Acclaim for Local Leaders: Jim Host Inducted Into Public Service Hall of Fame, Kate Shanks Named Distinguished Martin School Alum

LEXINGTON, Ky., April 8, 2024 — From Civic Leadership to Public Service Junction

It is a time for recognition and applause as prominent civic leader and pioneering sports marketer, Jim Host, is chosen as the 2024 inductee into the Kentucky Public Service Hall of Fame. A distinguished persona who bears the honor of serving three times as a member of a Governor’s Cabinet, Host’s name is synonymous with leadership and public service in Kentucky. The awards ceremony will take place at the UK Martin School of Public Policy and Administration Kentucky Public Service Hall of Fame and Distinguished Alumni Banquet at Spindletop Hall on April 26, sponsored by the Board of Visitors.

Joining in the celebration will be Kate Shanks, the respected vice president of public affairs at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. She will be receiving the Martin School’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. This prestigious event honors individuals who have made significant contributions to society and embody the spirit of public service.

Journey to the Hall of Fame: Jim Host

Though born in Pennsylvania, Jim Host was raised in Ashland, Kentucky and spent the majority of his life in his adopted state. After graduating from UK in 1959 with a degree in Radio Arts, he turned professional in the sport he loved, baseball. However, a shoulder injury cut short his career as a pitcher with the Chicago White Sox organization.

In 1967, at the tender age of 29, Host took a turn down the civic leadership highway, becoming the youngest member of Governor Louie B. Nunn’s cabinet as commissioner of the department of public information. Later serving as the commissioner of parks, Host also founded Host Communications, a company that played a crucial role in revolutionizing the collegiate sports marketing industry.

From Civic Service to Business: The Story of Kate Shanks

Kate Shanks, the recipient of the Martin School’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award, is a leading figure in the world of public policy and affairs. With a Master of Public Administration from the Martin School under her belt, Shanks joined the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce in 2015. Over time, she climbed the ranks, becoming the vice president of policy development in 2018, and the vice president of public affairs merely a year later. In 2021, she reached the zenith of her career, being promoted to senior vice president of public affairs.

Celebrating Excellence in Public Service

The Kentucky Public Service Hall of Fame was established in 2012 as a non-partisan platform to celebrate and acknowledge leaders who have made extraordinary contributions to the public sector. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, who has served on the Martin’s School Board of Visitors since 2013, is slated to present the award.

The 2024 Kentucky Public Service Hall of Fame and Distinguished Alumni Banquet will be held on Apr 26 5:00 pm at The Club at UK’s Spindletop Hall. Attendees will comprise esteemed personalities dedicated to the civic and public sector, ready to commend two new inductees who have greatly influenced their communities through a commitment to service, leadership, and change.