Three Named 2002 Distinguished Alumni

Gerald W. Atkinson of Mt. Sterling, Tim Isaacs, '81, of Horse Cave, and Ken Martin, ‘75, of Cadiz have been named 2002 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award given by the UK College of Agriculture. The awards were presented during 2002 Roundup festivities.
This award is given annually to alumni over the age of 41 who have supported the college as well as their communities. The state winners were chosen from distinguished alumni named by ag alumni associations in 15 areas across the state.

* Distinguished Alumni Area Winners for 2002 are, left to right: Cindi Sullivan, Louisville; Larry Dame, Green River; Gerald Atkinson, Licking River; Ken Martin, Wilderness Trail; Danny Wilkinson, Lake Cumberland; Daniel Blevins, Northeast North; George L. Hall, Lincoln Trail; David Pettus, Fort Harrod; George Pettit, Pennyrile; Samuel Francis, Bluegrass; Tim Isaacs, Mammoth Cave; and Richard Jett, Quicksand. Not pictured is Gary Wilmhoff, Northern Kentucky.

Gerald Atkinson, from the Licking River Area, began his relationship with the College in 1982 as an ag agent in Fleming County. After serving in this position for 10 years, he worked as program director of Cooperative Extension for the Northeastern Kentucky Area from 1992 to 1997. Currently, Atkinson is employed as the tourism director for Mt. Sterling.
Atkinson has served as board member for his local Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Montgomery County, and the Kentucky Tourism Council. He has supported the College of Agriculture by conducting on-farm testing of tobacco, dairy forages, and corn. He has also conducted annual career days in conjunction with UK to acquaint students with the University. He and his wife, Judy Rogers Atkinson, have two children, Sander and Heather Leigh.

Tim Isaacs, from the Mammoth Cave Area, after graduating with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture, became owner/operator of a dairy farm, milking up to 200 regular Holsteins. In 1990, he converted his herd to a beef operation of 500 regular Angus cows.

He is president of the Hart County Cattlemen's Association, director of the Kentucky Angus Association, and chairman of the board of directors for Southern States-Horse Cave. Isaacs has received awards including the Master Herdsperson Award, Reserve Champion Cow/Calf award at the Kentucky Angus Sweepstakes, Farmer/Agribusiness of the Year from the Hart County Chamber of Commerce, and the Outstanding Cooperator award from the Hart County Conservation District.

Isaacs regularly supports the College and other educational programs by serving as a 4-H volunteer leader for livestock judging teams and beef projects. He also hosts field days for the UK Cooperative Extension Service.
He and his wife Ann Marie have five children, Amanda Isaacs Sticker and Stephanie, Stacy, Megan, and Matthew.

Ken Martin, of the Wilderness Trail Area, graduated from the College with a bachelor's degree in animal sciences and then worked as a manager of a swine operation, manager of a feed mill, as a swine specialist for Southern States, and as a sales representative. From 1982 to 1995 he owned and operated a small feeder pig and tobacco farm. In 1992 he took a job with the Oneida Baptist Institute in Oneida as a farm manager and agriculture teacher.

Martin served as an executive board member of the Kentucky Pork Producers Association, president of the Pennyrile Pork Producers Association, and chairman of the advisory board of Murray State University's Breathitt Veterinary Center. He created the first FFA Chapter at a Kentucky private school at the Oneida Baptist Institute.

Martin has supported the College by conducting corn variety test plots and providing data for research efforts in sow production. In addition, he has recruited students from the Oneida Baptist Institute to attend the College of Agriculture and has hosted Wilderness Trail Area Extension field days at Oneida. Martin and his wife, Nancy Brown Martin, have two children, Beverly and Jennifer.

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