June 29, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Dr. John D. Minton, the fifth president of Western Kentucky University and a member of the
WKU family for nearly 30 years, died early Sunday, June 29, while surrounded by his family. He was 86.
Dr. Minton was born in Trigg County, Ky., the son of the late John Ernest and Daisy Wilson Minton. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 1943 and a master’s degree from UK in 1947. He earned a doctorate from Vanderbilt University in 1959. Dr. Minton also served three years in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
After teaching in public schools in Florida, Dr. Minton returned to Trigg County to serve as principal of Trigg County High School from 1953-58. He was recruited by then-president Dr. Kelly Thompson to join the WKU history faculty in 1958. He began rising through the administrative ranks, serving as associate dean of graduate instruction, dean of the Graduate College and vice president for Administrative Affairs, all while continuing to teach.
In 1979, Dr. Minton became the fifth president of WKU following the retirement of Dr. Dero Downing. While president from Jan. 8 to July 31, he continued to serve as vice president of Administrative Affairs. He was named vice president for Student Affairs in 1981 and retired in 1986, continuing to teach part time during retirement. He chaired the faculty athletic committee at WKU during most of his career and served as president of the Sun Belt Conference. He was responsible for implementing Title IX at WKU and was an advocate for women’s athletic programs. In 2002, WKU’s Central Hall was renamed John D. Minton Hall in his honor.
Minton being sworn in (Flash player required)
Visitation will be 2 p.m.-9 p.m. (CDT) Monday, June 30, at Broadway United Methodist Church in Bowling Green, where he was a member. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. (CDT) Tuesday, July 1, at Broadway United Methodist Church with burial following in Fairview Cemetery. Johnson-Vaughn-Phelps Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Broadway United Methodist Church and the John D. Minton Graduate Fellowship through the College Heights Foundation at WKU. The award recognizes the highest-performing graduate student at the Graduate Commencement Ceremony each year.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Betty Redick Minton of Bowling Green; two sons, Kentucky Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. and his wife, Susan Page Minton, of Bowling Green, and Dr. J. Ernest Minton, a professor and associate director for research at the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station at Kansas State University, and his wife, Teresa Ardery Minton, of Manhattan, Kan.; five grandchildren: Page Sullivan Minton and John D. Minton III of Bowling Green and Dustin Cole Minton, James Zachary Minton and Christina Maria Minton of Manhattan, Kan.; and many nieces and nephews.
Statement from WKU President Gary Ransdell
“The Western Kentucky University family has lost one of its most distinguished members in Dr. John D. Minton. Dr. Minton epitomized the WKU Spirit. His dedication throughout his career on the Hill is unparalleled. He was a mentor to an untold number of students, including myself. Our thoughts and prayers go with his family even as we celebrate his tremendous career that is so intricately woven into the fabric of WKU’s history.”
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