Georgetown dedicates Barlow Park, holds farewell reception for Martha Layne Collins

Admissions counselor Jeremiah Tudor, hugging Collins, wouldn't settle for a handshake. Lauren Towles of Admissions says her thanks. (From Georgetown College)

Georgetown College recently held a dedication for Barlow Park, followed a farewell reception for long-time staff member and former governor Martha Layne Collins at 5 p.m.
 

The park dedication drew a crowd of community leaders, college personnel, Georgetown College board members, and family and friends of Jim Barlow, who is being honored with a park on the corner of College and Military streets. Barlow – a Trustee Fellow of the College – is the builder of the newest complex of student townhouses on Military Street, which will be known as Hambrick Village. When the landscaping is complete, Barlow Park will be a place for rest and reflection for the entire campus – as well as the Scott County community.
 

Before he gave his welcoming remarks, Georgetown President Bill Crouch brought a collective laugh from the crowd when he said if any other well-wishers “wanted to hug Mr. Barlow, they’ll have to wait until after the ceremony.”
 

Dean Todd Gambill, who has overseen both Barlow construction projects (Hambrick Village and Rucker Village, which was dedicated last Homecoming), opened his tribute to Jim Barlow with: “Students at Georgetown College get a first class education…and now they are getting first class housing.”
 

He also shared with the audience that Barlow told the College “I can build (the townhouses)…and I can build them for less” than what had been previously quoted.
 

Not only did Barlow come through on that promise, but, Gambill said, “consultants have said these complexes are among the top five in the country.”
 

Crouch and Earl A. Goode, chairman of the Georgetown College board of trustees, both spoke and Alan Redditt, Class of 2000 and pastor of Barlow’s church (Georgetown Baptist) closed with a Dedicatory Prayer.
 

Hearts were heavy of all those who showed up to say thanks to “Martha Layne” – the only female governor of the Commonwealth (1983-87) and the one who raised the state’s profile by bringing Toyota to Georgetown.
 

Halfway through the reception, Crouch called everyone together and presented Collins with a rocking chair – which he predicted she’d never use. Roy Lowdenback ’05, Associate Vice President & Chief Development Officer, presented her with a Georgetown College couch throw and Dr. Gambill gave her the sign (framed) that reserved her parking space in Giddings Circle the 14 years she was our Executive Scholar-in-Residence.
 

From Georgetown College