Robert L. Goodpaster

Robert L. (Bob) Goodpaster, 81, died Saturday, June 14, 2003 at home in Ashland, Kentucky following an extended illness. Dr. Goodpaster was Director of Ashland Community College, University of Kentucky for 26 years and at the time of his death was President Emeritus. Following his retirement from ACC, he became the Director of the Morehead State University Ashland Area Extended Campus Center for five years. His retirement in 1992 marked the end of 45 years of educational service to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He remained active in education and community development until his death. Born in Bath County, Kentucky, February 15, 1922 to the late Raymond and Alta Barber Goodpaster, Bob was raised and educated in Fleming County. He earned a BS degree in Agriculture, an MS degree in Agricultural Education and an Ed.D in Educational Administration from the University of Kentucky. Bob spent four years in the United States Army during WWII, followed by seven years of active Reserves. He began his educational career as a vocational agricultural teacher in Franklin County and then in Bourbon County. As an employee of the University of Kentucky, he taught Agriculture Education as a supervising teacher for six years. Prior to coming to Ashland in 1961 as the Director of Ashland Community College, he served as Superintendent of Bourbon County Schools for five years. Various boards on which he served on local, regional, state and national levels included: Heritage Bank, as a Founding Director; Ashland Federal Savings and Loan, now Classic Bank, as a former Director; King’s Daughters’ Medical Center Board of Incorporators, the Boyd County Conservation District Board as a longtime member, the 8th Area Kentucky Association of Conservation District Board, and the Big Sandy Resource Conservation and Development Board. For six years, he served on the Accreditation Team for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. He was a UK Fellow, a Life Member of both the UK Alumni Association and the UK College of Agriculture Alumni. Always eager to learn throughout his life, Bob participated in several workshops and American Association of Colleges and Junior Colleges Presidents Academies throughout the country. He was an active member and former deacon of both the First Baptist Church in Ashland and in Paris, Kentucky for several years. Bob was named Distinguished Alumnus of the UK College of Agriculture Alumni Association in 1980. He received the Distinguished Service Award from Ashland Community College, the Distinguished Service Award Northeast Agriculture Alumni, Honor Award from the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts, and the Special Achievement Award from the Fivco Area Development District. He was also honored with the dedication of the Goodpaster Building at Ashland Community College in 1997. In 2001, Bob was recognized as a Benefactor of the Year by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Dan Goodpaster and his two sisters, Carolyn (Katie) Horton and Enid Denton. Immediate survivors are his wife, Pat Ross Goodpaster, a son Ross Goodpaster (Donna) of Gonzales, Louisiana, a daughter, Bobbie Mays (John) of Ashland, Kentucky and three granddaughters, Rhoda Goodpaster (Gonzales, Louisiana) and Emily Mays and Sarah Mays, of Ashland. Funeral services will be at the First Baptist Church, 1701 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, KY at 1pm on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 followed by burial at the Ashland Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Steen Funeral Home- Marshall Steen Chapel, 3409 13th Street, Ashland, on Monday from 5-9pm. Honorary pallbearer is Dr. A. D. Albright. Active pallbearers will be Dr. Greg Adkins, Bruce Leslie, Fred Burns, Hank Clark, Ray Horton, Bill Scaggs, and John Short. Honorary pallbearers will be the former ACC Advisory Board, Faculty and Staff. Favorite memorials suggested to: First Baptist Church, 1701 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, KY 41101; Community Hospice, 1538 Central Avenue, Ashland, KY 41101; or the previously established Bob and Pat Goodpaster Scholarship Fund for the Non- Traditional Student at ACTCS, 1400 College Drive, Ashland, KY 41101. Guest book at Legacy.com