Major General Dowd - University of the Cumberlands

alumni spotlightThe Lord(’s) MayorMichael Bryant,’69Cumberlands alumnus, Michael (Mike) Bryant, ’69, has returned to his roots in a big way. Although he was born in Cincinnati and grew upin Michigan, his parents were natives of southern Kentucky who both grew up in Pulaski County. The child who often visited Mount Vernon,Kentucky, could never have dreamed that someday he would become its mayor. But, in the 2010 election, Bryant was indeed elected Mt.Vernon’s mayor, and his term began in January.Always active in his community, Bryant has been approached a number of times to seek public office; to run for mayor, county judgeexecutive,or even sheriff. However, this time, when someone suggested a campaign for mayor late in 2009, he said that he would pray aboutit. As he prayerfully considered such a step, he became more overwhelmingly convinced it was the right thing to do. “Of course, just seekingthe office did not mean winning,” he states. What followed was 10 months of campaigning, then two months of transition before assumingoffice. “It has been an interesting journey,” Bryant says. “Politics is a journey I had not traveled before.” He goes on to say, “But more andmore, I can see God’s hand at work. This is clearly not an accident or a coincidence, but true providence. I do not know and may never knowall the ‘whys.’”The road to Mt. Vernon’s city hall has taken Bryant on a global journey. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in religion with a minor inpsychology at Cumberlands, he went on to earn a Master of Theology degree in 1980 and a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1982, both fromthe International Seminary.During the past 42 years, Bryant has served as a pastor, evangelist, chaplain and certified counselor, and he has spent time on the mission fieldin the US, Mexico and Guatemala. A sworn deputy sheriff and chaplain with four different sheriffs, he has spoken at more than 120 churchesin eight states, Israel, Mexico and Guatemala. Additionally, he worked for the Kentucky Cabinet for Families & Children, from which heretired in 2000 as Family Services Office supervisor.Bryant is truly enjoying his new position. “Mount Vernon, by comparison, is a small town, but I’ve realized that it is like a large business.Just being mayor means managing multiple departments with multiple issues, and it’s a challenge to ‘keep all the plates spinning’ each day,”he says.Serving in more than 80 business, civic and professional organizations through the years, Bryant has held office in many of them and hasearned numerous awards for his service and outstanding citizenship. Currently, he is a member of several groups, including Cumberlands’Church Relations Board.Bryant and his wife Carol Owens Bryant, an alumna of Sue Bennett College and Ohio’s Bowling Green State University, first lived in MountVernon from 1970 to 1974, but moved there permanently in 1977. When asked the best thing about living there, he readily replied that itprovides the best of small-town living, while being strategically located beside I-75, within an easy drive of larger towns, like Richmond andLexington. “Here, you don’t have to give up the joy of living in a small town for the convenience of city living,” he said.The Bryants are the parents of four children, all of whom haveattended Cumberlands. Melissa Bryant Stewart graduated in1987and served as SGA president; her husband Jon Stewartgraduated in 1985; Michael Bryant II attended from 1987 to1990, and his wife Rhonda Reid Bryant, is a 1994 graduate;Marla Bryant Hart attended; and Matthew Bryant graduated in1999. Twelve grandchildren, including twin grandsons, Lincolnand Sawyer, born January 4, 2011, complete their family.When he manages to find any free time, Bryant enjoys hunting,fishing, camping, ATV/horseback riding, canoeing, knifecollecting, 18th century & civil war reenacting and martial arts,in which he is a black belt certified instructor.Bryant wants to leave a legacy for future generations in MountVernon. “This is a ‘we’ not a ‘me’ thing,” he states emphatically.“Thinking futuristically, my hope is that by building on thingsmy predecessors began, we can make this a better place, a bettertown and leave some things in place for my successors to buildupon.”36 • CumberlandToday • Winter 2011