William "Bill" Sturgill
1924-2014
William Bartram "Bill" Sturgill, 89, a well-known business leader from eastern Kentucky, died July 19.
Born on July 31, 1924, in Floyd County, he was the son of the late Dorothy and Troy Sturgill.
The Lexington-Herald Leader reports that he played basketball under Adolph Rupp "was a wealthy and powerful figure at the center of the state's three signature industries - coal, tobacco and horses."
Sturgill served in numerous roles, the newspaper reports, including secretary of a combined Agriculture and Energy Cabinet during Gov. John Y. Brown's administration, chairman of the Kentucky State Racing Commission, chairman of the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees, co-owner of Kentucky Oak Mining, which introduced strip mining and reclamation in eastern Kentucky, owner of Golden Oak Mining, chairman of the board for Central Rock Mineral Company, the Fourth Street and Gentry Tobacco Warehouses, Energy Insurance Agency and Hartland Development Partnership. He also served on boards for CSX Railroad and East Kentucky Economic Development Corporation, Cardinal Hill Hospital, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Spindletop Research, Appalachian Regional Hospital and McDowell Cancer Research Foundation.
In the 1950s, he also organized and became the president of the Hazard Independent College Foundation and served as a trustee for Pikeville College, now known as the University of Pikeville.
He is the namesake of the Sturgill Development Building at UK and the William B. Sturgill Award, given annually to faculty members for outstanding contributions to graduate education at the university.
In addition to his wife Eloise, he was preceded in death by a son, Paul, and sister, Gwendolyn Dingus.
He is survived by a daughter Mary (Cooper) Hartley; a son, Richard (Tracie) Sturgill; and daughter-in-law Tobey Sturgill. Also surviving are his grandchildren Emmy Hartley, Matthew (Julia) Hartley, Stuart Hartley, Kendall Sturgill, Ellie (Matt) Wooden, Jenny (Patrick) McClure, William (Hillary) Sturgill, Kenton Sturgill as well as five great-grandchildren; a brother, Barkley (Nancy) Sturgill and sister, Winfred Skaggs.
A memorial service was held on July 23, 1:00 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, Lexington. Kerr Brothers Funeral Home hosted a private burial.
Larry Neal Blackburn, Jr., 36, of Williamson, W.Va., died July 20. Survivors: parents Rita Marcum Blackburn of Williamson and Larry Blackburn Sr., of Mount Sterling; other family members. There will be no funeral. The body has been cremated under the direction of Hatfield Funeral Chapel
Johnny Mack Simpkins, Sr., 67, of Beech Creek, W.Va., died July 14. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during the Korean Conflict. Survivors: wife Karen McCoy Simpkins; children Angela Simpkins and Johnny Simpkins, Jr.; other family members. Funeral: July 18 at Hatfield Funeral Chapel. Burial: Simpkins Cemetery at Beech Creek
Timmy Amos Davis, 39, of Laurel Creek, W.Va., died July 20. Survivors: parents Amos "Buster" and Brenda Jarvis Davis, Jr., of Lenore, W.Va.; son Matthew; other family members. Funeral: July 23 at Hatfield Funeral Chapel. Burial: Davis Cemetery at Naugatuck, W.Va.
Thomas Allen Kline, 79, of Raccoon, died July 16. Survivors: wife Vivian Smith Kline; children Glenn Kline of Georgetown, Ind., and Roy Kline and Pamela Young, Sara Kline, all of Louisville; other family members. Funeral: July 19 at Meta Baptist Church. Burial: Annie E. Young Cemetery on Chloe Road
Barbara Sue Adkins, 76, of Pikeville, died July 13. Survivors: daughters Denise Gibson of Bean Station, Tenn., and Cynthia Spradlin of Millard; other family members. Funeral: July 16 at Thacker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Burial: Annie E. Young Cemetery
Wilson Newsome, 58, of Pikeville, died July 13. Survivors: one brother and two sisters; other family members. Funeral: July 17 at House of Prayer and Worship in Shelbiana. Burial: Newsome Branch Cemetery under the direction of Thacker Memorial Funeral Home
Herbert James Keathley, 73, of Pikeville, died July 12. Survivors: wife Gloria Compton Keathley; children James Keathley, Annette Osborne, Donna Justice and Rebecca Tucker, all of Pikeville, and Amanda Maynard of Belfry; other family members. Funeral: July 16 at J.W. Call Funeral Home. Burial: R.H. Ratliff Cemetery at Shelbiana
Christy Renee Mullins, 33, of Pikeville, died July 14. Survivors: father Roger Dean Mullins; step-mother Sandy Mullins; other family members. Funeral: July 19 at Lucas and Son Funeral Home. Burial: Annie E. Young Cemetery
Clayton Kenn Dove, 75, of Virgie, died July 14. Survivors: wife Mildred Smith Dove; children Jimmy Dove, Barbara Smith and Lisa Wolford; other family members. Funeral: July 18 at Lucas and Son Funeral Home. Burial: Davidson Memorial Garden
Virginia Dare (Deskins) Billiter, 82, Widow of Joe Edward Billiter, died July 17. Survivors: son James W. Billiter; daughter-in-law Evelyn (Varney) Billiter; other family members. Funeral: July 19 at R.E. Rogers Funeral Home. Burial: Mountain View Memory Gardens, Huddy
Josephine Elkins Francis, 70, formerly of Hatfield, died July 17. Survivors: husband Quincy L. Francis; daughters Patricia (Gary) Bunnel, Tammy (Kenny) Mayo; other family members. Funeral: Cecilia Baptist Church. Burial: Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central under direction of Brown Funeral Home. Obituary courtesy of R.E. Rogers Funeral Home
Amanda Nicole Norman, 27, of Matewan, W.Va., died July 19. Survivors: mother Rhonda Sue May Norman; children: Rylie Jade Norman and Dalton Grant Norman of the home; other family members. Funeral: July 23 at Barrenshee Church of God. Burial: Freeburn Cemetery under direction of R.E. Rogers Funeral Home
Sidney Grant Norman, 49, of Matewan, W.Va., died July 19. Survivors: father Levi Norman of Barrenshee; Rhonda Sue May Norman of Matewan, W.Va. Funeral: July 23 at Barrenshee Church of God. Burial: Freeburn Cemetery under direction of R.E. Rogers Funeral Home
Glenna Faye Taylor, 63, of Forest Hills, died July 20. Survivors: children Shawn Taylor Francis of Williamson, Jerrie Lynn Jackson of Aflex; other family members. Memorial service to be held at a later date at R.E. Rogers Funeral Home
Harold Clifford Young, 76, of Varney, widower of Gracie Irene Young, died July 21, 2014 at his home. He was a U.S. Army Reserve veteran. Survivors: daughters Lela Carol Young Johnson of Pikeville, Elizabeth Jane Young of Varney, Pamela Jean Young Hamilton of Virgie; other family members. Funeral: July 24 at R.E. Rogers Funeral Home. Burial: Young-Ray Cemetery, Varney
Janet Sue Tackett, 53, of Melvin, died July 22. Survivors: daughters Angela Johnson and Jennifer Tackett, both of Melvin; other family members. Funeral: July 25 at Wheelwright Freewill Baptist Church Bypro. Burial: Tackett Cemetery at Melvin under the direction of Nelson Frazier Funeral Home
Lucy Hunt, 64, of Topmost, died July 21. Survivors: children Jamie Thornsberry of West Liberty, Timothy Thornsberry and Rita Hicks, both of Kendallville, Ind., Anita Thornsberry of Topmost, Patricia Thornsberry of Spurlock and Melissa Pierce of Wolcottville, Ind.; other family members. Funeral: July 24 at Nelson Frazier Funeral Home. Burial: Gethsemane Gardens in Prestonsburg
Ima Jean McCoy Garrett, 80, of Lexington, died July 15. Survivors: daughter Tammy Garrett of Lexington; other family members. Funeral: July 19 at Nelson Frazier Funeral Home. Burial: Ousley-Garrett Cemetery in Prestonsburg
Rotunda Lynn Howell, 49, of Beaver, died July 12. Survivors: mother Anzie Tackett Howell of Beaver; sons Rodney Prater and Ronnie Howell, both of Beaver; other family members. Funeral: July 17 at Samaria Old Regular Baptist Church at Teaberry. Burial: Fallen Angels Cemetery at Beaver under the direction of Nelson Frazier Funeral Home
Delta Slone Owens, 83, of Prestonsburg, died July 15. Survivors: children Charles Owens of Prestonsburg, Linna Owens of Ashland and Jeannie Owens of Louisa; other family members. Funeral: July 17 at Faith Independent Freewill Baptist Church. Burial: Reece-Slone Cemetery at Pippa Passes under the direction of Nelson Frazier Funeral Home
Pamela Ward Hazelett, 63, of Prestonsburg, died July 11. Survivors: children Stephen Leslie of Louisville and Jamie Minix of Prestonsburg; other family members. Funeral: memorial service July 20 at Fitzpatrick Baptist Church at Prestonsburg under the direction of Nelson Frazier Funeral
Shelton Ryan Keathley, newborn son of Matthew and April Keathley of Galveston, died July 13. Additional survivors: grandparents and great-grandparents; other family members. Funeral: July 16 at Pilgrims Home Old Regular Baptist Church at Grethel. Burial: Robert Hall Cemetery at Galveston under the direction of Nelson Frazier Funeral Home
Joe David Berger, 59, of Virgie, died July 21. Survivors: mother Pearl Berger of Bevinsville; sons Johnathon D. Berger, Phillip Wicker, both of Virgie; other family members. Funeral: July 23 at Wheelwright Freewill Baptist Church. Burial: Johnson Cemetery, Kite, under direction of Nelson Frazier Funeral Home
Ola B. LeSage, 65, of Allen Park, Mich., formerly of McDowell, died July 14. Survivors: siblings; other family members. Funeral: July 18 at Hall Funeral Home Chapel. Burial: Davidson Memorial Gardens
Harley Franklin Collins, 73, of Red Jacket, W.Va., died July 17. Survivors: wife Rose Harley; other family members. Funeral: There will be no services. In honoring his wishes the body has been cremated under the direction of Chamber Funeral Services
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Obituaries: Eastern Kentucky business leader passes at age 89
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