B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 1974 The son of a small-town family physician, Joe Halcomb grew up around medicine. From an early age, he was fascinated by the miracle of life—and the inner workings of the human body. When he came to the University of Kentucky, he looked for ways to put medicine and engineering together. Since one of his goals was to become a physician, he took pre-med courses alongside his engineering courses. This enabled him to earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1974 and his M.D. degree in 1978.
B.S. in Electrical Engineering, 1990 Since his days as a student at the University of Kentucky, AT&T senior vice president of corporate strategy Michael Bowling has excelled in leadership roles. Convinced that participation in student organizations would prepare him for life, Mr. Bowling served as two-term president of UK’s Student Activities Board and president of Kappa Sigma fraternity. As a result, he received the honor of being named the Otis A. Singletary Outstanding Senior Male. Without question, Mr. Bowling’s college career portended future success.
B.S. in Computer Science, 1973
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 1983
B.S. in Civil Engineering, 1972
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, 1969 During Wayne Purdom’s 44-year career in the refining industry, he has become a recognized leader in applied process safety management, improving business unit performance, personnel selection and development, litigation and emergency response. In the United States and abroad, Mr. Purdom has consistently demonstrated leadership in both normal and abnormal situations, as well as entrepreneurial instincts that have increased business unit safety, efficiency and profitability.
B.S. in Computer Science, 1991 The son of an Air Force serviceman, John Kyle was born in Michigan, moved to England and spent the largest portion of his youth in Colorado; however, after visiting the University of Kentucky in the fall of 1984—located in a state he had never before visited—he knew he wanted to enroll at UK. A summer spent tinkering with a Texas Instruments computer (TI-99) coupled with a love for mathematics led Mr. Kyle to study computer science.
B.S. in Electrical Engineering, 1970 Building electronics kits, shortwave and Ham radios in high school convinced Floyd Henson to pursue a profession in the electronics field. After visiting several universities, he chose the University of Kentucky. Mr. Henson cites several reasons for choosing UK, but the one that stood out most was that a new engineering building was about to be constructed, one that would contains several new laboratories.
B.S. in Civil Engineering, 1927M.S. in Civil Engineering, 1931Posthumous Induction Over 37 years as professor, program director and dean, Robert E. “Zeke” Shaver made immeasurable contributions to the University of Kentucky College of Engineering.
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 1968 David B. Ratterman is a member of the Construction Service Group at Stites & Harbison, PLLC. A general construction law expert specializing in the fabricated structural steel industry, Ratterman has developed a national legal practice and advanced the study and practice of construction law in the United States. He has also become an internationally recognized writer and speaker on a wide variety of legal and engineering topics.
