The Messenger
November 8, 2003

Madisonville Community College will honor First United Bank and First National Bank of Muhlenberg County at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System's President's Gala and Benefactors Awards Dinner tonight.

Both banks are "longtime friends of the college," said MCC President Dr. Judy Rhoads.

"First National Bank and their board members have provided over $400,000 in private support to the Muhlenberg campus since 1994," Rhoads said.

"Likewise, First United Bank is a contributor in many different areas to campus life in Madisonville," she said. "The bank continues to sponsor our popular Coffeehouse series at the Glema Center, and (Bank President) Steve Cox is currently chair of the Madisonville College Foundation. Jim McMurtrie has worked very hard over the past 48 months to grow our community choir, and other bank employees have worked on the college's behalf.

"Both banks recognize that private support and volunteer efforts make our college a quality one," Rhoads said. "We, as a college, are honored to be able to recognize their efforts."

First National Bank and First United Bank join six other benefactors recognized by MCC during the past three years. They are Richard Frymire and Trover Foundation of Madisonville, John Stovall and Muhlenberg Community Hospital of Greenville, the Everly Brothers Foundation of Central City and Old National Bank.

The fourth annual gala and dinner is being held in the Bluegrass Grand Ballroom of the Lexington Center Heritage Hall.

At the system level, KCTCS is honoring Martha C. Johnson of Lexington and the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

Johnson served for six years on the KCTCS Board of Regents, and was its founding chair. She currently serves as a member of the KCTCS Foundation Inc. She is vice president of divisional communications for Ashland Inc., based in Lexington.

The Kentucky Colonels are being honored for donating to KCTCS $320,000 over five years to establish the Kentucky Colonels Better Life Scholarship Program. KCTCS announced the donation recently while kicking off its major gifts campaign, called "Fulfilling the Promise."