Dr. Otis A. Singletary, the University of Kentucky's 7th president, served in the United States Navy during World War Two. Not as well known, Gloria Walton Singletary also served during the war joining the United States Naval Reserve (Women's Reserve), better known as the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service)
Gloria and Otis, met at Perkinston Junior College prior to the war. They were married on D-Day, June 6, 1944 in Moss Point, Mississippi at her father's church. Both had already entered the service and were on leave. They wore their naval uniforms duirng the wedding and following the ceremony "left for the West Coast."
Otis was assigned to a supply ship that operated in the Pacific out of its home base in San Francisco. Gloria became a hospital corpsman at the Naval Hospital in San Diego where she worked as a pharmacist's mate.
Years later, Otis recalled that he was not thrilled with the idea of his new bride being in the military. As he recalled, "I thought maybe we could win the war without Gloria - but she didn't. Actually, Otis admitted he was "impressed by what Gloria did. She had some spunk about her even if I didn't like the idea!
