Ursel Boyd

Mon 5/21/2018 8:18 AM

Dr. Ursel Doris Boyd, who taught German language and culture at EKU from 1967 until her retirement in 1995, passed away recently. She was 96.

Dr. Boyd is remembered as one who cared deeply for her students, who often remarked that she made their studies interesting with her upbeat, vivacious teaching style, wide-ranging intellect and tales of growing up in Germany. Dr. Boyd was born in Berlin, but appreciated American values and considered herself a Kentuckian.

She earned the Excellence in Teaching Award from EKU in 1986, and a Dean’s Award in 1995. The Fayette County Board of Education also honored her with a Special Recognition Award.

Dr. Boyd presented lectures on literature, history, culture and many other topics at several leading universities around the nation, and was an invited speaker to many civic organizations.

She was also known for hosting many dinner parties and other events at her Lexington home, with guests ranging from students and colleagues to such dignitaries as U.S. Sen. John Sherman Cooper; famed Kentucky composer/folksinger John Jacob Niles, often called the “Dean of American Balladeers”; the Chinese national basketball team; and even Jesse Owens after the legendary Olympian spoke in Lexington in 1972.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date at Faith Lutheran Church, Lexington.

Please join me in expressing our sympathies to the Boyd family in this time of sorrow.

Michael Benson

EKU President