2024 Annual Banquet
Each year, Leadership Tri-County Board Members, graduates, and members of the Knox, Laurel, and Whitley County communities gather to celebrate the current graduating class and award recipients. The 2024 Leader of the Year recipient was Jane Rice Williams.
Leader of the Year
Jane served as an Administrative Law Judge with the Kentucky Department of Workers’ Claims from July of 2012 until July of 2020. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the Unversity of Kentucky and Juris Doctorate from Salmon P. Chase College of Law. She was admitted to the practice of law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky in October of 1995 and is a member of the Kentucky and Laurel County Bar Associations.
She was inducted as a Fellow of the College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers in March of 2017. She served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Workers' Compensation judiciary (NAWC)) and was inducted into the NAWC] Hall of Fame in August of 2022.
Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2016, Jane organized in 2018 what later became Parkinson's In Motion, Inc. (PIM), a 501(c)(3) corporation, in 2021. Under Jane's leadership, PIM was honored with the Laurel County Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year Award in 2023.
Jane authored and submitted an abstract on ending Parkinson's to the Word Parkinson Congress and her abstract was selected from a sizable pool of international applicants for presentation at the 2023 World Parkinson Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Jane was also chosen to be a session leader at the event. She works determinedly to reach and motivate people with Parkinson's disease everywhere, but focuses especially on the isolated and underserved in eastern and southern Appalachian areas of Kentucky where Parkinson's often goes undiagnosed, and patients are rarely directed toward self-help resources.
In addition to her work with Parkinson's in Motion, Jane serves as President of the Southeast Kentucky Community Chorus; trustee of the Laurel County Public Library; board member of Baptist Health-Corbin; and board member of Leadership Tri-County. She is also a proud graduate of Leadership Tri-County, Class of 2016.
Luminary
The Luminary honor is presented in memory of leaders from the Tri-County area who demonstrated exceptional leadership and service during life. Their character, integrity, and dedication are an example to current and future leaders for the region.
Pastor Greg Deaton
Greg Deaton served the community of Southeastern Kentucky in multiple capacities always in humility with the true heart of a servant. He spent several years serving as a youth minister and deacon at his home church New Salem Baptist He then served as youth pastor and associate pastor at the Swiss Colony Baptist Church.
During those years, he served as a board member and then president of Come-Unity Cooperative Care. He also began to serve as the Chaplain at Carnaby Square Apartments ministering to many elderly people in our community. This ministry continued for just two decades. During this time he followed the Lord's calling to lead people in local, state and international mission opportunities impacting communities in many states and several villages in the impoverished nation of Haiti. He served as the Senior Pastor of New Salem Baptist church for 17 years. While at New Salem He led the church to actively minister to the people of the community. A food pantry was established providing supplemental food to families in need. He also organized a youth basketball league providing basketball instruction, friendly competition and chance to hear the gospel to hundreds of boys and girls in our county. He served as Laurel Lake Baptist Camp director and pastor.
Officer Travis Hurley
Travis Dean Hurley was born on November 20, 1973, in Whitley County, KY. He was the son of Jakie and Wilma Ball Hurley of East Bernstadt, Kentucky. He was united in marriage to Angela Kinney Hurley of London, Kentucky. He is also survived by a son. Andrew Hurley of London; a sister, Tiffany Hurley of London; a brother, Tharon Hurley and wife Annie of East Bernstadt plus a host of other family and friends to mourn his passing.
Travis retired after 21 years from the London City Police Department where he served as a Lieutenant and a K-9 Handler. He recently returned to work as a resource officer for Laurel County Schools. His strong moral character made him a role model to students of Laurel County, Travis was a dedicated servant to his community and loved his job. He was a friend to all who knew him and will be dearly missed. Travis was a member of First Baptist Church East Bernstadt.
Officer Logan Medlock
Logan Kendal Medlock was born on August 26, 1996, in Fayette County, KY. Logan was an officer with the London City Police, graduating from the Department of Criminal Justice on January 23, 2020, Class #507. He was also a volunteer with the Keavy Fire Department, a North Laurel High School graduate, and a member of Greater Life Fellowship Church.
Logan is remembered by family and friends as a man with an, "infectious smile that could light up any room"... Logan loved to be outdoors. Hunting and Fishing were his favorite hobbies, and he couldn't wait for the day to able to take Brantlev and share that time together. Logan had a true servant's heart, and his dedication and devotion to not only the badge, but his family, is unmatched.
