Black (from page 5)
Visitors Bureau, and city and state resources, the
people of Paducah have worked hard since the late
1980s to revitalize their community.
Black’s voice conveyed his enthusiasm for what
they were collectively able to accomplish. “We
decided our vacant downtown would survive if
we took responsibility as a group,” Black said with
conviction. Paducah’s downtown pulses as the
center of an arts and entertainment district. People
clamor to live downtown. There are more than a
dozen thriving local restaurants, an award-winning
community theatre, a world-class performing arts
center, a symphony, a cinema, a lively local music
scene, the National Quilt Museum, and much more;
all attesting to a much healthier city. “Paducah’s
downtown is vibrant now,” Black said.
His construction philosophy and his family’s legacy
of building with integrity led Black and his wife,
Nancy, to look to an entirely different arena of
service as they sought to help their community –
and others.
Black’s father, William Black, passed away in
2002. He was a 1942 graduate of the UK College
of Education, played football and baseball, and
was player/coach of the baseball team as a senior
in 1942 when the full-time coach enlisted in the
military. Bill Black, as he was known, had a lifelong
love of the University; he served as an alumni
representative on the UK Board of Trustees for
four terms. He also served as the chairman of the
Paducah Board of Education for 22 years, and
Chris’ brother, Bill Black Jr., served for a quartercentury on the school board for the same system.
His sister, Ginny Coltharp, also a College of
Education alum, was a teacher in Paducah Public
Schools, too.
“Our family has always believed that public
education in the United States is the best
opportunity to level the playing field,” Black noted.
Black wanted to honor his father’s memory and
life’s work. He and Nancy decided the best way to
do it was to establish a scholarship in his father’s
name at the College of Education.
“My father was concerned about the disparity
created when economic needs interfered with
academic achievement,” Black said.
And so, the Blacks established a scholarship for
students who ultimately want to work with at-risk
students in Kentucky.
Through the scholarship, the Blacks want to help
talented young people become great educators,
hopefully in Kentucky, thus helping them to become
part of their community’s foundation for building a
vibrant future.
“It’s about planning, building and putting in place
something that will last,” Black said. “From there,
opportunities abound.” «
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