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Billy Ray Smith, inducted into the WKU Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2001, graduated from Western in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture.  He was elected in 1996 as the Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture and was the first person to serve consecutive terms.  Additionally, Billy Ray served on the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center and on the Board of Directors for the North American International Livestock Exposition.  Mr. Smith was also selected as a WKU Agriculture Alumnus of the Year.