Honorary Degree Recipients

Morehead State University awards honorary degrees to individuals whose achievements and service embody MSU's commitment to excellence and regional engagement. These distinctions recognize leaders who inspire others and reflect the values that guide our work every day. We invite you to explore the distinguished recipients who have earned this honor and discover the impact of their contributions.

The awards are presented at our biannual commencement ceremonies.

Recipients

2020s

2010s

Price, Patrick, Doctor of Public Service, 12/14/2019
Craft, Joseph, Doctor of Public Service, 5/1/2017
Craft, Kelly, Doctor of Public Service, 5/1/2017
Hogan, Stephen, Doctor of Public Service, 12/10/2016
Volgenau, Ernst, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/2016
Volgenau, Sara Lane, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/2016
Rollins, Carl, Doctor of Public Service, 12/15/2015
Simms, Phillip "Phil," Doctor of Humane Letters, 5/15/2015
Hinkle, Buckner, Doctor of Public Service, 5/1/2014
Booth, James, Doctor of Business, 12/14/2013
Booth, Linda, Doctor of Public Service, 12/14/2013
Kerr, George, Doctor of Science, 12/15/2012
Adair, Charles, Doctor of Science, 5/15/2012
Richardson, James, Doctor of Science, 12/15/2011
Smith, Elmer R., Doctor of Education, 5/15/2011
Shannon, Ed, Doctor of Public Service (posthumously), 5/15/2010

2000s

Inskeep, Steven, Doctor of Communications, 5/9/2009
Luckey, George M. "Mac," Doctor of Public Service, 12/15/2008
Luckey, Sue Y., Doctor of Public Service, 12/15/2008
Duncan, Robert, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/2006
Eaglin, MSU First Lady Bonnie, Doctor of Public Service, 12/15/2004
Eaglin, MSU President Ronald, Doctor of Public Service, 12/15/2004
Cox, Gary, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/2004
Rogers, Rep. Harold "Hal," Doctor of Public Service, 12/13/2003
Shannon, Ruth, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/2003
Combs, Judge Sara, Doctor of Public Service, 12/15/2002
Siegel, Betty, Doctor of Public Service, 12/15/2002
Latta, Ann, Doctor of Public Service, 12/15/2001
Smith, J.P., Doctor of Public Service, 12/15/2001
Patton, Kentucky First Lady Judi, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/2001
Patton, Governor Paul, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/2001
Stumbo, Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Janet, Doctor of Public Service, 12/12/2000
Beiting Father Ralph, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/2000
Maddox, Paul, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/2000
Seaton, William, Doctor of Public Service, 5/1/2000

1990s

Richardson, Josephine, Doctor of Humanities, 12/19/1999
Rosenberg, John, Doctor of Public Service, 12/15/1999
Fox, Virginia, Doctor of Humanities, 5/15/1999
Hutchinson, Alpha, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/1999
Adkins, Garland, Doctor of Humanities, 12/15/1998
Adkins, Minnie, Doctor of Humanities, 12/15/1998
Davis, James, Doctor of Letters, 12/15/1998
Banks, Marshall, Doctor of Education, 5/16/1998
Fannin, Shirley, Doctor of Science, 5/16/1998
Little, Lucille Caudill, Doctor of Humanities, 12/15/1997
Skaggs, Ricky, Doctor of Musical Arts, 5/15/1997
Halbleib, Susie, Doctor of Science, 12/15/1996
Stacy, Helen, Doctor of Humanities, 12/15/1996
Jones, Governor Brereton, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/1996
Hogge, Elijah, Doctor of Public Service, 12/15/1995
Wess, Mary, Doctor of Humanities, 5/15/1995
Esham, Faith, Doctor of Musical Arts, 5/15/1993
Grote, MSU President C. Nelson, Doctor of Letters, 5/15/1992
Proudfoot, Warren, Doctor of Science, 5/15/1991

1980s

Hutchins, Louise, Doctor of Science, 12/15/1989
Press, O. Leonard, Doctor of Public Service, 4/1/1988
Albright, MSU President A.D., Doctor of Humane Letters, 5/15/1987
Hall, Tom T., Doctor of Musical Arts, 5/15/1987
Breathitt, Governor Edward, Doctor of Business, 5/15/1984
Combs, Governor Bert, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/1984
Howell, Jerry, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/1984
Williams, Cratis, Doctor of Humane Letters, 5/15/1984
Barbour, Roger, Doctor of Science, 5/15/1983
Buchanan, June, Doctor of Humane Letters, 5/15/1983
Hall, John, Doctor of Science, 5/15/1983
Hayes, Robert B., Doctor of Humane Letters, 5/15/1982
Johnson G.B., Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/1982
Fisher, James, Doctor of Public Service, 7/31/1981
Caudill, C. Louise, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/1981
Collins, Governor Martha Layne, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/1981
Ridgway, John, Doctor of Humane Letters, 5/15/1981
Cartmell, W., Doctor of Science, 7/31/1980
Peltason, Jack, Doctor of Laws, 7/31/1980
Reed, B.F., Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/1980
Smith, Albert, Doctor of Public Service, 5/15/1980

1970s

Huddleston, Walter, Doctor of Public Service, 7/31/1979
Atkins, Orin, Doctor of Business, 5/15/1979
Williamson, Russell, Doctor of Political Science, 5/15/1979
Hall, Jackson, Doctor of Humanities, 7/31/1978
Yarborough, Norman, Doctor of Business, 7/31/1978
Browning, Robert, Doctor of Business, 5/15/1978
Kincaid, Owings, Doctor of Science, 5/15/1978
Still, James, Doctor of Letters, 5/15/1978
Hayes, William, Doctor of Humanities, 7/31/1977
Ostar, Allan, Doctor of Higher Education, 5/15/1977
Butler, Wendell, Doctor of Education, 7/31/1976
Doran, MSU President Adron, Doctor of Education, 7/31/1976
Doran, MSU First Lady Mignon, Doctor of Humanities, 7/31/1976
Eslinger, Troy, Doctor of Humanities, 7/31/1976
Overton, Basil, Doctor of Humanities, 7/31/1976
Robinson, Wade, Doctor of Education, 7/31/1976
Butts, William, Doctor of Laws, 5/15/1976
Forgy, Lawrence "Larry," Doctor of Humanities, 5/15/1976
Allen Nelson, Doctor of Laws, 7/31/1975
Hopkins, Larry, Doctor of Laws, 7/31/1975
McBrayer, W. Terry, Doctor of Public Administration, 7/31/1975
Scent, William, Doctor of Humanities, 7/31/1975
Curris, Constantine, Doctor of Laws, 5/15/1975
Horner, John, Doctor of Letters, 5/15/1975
Miller, Mahlon, Doctor of Laws, 5/15/1975
Travelstead, Chester, Doctor of Humanities, 5/15/1975
Ford, Governor Wendell, Doctor of Laws, 7/31/1974
Downing, Dero, Doctor of Humanities, 5/15/1974
Herndon, Terry, Doctor of Humanities, 5/15/1974
Gardner, E. Claude, Doctor of Humanities, 7/31/1973
Kelly, Arthur, Doctor of Laws, 7/31/1973
Martin, Robert, Doctor of Laws, 7/31/1973
Stuart, Jesse, Doctor of Letters, 7/31/1973
Williams, Alonzo, Doctor of Humanities, 7/31/1973
Blazer, Rexford, Doctor of Business Administration, 5/15/1973
Carroll, Governor Julian, Doctor of Laws, 5/15/1973
Clements, Governor Earle, Doctor of Public Administration, 5/15/1973
Hood, Gordon, Doctor of Laws, 5/15/1973
Hubbuch, Cornelius, Doctor of Business Administration, 5/15/1973
Nunn, Governor Louie, Doctor of Laws, 5/15/1973
Perkins, Rep. Carl D., Doctor of Laws, 5/15/1973
Sparks, Harry, Doctor of Humanities, 5/15/1973
Martin, Anne, Doctor of Laws, 3/1/1973

For archived commencement programs and other historical documents, visit ScholarWorks.

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