sr. Day in Hopkins County, a Kentucky Senate citation, framed letter from Madisonville Mayor Karen Cunningham, a banner with students' signatures" and more.

"I didn't know I was such a nice guy until today," Badgett said.

"I want to thank everybody here for this honor being bestowed on me," he said. "We all contribute to making a great place out of the Madisonville community."

He said he and his wife, Heidi, still think Madisonville is the best town on Earth as the signs used to proclaim.

As for the fish -- the one Smith caught weighed 124 pounds, Badgett said.

"I heard Tubby telling the other day that it weighed 724 pounds," he said, adding that Smith has been hanging around Hall too much.

Badgett concluded, "I'm going to make it a good speech and make it short and say thanks so much."