UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

WELCOME ALUMNI!

.

Reservations Due: July 7, 2023

Lafayette High School Hall of Fame

Ron graduated from Lafayette in 1966. During his three years at Lafayette, he not only was a good student but also played varsity baseball all while holding down near full time jobs. In those days, Mr. Sparkle Car Wash in Southland and Montgomery Wards at Turfland Mall were willing to hire young kids and give them a chance. Ron was only 15 when he started working nearly full time. After high school graduation, Ron attended UK where he studied business. In the second semester of his sophomore year, he injured his leg in a pick-up game of football which caused him to withdraw from classes.

These were the days of the Viet Nam War so by January 1968, Ron had been drafted and was starting basic training at Ft. Knox. June 1968 saw him in Viet Nam. June 1969, while home on leave, Ron met his wife of nearly fifty years now, Brenda Miller (Lafayette class of 1969). She was finishing her freshman year at EKU.

Ron completed his tour of duty with the Army in 1971, and he credits his wife, Brenda, for encouraging him to return to college and become a teacher. Ron joined Brenda at EKU and graduated in 1973. Upon graduation they moved to Monroe County, Florida where they have spent their professional careers as educators.

Ron’s career has been dedicated to the education of children and young adults. What makes Ron stand out is his ability to identify exactly what kind of support and encouragement each child needs to make it across the finish line. It is his understanding that not all children are going to college, but all children will be going to work that enables him to know how best to meet each child’s needs.  One child at a time, Ron made a difference until all of the children were included. What follows are only a couple of quotes from interviews with a few of  Ron’s former students: 

“There is no one more qualified, more honest and more caring than Mr. Martin. All I know is I am a better person for having him as a teacher.”    Rodney Nelson

“If it was not for Mr. Martin, I would never have showed up for school. Thank you, Mr. Martin, for calling my house every morning “Ms. Starr you had better show up to my class” was what he would say. It was the motivation I needed. Mr. Martin, thank you for caring enough to make me responsible for myself.” Heather Starr

“It’s people like Ron who see the qualities in students that brings out their potential, and it is because he takes the time and care.”  Ralph Pratt

Ron’s forty-five-year career as an educator in Coral Shores, Florida shows a remarkable commitment to the education, support, mentorship and betterment of children and young adults with a special ability to identify what kids need and going the distance to take care of those needs.

High School Teacher, Soccer Coach, Principal, Chairman of the Board of Education for Monroe County, Instructor of Economics for Florida Community College, Instructor of Adult Education, Steering Committee for Cooperative Education Clubs of Florida, Steering Committee Distributive Education Club of Florida. Special recognition as a Partner for Change for investment and service to youth of Monroe County. In the middle of all of this, in 1995, Ron completed his Masters Degree in Educational Leadership at Northwestern State University.

Earlier this year, Ron and Brenda were recognized by the Ocean Reef Keys Children’s Foundation for their many contributions to the students of Florida. One example of their commitment to the youth of their community includes driving a student to West Virginia to start college and later driving his mother for visits to reassure her that her son was doing well. Neither the student or his mother had ever been north of Miami.

It was very difficult to select only a few examples, a couple of quotes, a story or two about Ron’s care to feed the minds and meet the needs of the children and youth within his reach. Ron has touched hundreds of lives. In the classroom, one child at a time until all children had what they needed. In the community, Ron has guided committees, school boards and foundations to meet the needs of children in his County.

Although Ron has not lived in  Kentucky since graduating college, he still considers Lexington home. His two brothers live in the area as do several Lafayette classmates including Larry Hoover, Ron Smith and Bill Sprinkle… life-long friends.

How could we close without asking Ron who were his favorite teachers at Lafayette? Ron said: “Mr. Caudill, his baseball coach, was a man of strict values who expected a lot from his players; Mrs. Beard, who really cared about her students and who genuinely loved teaching; and Mrs. Champ, his Algebra teacher”.

I imagine if each of us look at our lives and identify the individuals who most influenced who we are, at least one of those individuals is a teacher.

Nomainated by Dr. Kathy Jansen (class of 1967))  Hall of Fame Inductee 2005

Steve Rardin, Chair, Hall of Fame

 Recipient of the 2023

Lafayette Alumni Association Scholarship