Oct. 25, 2012
For Immediate Release

 

By Ellie McKinley, student news writer

 

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.- Campbellsville University honored Ron ('69) and Mary Lou Wise ('65) Rafferty with the CU Distinguished Alumni award at the annual Homecoming reception.

The couple has been married for 47 years. For their first date, Wise asked Rafferty to a Thanksgiving dinner at their church.

Both are Taylor County natives and have been contributors to several roles in the community as well as Campbellsville University. Rafferty taught in the public school systems for 27 years and came to work at CU during the 1990s. He also works as a farmer and a Campbellsville University trustee.

Mrs. Rafferty served as a church pianist, children's choir leader, and a children's Sunday School teacher for several years. She now enjoys being a volunteer at local nursing homes. She shared her husband's profession of teaching and taught first through sixth grade at the Taylor County School System, then taught courses at CU such as Improving Reading Proficiency, University Success Skills and Children's Literature.

For the past 35 years, Ron and Mary Lou have worked together to produce a radio program on Q104. This program airs every Sunday morning ministering to the Christian community of Taylor County.

When the couple was honored with this award, both had much to say about their experience at CU. Mrs. Rafferty said, “This institution has been a blessing and a support system for me when I was a student and as a professor.”

Speaking about his wife, Rafferty said with tear-filled eyes, they could not have picked a better candidate. He said, “I am proud to a part of a business that builds student leaders. Never in my life would I have expected for Campbellsville University and my life to intertwine and I thank God for this blessing.”

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.