From Campus Roots to Surgical Heights: Dr. Greg Sexton’s Lifelong Journey with EKU

RICHMOND — For 34 years, Dr. Greg Sexton has served Columbia, South Carolina, as a plastic surgeon, and “can’t imagine doing anything else.”

At one time, however, he “would have probably considered life as a basketball coach and been very happy.”

His own makeover was made possible by supportive family and Eastern Kentucky University professors, and now the 1978 microbiology graduate is giving back to his alma mater to help current and future students enlarge their dreams and honor his late father, Dr. William E. Sexton, who retired from the EKU faculty in 1985 after 27 years. The William E. Sexton Endowed Scholarship for Technology supports freshmen and sophomores pursuing a degree in the Department of Technology.

The elder Sexton held a variety of key positions on the Richmond campus: professor, chair of the Department of Industrial Technology, dean of the College of Applied Arts and Sciences and vice president for public service and special programs. Along with his older brother, Mike, Greg grew up on the Richmond campus, attending Model Laboratory School, going to EKU sporting events and playing on the campus tennis and basketball courts. Mike earned a degree in law enforcement from EKU.

“EKU was the sole supporter of our family,” Greg recalled. “Family friends were also EKU professors. The University was run by Dr. Robert Martin, and my dad thought the world of him.”

Greg used his microbiology degree to get into the University of Kentucky Medical School. “I would probably not have gone to medical school if not for the influence of my family and EKU professors,” he acknowledged.

He established the scholarship in 2004 “because my father’s entire life was about education, and helping people who needed help getting an education. I started it when he was alive, and it meant the world to him. I am giving more now (he recently pledged an additional gift) in hopes of helping more in his name and because EKU helped me get to where I am.”

Greg married his “beautiful, supportive” wife, Catherine, in 1988, and the couple has three daughters and five grandchildren.

He encourages others “who have led happy lives with their EKU degrees to give, so that others less fortunate may have a chance to get an education and have the same fulfilling life that they were fortunate enough to have.”