March 18, 2010
For Immediate Release
By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville University undergraduates will hear former Congressman Ron Lewis, who now serves as a member of the CU Board of Trustees, at 9 a.m. EDT Saturday, May 8, in the Powell Athletic Center at 203 Tiger Way, Campbellsville, Ky., for their commencement address.
The Graduate Spring Commencement will be Friday, May 7 at 7 p.m. EDT in the Randsell Chapel at 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville. Dr. Darlene Eastridge, dean of the Carver School of Social Work and Counseling, will speak at the graduate commencement.
Each group of candidates for graduation should report 30 minutes before the time of their commencement at the Davenport Student Commons for their graduate walk.
The Office of Alumni Relations invites May graduates (undergraduate and graduate candidates) and their guests to the 2010 Spring Graduation Picnic on Friday, May 7 from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m on Stapp Lawn.
Each graduate will receive four complimentary tickets (one for the graduate and three additional guests). Additional tickets may be purchased for $5 each from the Office of Development. You should RSVP by April 30 to 800-264-6014, ext. 5211, or e-mail alumni@campbellsville.edu. Tickets can be picked up in the Office of Development during regular business hours or delivered through campus mail.
Lewis served in the United States Congress from May 23, 1994 to Jan. 3, 2009. After his 14 years of service, he retired from the House of Representatives, having served as a member of the influential Ways and Means Committee.
His legislative accomplishments demonstrate policy expertise with veterans issues, national defense, trade, taxes, agriculture, business, social security, health care and rural development.
He facilitated and fostered numerous bi-partisan relationships within Congress and throughout the nation and is known for his expertise in communicating complex policy issues to diverse audiences.
Lewis represented the second District of Kentucky. He recently donated his papers to the Montgomery Library at Campbellsville University.
Among his legislative accomplishments, Lewis served on the agriculture, government reform and veterans and armed services committee. He coordinated a bi-partisan congressional delegation, representing nine tobacco producing states, to negotiate tobacco buyout legislation that allows domestic growers to better compete with foreign producers.
As a member of the government reform national security subcommittee, Lewis traveled to Iraq in February 2004 to assess progress being made by coalition troops.
He established Central Kentucky PRIDE, a nonprofit organization designed to identify and address environmental concerns across the Second Congressional District.
Lewis also secured appropriation dollars for high-quality community development projects including transportation needs, medical facilities and water and sewer infrastructure.
As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Lewis authored legislation including, but not limited to the following: Precision, Agriculture, Research, Education and Information Dissemination Act of 1997, the Family Impact Act of 1998, the Agriculture Business Security Tax Credit Act of 2004, Rural Communities Investment Act and New Markets Tax Credit Reauthorization Act.
Lewis received a master of arts in Morehead State University in 1981 with an area in higher education. He received a bachelor of arts from the University of Kentucky in 1969 with areas in history and political science. He attended The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1980 to 1981. He has an honorary doctorate from Campbellsville University.
Among his awards include: named “Friend of Farm Bureau” by the American Farm Bureau Federation, awarded the Spirit of Free Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, recognized as “Hero of the Taxpayer” by Americans for Tax Reform and recognized by several groups for his voting record.
Lewis pastored White Mills Baptist Church until he was elected to Congress. He has served as pastor in the Lynne Association and Severns Valley Association. He has also owned and operated Alpha Christian Bookstore in Elizabethtown, Ky., and worked for equipment companies and Ashland Corporation and Gulf Power Corporation. He was a member of the Hardin and LaRue Jail Ministry from 1980 to 1996 and served as president in 1996.
Lewis lives in Cecilia, Ky., with his wife, Kayi. They have two children, Ronald Brent Lewis and Allison Faye Coffey.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 3,006 students who represent 97 Kentucky counties, 30 states and 37 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2010 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 23rd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South, tied for fifth in “most international students” and fourth in “up-and-coming” schools in baccalaureate colleges in the South. CU has been ranked 17 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges® and to G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his 11th year as president.