Passings

Robert Murphy, first director of UK communications school, passes away

Robert D. Murphy, 89, the founding director of the University of Kentucky School of Communications, passed away in January.

Murphy was a key figure in creating UK's College of Communications, and served as director of graduate studies. He retired in 1987.

Richard Wilson, a retired reporter for The Courier-Journal in Louisville and a UK journalism alumnus, said: 'With Dr. Murphy's arrival, the program in journalism was elevated to a new and different level, and he was an administrator whose door was always open to students.'

Murphy earned bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Syracuse University. He was a professor and newspaper department chairman in Syracuse's nationally renowned journalism school from 1949 to 1965.

•••••

Traffic accident claims life of former Hickman County Gazette ad rep

Former Hickman County Gazette ad rep Rebecca Becky Basch, 56, of Clinton, passed away Thursday, Dec. 21, as a result of a traffic accident.

Basch began working at the Hickman County Gazette in 1990 as an advertising representative. She left the Gazette in the late 1990s.

Since her accident, the McCracken County Fiscal Court has asked the State Department of Transportation to look at ways to improve the safety of this area of road.

•••••

Former Maysville news clerk dies

Sharon Kay Deadmond, 64, of Maysville, a former newsroom clerk for the Ledger Independent in Maysville, passed away Dec. 13, 2006.

As a child, Deadmond suffered from polio but became a productive citizen in the workforce and her church. She was secretary at Clover Leaf Dairy for 26 years.

Co-workers said Deadmond took great pride in her work on the church page and in helping families with their loved ones obituaries.

•••••

Former Fulton Daily Leader editor dies

Austin Roberts Adkinson, a former editor of the Fulton Daily Leader, passed away Jan. 10, 2007.

He worked as an editor and reporter for the Associated Press from 1947 to 1958 following his stint as editor in Fulton.

The Carrollton native retired in 1992 as executive director of the Life Underwriters Political Action Committee which he helped found for the National Association of Life Underwriters in Washington, D.C.

•••••

Former C-J staffer passes away

Louise Thomas Womble, 89, Hunting Creek Road, died Dec. 30 at Christian Health Center following a brief illness.

A native of Detroit, Mich., she was born Nov. 10, 1917 and worked as an administrator for the Louisville Courier-Journal. She retired following 26 years of employment.

Memorials may be made to the donor's charity of choice.

•••••

Former Danville staffer passes away

Melvin Coleman Alcorn, 67, of Danville, passed away recently at the Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center.

Alcorn retired from Genesco and later worked for The Advocate-Messenger.

He graduated in 1958 from Bate High School where he excelled in basketball and football. He was a member of St. James AME Church.

•••••

Former Russellville staffer passes away

Inez Bell, 80, of Russellville, died Dec. 28, 2006 at Auburn Nursing Center.

Bell was a factory worker and retired from Emerson and worked at the News-Democrat & Leader.

She was a member of Russellville Christian Church.

Click Here to go back