alumni spotlightThe Lord(’s) MayorMichael Bryant,’69<strong>Cumberlands</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn Kentucky who both grew up in Pulaski County. The child who <strong>of</strong>ten visited Mount Vernon,Kentucky, could never have dreamed that someday he would become its mayor. But, in <strong>the</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> times to seek public <strong>of</strong>fice; 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 <strong>the</strong> right thing to do. “Of course, just seeking<strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice did not mean winning,” he states. What followed was 10 months <strong>of</strong> campaigning, <strong>the</strong>n two months <strong>of</strong> transition before assuming<strong>of</strong>fice. “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 <strong>the</strong> ‘whys.’”The road to Mt. Vernon’s city hall has taken Bryant on a global journey. After earning his Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Arts degree in religion with a minor inpsychology at <strong>Cumberlands</strong>, he went on to earn a Master <strong>of</strong> Theology degree in 1980 and a Doctor <strong>of</strong> Ministry degree in 1982, both from<strong>the</strong> International Seminary.During <strong>the</strong> past 42 years, Bryant has served as a pastor, evangelist, chaplain and certified counselor, and he has spent time on <strong>the</strong> mission fieldin <strong>the</strong> 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 <strong>the</strong> 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 <strong>the</strong> plates spinning’ each day,”he says.Serving in more than 80 business, civic and pr<strong>of</strong>essional organizations through <strong>the</strong> years, Bryant has held <strong>of</strong>fice in many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m and hasearned numerous awards for his service and outstanding citizenship. Currently, he is a member <strong>of</strong> several groups, including <strong>Cumberlands</strong>’Church Relations Board.Bryant and his wife Carol Owens Bryant, an alumna <strong>of</strong> Sue Bennett College and Ohio’s Bowling Green State <strong>University</strong>, first lived in MountVernon from 1970 to 1974, but moved <strong>the</strong>re permanently in 1977. When asked <strong>the</strong> best thing about living <strong>the</strong>re, he readily replied that itprovides <strong>the</strong> best <strong>of</strong> small-town living, while being strategically located beside I-75, within an easy drive <strong>of</strong> larger towns, like Richmond andLexington. “Here, you don’t have to give up <strong>the</strong> joy <strong>of</strong> living in a small town for <strong>the</strong> convenience <strong>of</strong> city living,” he said.The Bryants are <strong>the</strong> parents <strong>of</strong> four children, all <strong>of</strong> whom haveattended <strong>Cumberlands</strong>. 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 Mat<strong>the</strong>w Bryant graduated in1999. Twelve grandchildren, including twin grandsons, Lincolnand Sawyer, born January 4, 2011, complete <strong>the</strong>ir 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
Hubert F. White, ’23, PosthumouslyInducted into Hall <strong>of</strong> HonorDuring <strong>the</strong> 2011 Founders’ Day and Martin Lu<strong>the</strong>r King Memorial convocation,<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cumberlands</strong> honored outstanding alumnus, Hubert F. White, ’23,who posthumously received <strong>the</strong> Distinguished Alumni Award and was inducted into<strong>the</strong> Alumni Hall <strong>of</strong> Honor.A native <strong>of</strong> Williamsburg, White attended Cumberland College from 1921 to 1923,where he served as captain <strong>of</strong> both <strong>the</strong> football and basketball teams. He graduatedwith an Associate <strong>of</strong> Arts degree and enrolled at <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Kentucky in 1923,where he completed his undergraduate degree in 1925 and graduated from law schoolin 1927. He practiced law in Harlan and Middlesboro for 55 years and served as <strong>the</strong>city attorney for Middlesboro for a total <strong>of</strong> 30 years. Following in <strong>the</strong> footsteps <strong>of</strong> hisfa<strong>the</strong>r, a three-term mayor <strong>of</strong> Williamsburg, White served as mayor <strong>of</strong> Middlesbor<strong>of</strong>rom 1958 to 1962. He was married to <strong>the</strong> former Fay Cawood for 60 years, and hepassed away in 1990.White’s sons, Robert C. White, <strong>of</strong> Knoxville, Tenn., and Frank M. White <strong>of</strong> Lexington,Ky., accepted <strong>the</strong> award on behalf <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir fa<strong>the</strong>r.Robert White expressed <strong>the</strong> family’s gratitude for <strong>the</strong> honor given his fa<strong>the</strong>r and for<strong>the</strong> educational opportunities <strong>the</strong> elder White experienced at <strong>Cumberlands</strong>.“When he left Cumberland, he went on to pursue his studies in o<strong>the</strong>r places,” saidRobert White <strong>of</strong> his fa<strong>the</strong>r. “But, he always maintained that <strong>the</strong> start he received onthis campus was paramount to <strong>the</strong> success he achieved academically later.”“He alwaysmaintained that <strong>the</strong>start he receivedon this campus wasparamount to <strong>the</strong>success he achievedacademically later.”Robert White, left, and Frank White, right, accept <strong>the</strong> Distinguished Alumni Award on behalf <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>ir fa<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> late Hubert F. White, from Rich Prewitt, center, Alumni Board president.Winter 2011 • CumberlandToday • 37