Marshall Magazine Summer 2022

awards & honors

Outstanding Community Achievement — Cathy Burns Cathy Burns is the executive di rector of the HuntingtonMunicipal Development Authority, which is the economic development arm of the City of Huntington. The devel opment authority aims to transform the landscape of Huntington to cre ate opportunities, jobs and places to gather. Burns grew up in nearby Hurricane, West Virginia, and

is known by his friends and family, has a record of distinguished service to his community and to national organizations. Having spent the better part of the past 50 years in academics, he is presently the William F. O’Dell Emeritus Professor of Commerce at the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. Since the late 1960s, Kehoe has taught the world of business to bright young minds at institutions around the world — including right

Kasey Stevens with Cathy Burns.

was a first-generation college student when she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Marshall University in 1983. She earned a master’s in public ad ministration from Eastern Kentucky University in 1985. Prior to her current role she served three years as city manager under Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, and, prior to that, helped manage a regional economic development initiative crossing the state boundaries known as the Huntington Ironton Empowerment Zone. She says one of her proudest achievements was being selected to serve as the first female presi dent and CEO of the longstanding Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce from 2013 to 2016. Burns has garnered numerous awards throughout her distinguished career, including being named a Wonder Woman by West Virginia Living in 2019, the

here at Marshall. While earning his degree, he was an as sistant professor of business in Huntington, before mov ing on to serve at schools in Kentucky, Illinois, Virginia and even the Netherlands. Kehoe remains active both at the University of Virginia and at Marshall, serv ing on the advisory board for the new Doctor of Business Administration program in the Lewis College of Business. In his community of Charlottesville, Virginia, Kehoe has served as chair of nearly a dozen lo cal organizations and on just as many boards in his community. For his work in these areas, he received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the National Association for Community Leadership. He has also earned accolades in other areas including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 and the Paul Goodloe McIntire Citizenship Award in 2016, in addition to countless awards in the areas of research and teaching. A former military member in the

William Joseph Kehoe

American Foundation for the Blind Excellence Award in 2018, The Herald-Dispatch Business Innovator of the Year award in 2006 and be ing named a West Virginia Executive Young Gun in 2002. She and her husband, Dale,

United States Marine Corps, and an avid recreational pilot, Kehoe also served the Commonwealth of Virginia on the Virginia Aviation Board, appointed by theVirginia gov ernor, and on Virginia’s long-range transportation policy committee. Today, Kehoe is an avid fitness walker, reader and private pilot — who can still tell you the full details and statistics of landing and takeoff at Huntington’s Tri-State Airport.

have two grown daughters, Katie and Kelsie, and are proud to have raised a family in Huntington. In her 35 years working for the public, Burns remains as devoted as ever to changing the landscape of the city for the better. Outstanding Community Achievement — William Joseph Kehoe A graduate of Marshall University with a master’s in economics in 1973, William Joseph Kehoe, or Bill, as he

Kasey Stevens and Jeff McKay.

Distinguished Young Alumnus — Jeff McKay

Born in Ripley, West Virginia, Jeff McKay attended Marshall University in 2006 where he earned his bachelor’s

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