Dr. Wally and Geraldine Montgomery Pledge $100,000 to the Paducah School for Art.

Paducah residents Wally and Geraldine Montgomery have pledged $100,000 to West Kentucky Community & Technical College. The funds were pledged in support of the college's emerging Paducah School of Art in the historic Lower Town district. This is the first lead gift to this initiative, college officials announced recently.

"The Montgomery's have always been leaders of Paducah's downtown revitalization efforts," says Dr. Barbara Veazey, President of WKCTC. "Their generous gift to the Paducah School of Art symbolizes their confidence in the success of this exciting project."

Both Dr. and Mrs. Montgomery are very active in economic development initiatives throughout the western Kentucky region. Geraldine Montgomery, who served two terms as Mayor of Paducah, was instrumental in the revitalization efforts of downtown Paducah. As the Mayor, Montgomery served on the Paducah Junior College, Inc. Board of Trustees. Dr. Montgomery, a retired surgeon, has been a member of the board since 1980. Dr. Montgomery was instrumental in securing private funding for the college's Crounse Hall in the 1990s.

College officials also announced that John and Kristin Williams will serve as co-chairs of the capital campaign to raise funds for the continued development of the Paducah School of Art. Mr. Williams is the Branch Manager and Senior Vice President of Wachovia Securities, Paducah. He is the past president of the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Paducah Film Society, and Paducah McCracken County Growth, Inc. Kristin Williams is the Owner and Principal of KRW Consulting, Paducah. She is the past president of the Paducah McCracken County United Way and serves on the Paducah McCracken County Convention Center Corporation. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are active members of Broadway United Methodist Church, Paducah.

The Paducah School of Art will be located in a historic 50,000 square-foot Lower Town facility. The facility, donated by the City of Paducah, will serve as a visual anchor for the successful Paducah Artist Relocation program in Paducah's Lower Town and will make Paducah an arts destination. Temporary quarters for the School of Art have been established in downtown Paducah at 409 Broadway. Classes in painting and ceramics will began at the Broadway location on August 18.

For more information about enrolling in the Paducah School of Art, call (270) 408-4ART.