Rocky Adkins, who is a Senior Advisor to Governor Andy Beshear, is scheduled to be in Columbia on April 3, 2026 to give remarks at the Spirit of Columbia awards. Adkins is a former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in Eastern Kentucky. He served as House Majority Leader from 2003 through 2016. From 2016 to 2019 he was the House Minority Leader in Kentucky.
He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Morehead State University. He was a starting point guard on the Morehead State Eagles. He has been inducted into the Morehead State University Hall of Fame; and, in 2017 the new dining commons at Morehead State University were named in his honor.
Neal Thornbury, Chief Executive Officer of T.J. Regional Health from Glasgow is also scheduled to be in attendance.
The second annual Spirit of Columbia awards are scheduled for Friday, April 3, in Columbia. They will be held at the pavilion at the city park on Fairground Street at 1 p.m.
The following are scheduled to be honored this year:
Shelby Hatcher, TJ Health Columbia
Cody Neat, Adair County Ambulance Service
Assistant City Chief Drew Conn
Adair County Deputy Hunter Tweedy
City Officer Tyler McKinney
City Officer Elliott Smith
Lifetime Achievement Award(s)
Mike Glasgow, Columbia-Adair County Fire Department
Ed Wigal, Breeding Fire Department
Terry Akin, (posthumous) Adair County Ambulance Service
Ralph Curry, (former) Sheriff, Adair County
The Spirit of Columbia awards are a collaborative effort between the City of Columbia and the TJ Health Columbia.
The Lindsey Wilson University Band under the direction of Dr. Robert Palmer is scheduled to perform. The Adair County High School Jr. ROTC under the direction of Krystal Redmon will be presenting colors.
The public is invited to attend.
Refreshments will be served following the service.
“We encourage the public to attend and congratulate this year’s recipients,” said Mayor Hoots.
(Pamela Hoots – City of Columbia)