March 2001                                                                The Megaphone                                                          Page 2 

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Donn Edward Hancher, a native of Elwood and a professor at the University 

of Kentucky, has been named one of six 2001 Great Teachers by the UK Alumni Association.

  Hancher, who holds the Terrell-McDowell Chair and is professor of construction engineering and management in the Department of Civil Engineering in the College of Engineering also serves as special assistant to the dean of the college. He arrived at UK in 1992 as chair of the department, a position he held for eight years.

  He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering and a Ph.D. from Purdue University. He was named Outstanding Civil Engineering Teacher at the University of Kentucky in both 1993 and 1996. He has been a member of the national board of directors of the American Society of Civil Engineers and currently serves on the national board of directors of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. He is also a member of several other national professional and technical committees.

  The Great Teacher Awards were presented Feb. 28 during ceremonies at the Alumni Association. The honor is unique on campus as the longest continuously given award to professors and is the only award in which students make all nominations. The first Great Teacher Awards at the University of Kentucky were presented 40 years ago.

   As I sit here after reading the last edition of the megaphone, I started to ponder about my life in high school.

   I can remember toward the end of my Sophomore year, a friend from Tipton was going with an Elwood girl and it was her Senior year. It was coming up prom time and he wanted her to go to the prom, but didn't care for those sorts of things. He asked me if I would take her to the prom for him. Being the gentleman that I am . . . and trustworthy . . . I said I would. Not having a car yet he picked us both up, took us and brought us home.

   In my Junior year I still didn't have a car. I had my license, but my folks would not let me drive their car as my brother wrecked theirs the year before. My father took us to the prom and picked us up afterward. My Senior year I had my own car . . . picked up my date . . . went to prom and festivities afterward  and got home about 2:00 a.m. Also that year a friend was going to Anderson University and wanted me to take her to her college prom. You talk about feeling out of place. Had a lot of fun though.

   Those are just a few of my memories when I walk down memory lane in school. Crazy!

Your Angel Doggie,

Bob Henderson '53