March 21, 2001

Nichols Keynote Speaker For Society Of African American Alumni's Annual Spring Celebration March 31

Bowling Green, Ky. - George Nichols III, former Kentucky insurance commissioner, will be the keynote speaker for the Western Kentucky University Society of African American Alumni's annual Spring Celebration on March 31.

Nichols, who received his bachelor's degree from WKU, is senior vice president and assistant to the chairman of New York Life Insurance Company.

The Spring Celebration begins with a buffet dinner at 6 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bowling Green. The public is invited. Tickets are $25 each or $350 for a corporate table.

Before joining New York Life this year, Nichols was commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Insurance and regulated the state's $10 billion insurance industry. He served as president of the National Association of Insurance Commission from 1999 to 2000. In 1996, he became special adviser to Gov. Paul Patton on health care policy and economic development for the financial services industry.

He also has served as executive director of the Kentucky Health Policy Board; vice president of marketing for Athena of North America; executive director of product development of Southeastern Group, Inc.; chief executive officer of Central State Hospital in Louisville; and executive assistant to the commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Mental Health/Mental Retardation Services.

Nichols received his associate's degree from Alice Lloyd College and his master's from the University of Louisville. He and his wife, Cynthia Jean, have three children.

The Society of African American Alumni's Spring Celebration raises money for a scholarship fund for African American students at Western Kentucky University. This year's recipient will be recognized at the event.

Special guests include WKU President Gary Ransdell, House Speaker Jody Richards, state Sen. Brett Guthrie and the Society for African Alumni's Leadership Scholars. Entertainment will be provided by students from WKU's Music Department.

To make reservations, contact the WKU Alumni Association at (270) 745-4395 or 1-888-WKU-ALUM.

For more information, contact Mary Beth Frith, associate director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, at (270) 745-4395. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via E-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.