President/CEO of Planters Bank, Ms. McCoy is a certified public accountant with a Bachelor and Master of Business Administration from the University of Kentucky. She is actively involved in numerous community and civic organizations, including the Board of Directors for Jennie Stuart Medical Center, Hopkinsville Industrial Foundation, Hopkinsville-Christian County Economic Development Council, Gatton College’s Business Partnership Foundation Board and the Inner-City Enterprise Advisory Committee.

Some of her previous leadership roles include the Murray State University Board of Regents, Past Chairman of the Hopkinsville-Christian County Chamber of Commerce, Hopkinsville Community College Foundation Board of Directors, Treasurer of the United Way Board of Directors, Leadership Kentucky Class of 1995 Graduate,Economics America Board of Directors, Treasurer of the Pennyroyal Arts Council and more.

Ms. McCoy is married to Hal H. McCoy and they have one son, Griffin Bell McCoy.

Thank you, Elizabeth McCoy, for making your mark on Hopkinsville-Christian County!

He proactively organizes forums that inspire us to respond to issues that plague us. He is involved in many other community organizations because he believes in giving back. For his service in the area of leadership development, Mr. Turner received the Mayor’s Make Your Mark award in 2007.

Undoubtedly, his efforts will ignite a passion and cause others to make the same type of investment. Without individuals like this, our historic neighborhoods would become faded memories. For his tireless efforts to make Hopkinsville a great place to live, Dr. Dobay received the Mayor’s Make Your Mark award in 2007.

Wayne Hunt is a true genius when it comes to business in general, but especially agriculture.  He has led the way using some of the most innovative methods to position Hopkinsville-Christian County well in the area of value-added agriculture. Without his vision and his influence, Hopkinsville Elevator, the Commonwealth Agri-Energy Plant, the Farmers Market--among other things--would not be there.

As a businessman, he served on the boards of many charitable and civic organizations, including Rotary Club, United Way, Hopkinsville/Christian County Conference Center Corporation, Pennyroyal Arts Council, and Jaycees.

Born and raised in Hopkinsville, Steve graduated from Hopkinsville High School in 1965 and then received BS in Business Administration in 1970 from Murray State University. Steve began his career as a social worker for the Kentucky Cabinet for Human Resources. He then served as a probation and parole officer for the Kentucky Corrections and as District Supervisor for Probation and Parole until his retirement in 1993.  

He is tireless in his efforts to bring the right people around the table to discuss issues of vital importance to our community. For his efforts toward this community initiative, Mr. Ward was recognized by Mayor Dan Kemp in 2007 with a Make Your Mark award.

Bev has been a leader at both the local and state level in adult education and community/workforce development. In the early years of the local adult ed program, Bev’s expertise at grant writing secured funds for workforce training initiatives, youth education, corrections and ESL classes, long before these programs were funded as part of the basic Adult Education grant. She is a member of the Hopkinsville/Christian County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and its Workforce Excellence committee. She is a member of the Western Kentucky Workforce Investment Board Youth Committee. Bev served on the planning committee that conceptualized the Hopkinsville Community College Regional Technology Center, including adult education as a component program. Bev has collaborated with many other community organizations in a less visible but no less important way, providing her guidance and grant-writing assistance as those organizations implemented other programs to serve the undereducated and underemployed in our county. Bev was instrumental in organizing the local Inter-Agency Council. At the state level, Bev was recognized as the 1990 Outstanding Adult Education Supervisor in Kentucky. She is a past KAACE board member, and is a current member of the Advisory Council to CPE Vice-President for Adult Education Sara Hawker.

Thousands of adult students and their families have better lives because of their participation in one or more programs offered by Bev Thomson. For her exemplary efforts, Ms. Thomson received a Mayor’s 2008 Make Your Mark Award.

For 34 years, Bill Bruce has worked with Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance Company. He is currently responsible for agency support and marketing.

Austin Carroll and the team at Hopkinsville Electric System invested two years and several million dollars designing and building a fiber optic backbone to connect Hopkinsville to the regional Point of Presence locations of major Internet providers. This technological advancement includes the construction of a state-of-the-art and highly secure Internet data center which can be used as a colocation or incubator space for a data center project.

 For their successful efforts in leading a population challenge with the U.S. Census Bureau, the team at the Pennyrile Area Development District received the Mayor's 2008 Make Your Mark Award for Goal 3 of the Community Vision Plan to increase the community's population.

Tom Jones was born in Bay City, Texas but grew up in Arkansas. He attended undergraduate school at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where he received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Education. He went on to graduate from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, earning a Masters of Business Administration. He is a Life Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives, a member of the Health Care Financial Managers Association and a Life Member of VFW Post 1913 in Hopkinsville.

Over the years Don has constructed commercial buildings, single and multi-family homes and developed lots and subdivisions across the city. He has served as president of the Hopkinsville Board of Realtors and Pennyroyal Homebuilder’s Association as well as many other board positions throughout the real estate community.

Eight years of service on Flood Control committee inspired Paul Henson to run for city council. He enjoys public service and the "feeling of accomplishment that you've really been a part of the process for all the good things that are happening."

Born and raised in Hopkinsville, Maggie Estes was first introduced to the fiddle at age 4. At 17, she is now an accomplished violinist, having won numerous awards locally and nationally.

New York Times bestseller Teresa Medeiros wrote her first novel at the age of twenty-one, introducing readers to one of the most beloved and versatile voices in romantic fiction.

Dr. Ramesh Gupta, professor and head of toxicology at the Breathitt Veterinary Center (BVC) in Hopkinsville, is recognized worldwide for his research and accomplishments in the international toxicology community.

In October of 2008, Gupta presented his research on Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists in Alzheirmer's Disease and Pesticide Poisoning at the Second World Conference on Magic Bullets (Ehrlich II) in Nurnberg, Germany. Gupta's work was chosen from over 4,500 submitted papers. Earlier in 2008, he was accepted as a Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences. This honor was bestowed after peer review of his credentials and represents a significant milestone in his career in toxicology.

Gupta is renowned for his research activity, especially with regard to brain neurochemistry in relation to neurodegenerative disease and pesticide poisoning. He joined the Murray State faculty in 1987 as a member of the BVC's toxicology department. He has held the position of head toxicologist for the past 14 years.

As assistant branch manager at Planters Bank, Kyle Higgins values the relationships and connections he developed growing up in Hopkinsville-Christian County. He left home to attend the University of Kentucky, and then lived in Nashville. "I soon discovered just how much I missed the sense of connectedness that makes Hopkinsville a truly special place," he says.

Public service is a passion for Don Ahart – a passion that 31 years of service in the Christian County Public School System didn’t quite fulfill. He now devotes his time to representing Ward 3 citizens on the Hopkinsville City Council.

The Pioneers Incorporated were organized in 1952 and Incorporated in 1953 as a Civic/Community Service Organization in Christian County. The group's purpose is to promote, advance, and stimulate social, cultural and civic interests in Hopkinsville. These goals are accomplished through active participation, support, advocacy and involvement in the events and issues of interest to our community that promote justice, personal achievement, equality and a better quality of life.

JPM Performance Powersports is a locally-owned family business that sells Victory and Yamaha motorcycles, along with Polaris and Yamaha ATV’s and side by sides. JPM has been in business since 2005, servicing all makes and models of motorcycles and ATV’s. They also carry a large supply of parts and accessories. JPM started with three owners and two hired employees, and now they have a staff of 11. Each year sales have increased, allowing JPM to give revenue to the community. The mission of JPM is to provide customers with the highest level of service and support to meet their recreational needs. JPM is very thankful for the support of their community, the military and surrounding counties.

In 1975, Greg started Sandifer Electric Company and built his first home on Southgate Drive at 21 years old. A year later, he started W. G. Sandifer Construction Company and officially began his construction business building residential and commercial properties. In 1985, he changed his company name to BradEm Construction after his children, Bradley Sandifer and Emily Sandifer Boyd.

In 1968, a small group of local farmers sought the need to provide an avenue to market their crops they produced. These combined efforts came to fruition with the development of the Hopkinsville Elevator Cooperative. Throughout time, while the number of farms may have decreased, larger yields and farmer efficiency prompted the purchase and expansion of a river terminal, 3 inland elevators, and the value added addition of Commonwealth Ag Energy. The elevator continued to meet the needs of their customer base by merging its farm supply business in a joint venture with Agri-Chem Inc and forming the HEC Crop Insurance Agency. From its infancy, the elevator has grown in membership to over 1,900 patrons and now has a storage capacity of over 11,557,000 bushels with locations at South Union, Russellville, Casky, and Guthrie in Kentucky and a barge loading facility in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Rogers Group, Incorporated, operates four quarries and three asphalt plants in the Western Kentucky area as well as engages in highway construction and asphalt paving. Rogers Group supplies crushed stone, agricultural lime and asphalt products and provides asphalt paving from small driveways and parking lots to major highway projects in our area.

Prior to his move to Kentucky, Jim served as the Vice President for Academic and Student Services at Jackson State Community College (TN). Previously, he served as Assistant Dean for Extended Programs at The University of Memphis and worked in various positions at Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee.

Having been a college administrator for 30 years, Jim has experience as a chief operating officer in fund-raising, alumni relations, student affairs and academic affairs and was previously a tenured professor of education. Jim has extensive experience in continuing and distance education and workforce development.

Jim earned an Associate in Arts in Communication and Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Freed-Hardeman University, a Master of Science in Student Personnel Services and Counseling from The University of Memphis, and a Doctor of Education also from Memphis, in Higher and Adult Education with an emphasis in College and University Administration.

Jim has done extensive public speaking and workshops for schools, businesses and industry. He completed the Future President’s Institute in Chapel Hill, NC, the AACC New President’s Institute, the Tennessee Board of Regents Leadership Academy and the Association of Community College Trustees Leadership Academy.

Quality of Place Goal of the Community Vision Plan is about attracting and retaining new residents. The Quality of Place Goal contains all of the elements that make Hopkinsville-Christian County a great place to live, work, and play. One of those elements is beautification. One of the Mayor's top priorities upon taking office was to find a way to streamline all of the efforts surrounding community beautification. He chose the Hopkinsville Beautification Commission as the vehicle to consolidate those efforts and selected Kelly Jackson to chair that effort.

The Talent Development Goal of the Community Vision Plan is about development a competitive, fully inclusive workforce. The YMCA's Jobs for Life Program reaches out to people in the community who may have slipped through the cracks - those that have encountered more than their share of obstacles. It is a faith-based job skills training program designed to teach one person at a time the skills theyw ill need to get a job and be successful.

Regionalism is an important part of economic development. Hopkinsville-Christian County is exploring a variety of ways to consolidate our efforts and be more efficient to become eligible for more state and federal funding. Economic Development through a strategic approach involving regionalism is the wave of the future. The Economic Growth Goal of the Community Vision Plan is about creating area wealth, primarily through job creation. The Tennessee Valley Authority received the Mayor's Make Your Mark Award in 2009 for investing in the community through a TAP grant. Because of their investment, Hopkinsville-Christian County will be poised to approach economic development and job creation more strategically and competitively.

The appreciation and celebration of the diversity that exists in Hopkinsville-Christian County is at the core of the Quality of Place Goal of the Community Vision Plan. Phase 1 of the Study Circles process addressed improving race relations in our community. John Cessna was instrumental in getting this process of the ground. He was also one of the first to come forward to support the inaugural International Festival to be held in July 2009.

Terry Peeples has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Jennie Stuart Medical Center since October 1995. Prior to coming to Hopkinsville, Terry Peeples held numerous roles as chief executive officer, administrator, and group vice president for hospitals and health care systems in the south. Beyond his extensive service to the hospital organization, which includes numerous terms on the Board of Trustees, as well as on the executive committee, Terry also has an extensive service record to Hopkinsville-Christian County.

He has served as the Chair for the Hopkinsville-Christian County Chamber of Commerce, the United Way Campaign, as well as the American Heart Association HeartWalk. Additionally, Terry has presided over the Tennessee/Kentucky Chapter of the AUSA.

Thank you, Terry, for all you do to "make your mark" on Hopkinsville-Christian County!

As reported in National Guard Bureau, 7/14/09
by Master Sgt. Mike Smith

Keith Tandy, currently a sophomore starting cornerback at WVU, was Christian County High School standout. Among his accolades at CCHS were: