The legacy of James K. Patterson is remembered across the UK campus because of the Patterson Office Tower, the Patterson statue, Patterson Hall, and the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. UK's first president served four decades before retiring in 1910. He is credited with guiding the university through its difficult early years and setting the institution on a path to become today's modern public research university.
What many may not know is that President Patterson was born March 26, 1833 in the Gorbals parish of Glasgow, Scotland. His family immigrated to a farm near Madison, Indiana in 1842.
Moreover, at the age of four, an accident severely injured young Patterson's leg requiring him to walk with the aid of a crutch (which can be seen as part of the statue) for the remainder of his life.
UK's founding president overcame his immigrant status, a disability, and meager family resources to play a crucial role in the history of the University of Kentucky.
 |
Photograph of Main Street Gorbals,1868
|
Today, the University of Kentucky welcomes students, faculty, and staff from across the globe and is committed to a policy of providing opportunities to people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.
I trust that commitment on the part of UK would have made President James K. Patterson proud.
No comments:
Post a Comment