KHSSL

Honorary Degree for Gifford Blyton

Former KHSSL Director, Gifford Blyton, to receive honorary degree from University of Kentucky.

link to press release

Junior National Tournament Hosted at WKU

The Junior National Forensic League national tournament will be hosted on the campus of Western Kentucky University on June 27th, 28th and 29th. For information, please contact .

Coaches' Clinic Hosted at WKU Tournament

Last year, WKU hosted a training workshop for new coaches and judges concurrent with it's December senior division tournament. They are doing so again this year. Any school attending the December 8th tournament at WKU may send their coach to the workshop rather than judge at the tournament. Your judging slot will be covered so you do not pay an insufficient judge fee. If you are interested in this workshop, please contact . The clinic will consist of three 90 minute long session led by memebers of the WKU team and coaching staff. The sessions will focus on Team Management, Interp, and Limited Prep.

Current Registrants

Schools registered for the 2007-2008 school year can be found in the directory. If you have received a login and password, please request one from the director.

Clarifying Declamation for the senior division - posted 9-18-07

At the June meeting, the KHSSL Board of Directors voted to make Oratorical Declamation a Senior event at both regional and state tournaments. All students are eligible to compete, regardless of grade level.

We encourage you to read the minutes of the entire board meeting by clicking on the Board of Directors section below.

Turner named new KHSSL executive director - posted 9-12-07

Jim Turner has been named the new executive director of the Kentucky High School Speech League. A high school and college debater, he coached speech teams at Russellville High School and Logan County High School for thirteen years. His teams won four KHSSL regional championships and were state runner-up four times, twice in KHSSL and once each in NFL and NCFL competition. He coached ten state champions and had speakers qualify for national tournaments five times in four years. He also has directed thirty-five high school and community theatre drama productions. He has previously served on the state KHSSL and NFL boards.

Turner, who has taught speech full-time or part-time for twenty-two years including nine at Western Kentucky University, has doubled as a journalist, primarily as a sports editor. The last eleven years he served as editor of the newspaper headquartered in Russellville. He is now a full-time member of the WKU Department of Communication.

When Judy Woodring resigned as KHSSL director, the league's board of directors said they wanted KHSSL to continue its association with Western Kentucky University. The Chair of the WKU Department of Communication, Dr. Sally Ray, has expressed strong support of KHSSL. A former KHSSL competitive speaker herself from the Morehead area, she has enlisted the assistance of university administrators in keeping the organization strong and an integral part of Western Kentucky University's outreach to high school and middle school students.

Chris Chandler, who was deeply involved with making the league succeed the past three years and is a former KHSSL competitor himself, is assisting in making the transition to new KHSSL leadership as smooth as possible.

The office for the Kentucky High School Speech League is now headquartered in the Fine Arts Center where the Department of Communication is located. Those with questions can contact KHSSL at Jim.Turner@wku.edu or call him at 270-745-2736.

Woodring relinquishes KHSSL post - posted 9-12-07

Judy Woodring, who has been executive director of KHSSL for nineteen years, has given up this part of her duties to concentrate on her Western Kentucky University Forensics Team, which has proven repeatedly it is among the world's best. A former high school speech and debate coach herself, she has done a marvelous job in rebuilding KHSSL and making it one of the Commonwealth's best organizations for young people. Judy is a member of the KHSSL Hall of Fame, but even that doesn't adequately attest to what she has done to resurrect and strengthen the role of competitive speech, debate and drama in Kentucky.

All of us who believe in the importance of speech education, competition and communication owe Judy Woodring respect, admiration and gratitude for a job well done.

2007 Board of Directors Minutes Up - posted 6-28-07

The minutes from the 2007 KHSSL, Inc. Board of Directors meeting is available here. As always, you can find a record of previous minutes on the Board of Directors page.

Schedule For Next Year - posted 6-4-07

The schedule for next year's tournaments has been posted. The schedule for each division is listed on that divisions page.

A school wishing to host a tournament must email a request to noting the date, the division, the location and any possible extra events (events beyond the scope of the division). Please remember that Declamation has been added to the senior division, so there's no need to note that you're hosting it.

Regarding Dr. Gifford Blyton - posted 3-8-07

A request from Executive Director, Judy Woodring:

It is with great sadness that I inform you that our beloved Dr. Gifford Blyton is in his own words "in a dire situation." After 98 years his heart has just given out or "worn out" as he said. He has around the clock Hospice care. For those of you new to KHSSL, Dr. Blyton served for many years as our Director. He awards two cash scholarships annually to students and the Blyton Book Award goes to an outstanding KHSSL member each year at our state tournaments. Prior to his years of involvement with KHSSL, he was busy putting the UK Debate team on the map with many championship seasons. Until recently he was still serving as Parliamentarian for the UK Board of Regents. His daughter, Julia Blyton Roberts, was a distinguished debate coach at Paducah Tilghman High School prior to losing her battle with cancer at a very young age. One of my most rewarding moments was to be able to induct Julia into the KHSSL Hall of Fame and have Dr. and Mrs. Blyton present to receive that award in her honor. Even though Dr. Blyton has been told that his passing is just a matter of time, his mind is as sharp as ever and his concern for KHSSL just as focused. The first thing he wanted to tell me was that "his check was on the way---mailed yesterday." Fortunately I was allowed to speak with him this morning for a brief period of time and tell him how much he has meant to me and countless others he has coached, mentored and befriended through the years. On a very personal note, it meant the world to me to be able to talk to him this morning even though it was a very brief conversation. He is not able to take personal phone calls or visits, so make sure you make your correspondence in the form of cards, letters or roses.

Please take a moment and send flowers (he loves roses) or just a card from you and your team. This would take very little effort and would mean more than anything to him. Send your cards ASAP to:

Dr. Gifford Blyton
625 Blue Ash Drive
Lexington, KY 40503-1209

Let us all do our part to make sure his last days are filled with good messages and kind words from all of us who have benefited from his love of Kentucky forensics.