Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News

Media Credit: John Young

Malcolm Frisbie was uncomfortable. He was used to casual living as a faculty member at Eastern. The businessmen that surrounded him at the trusteeship conference he was attending with the Board of Regents made him uneasy.

Eastern President Doug Whitlock was standing close by and asked Frisbie if he was enjoying himself, to which Frisbie replied, "not really." With a twinkle in his eye, Frisbie said, Whitlock replied back and said he loved it. He was in his element.

Frisbie's story of Whitlock's ability to adapt was just one of the tales offered up Friday afternoon in Alumni Coliseum to honor Whitlock at his official inauguration as the 11th president of Eastern.

The event brought in guests from several colleges and universities, the city of Richmond and Frankfort. Representatives from Eastern's various colleges were also present, as well as student representatives from the Student Government Association.

Whitlock first took the role of president under unusual circumstances after former President Joanne Glasser accepted the president's position at Bradley University in August of 2007, just weeks before the start of the fall semester.

A special Board of Regents meeting was called, and the board interviewed five candidates for the role of interim president. Whitlock was the standout candidate.

And while the inauguration ceremony is a traditional rite of initiation, the event took the form of a tribute as speakers recounted stories of Whitlock's character and spoke of the accomplishments he had already made in the midst of the budget cuts.

Hunter Bates, chair of the Board of Regents and master of ceremonies for the inauguration, said he had known Whitlock since serving as a student regent at Eastern in the late '80s. He said most people in attendance had known him as Dr. Whitlock or Doug, but as the board got to know him as President Whitlock, they liked him even better.

"He's been called a man for all seasons, and the last few months have proven that to be true," Bates said.

And Bates said the hardships and battles Whitlock has faced already as president have proven that he is a different type of leader.

"I don't know if Doug Whitlock is in a class all of his own," Bates said. "But whatever class he is in, it doesn't take long to call roll."

Brad Cowgill, former president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, said Whitlock was the closest thing to a human version of the movie The Bridges of Madison County you would find.

Continued...

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