An Alumni Moment: Dr. Charles M Derrickson

Charles M. Derrickson has had a long and distinguished association with Lees College, now the Lees College Campus of HCTC. Charles commuted from his home in Frozen Creek (Breathitt County) to attend Lees College as a student in the late 1940s. In addition to obtaining a solid academic foundation on which to build his future pursuits, he also met and married his wife Lena Myrtle Noble during his first stint at Lees. From Lees he moved on to finish his major in Agriculture at the University of Kentucky, later becoming employed by the UK Extension Service. After finishing up his master s degree, he was assigned to the Quicksand Substation and again established ties with Lees, teaching a class in Farm Livestock Production in 1959. He eventually left Breathitt County again to attend graduate school at Michigan State and, upon completion, began his 28 year tenure at Morehead State University. A momentous phone call from Lees College Board of Trustees Chairman Phil Smith in August 1992 brought Dr. Derrickson back to Jackson as the eighth (and last) President of Lees College. He served in this capacity until the merger of Lees College with Hazard Community College, part of the University of Kentucky Community College System, in July 1996. The Derrickson s currently reside in Morehead, Kentucky surrounded by a host of friends and family, including three children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

The HCTC community is so very pleased that Dr. Derrickson, along with wife Myrtle, will once again be present on the Lees Campus for the October 25 and 26 Lees College Homecoming, which will be celebrating 130 years of rich academic history and service in Eastern Kentucky. As Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Derrickson will kick-off the homecoming celebration program scheduled for Saturday, October 26 at 11 a.m. in Van Meter Gym. In a recent phone conversation the Derrickson s expressed many fond memories of their time at Lees and are looking forward to renewing old acquaintances and making new friends at this special celebration, October 25 and 26. Call Kena Mullins at (606) 487-3502 for additional information and/or a complete schedule of events.