Robert A. Powell
Robert A.
Powell was born in Fayette County, and his love for Kentucky’s history has taken him to all 120 counties - to research,
photograph and sketch people and places. He is an author, historian, teacher, photographer, speaker, journalist, artist and
publisher; it is impossible to determine where one stops and the other begins. Most simply, he is a Kentuckian with a thirst
for Kentucky’s heritage which he delights in sharing with others.
When he was in the fourth grade, his class
was given an assignment to write an essay about summer vacation. Bob’s teacher was so impressed with his paper, that
she submitted it to the Lexington Herald for a writing contest. He won a pair of roller skates as first prize. It was also
while in the 4th grade that he created his first paintings - a pair of horse heads. His enthusiasm for both his writing and
art continued to increase through high school (Bryan Station High School) and into college.
While a student at Kentucky
Wesleyan College he was a member of the college newspaper staff; a reporter for his national fraternity (Sigma Phi Epsilon)
publication; editor of the local chapter newsletter; school photographer; and editor of the college yearbook. For his Bachelor
of Arts degree, Bob holds majors in both English and art, with minors in history and psychology. He earned teaching certificates
for both elementary and secondary education, and completed graduate work in communications at the University of Kentucky &
Western Kentucky University.
As a professional journalist, Powell worked for the Clay City Times, Lexington Herald-Leader,
and Owensboro Messenger and Inquirer. He has also served extended tenures as Editor of several Shrine magazines, as well as
the popular Kentucky Images Magazine. He also produced and hosted a TV talk show that aired weekly on stations in Lexington,
Louisville and Bowling Green (66-68).
| Nick Clooney interviewing Robert Powell |
|
| WCPO TV - Cincinnati - 1969 |
On the high school level he taught journalism, creative writing, art and senior English at schools in Kentucky and Florida.
While teaching at Boyle County High School he served as assistant football and basketball coach. He left teaching to join
the staff of the Kentucky Department of Education under State Superintendent Harry M. Sparks. He moved from the Kentucky Department
of Education to Director of Dissemination for K.I.D. Center, a special project for the U.S. Office of Education. Bob was a
communications consultant for the U.S. Office of Education, serving school systems coast to coast.
He was then
named assistant to the vice-president for public relations for the Appalachian Regional Hospitals chain in Kentucky, Virginia
and West Virginia.
A professional photographer since 1964, Bob has won the state-wide awards in both commercial
and portrait photography and maintains a rare personal collection of Kentuckiana, including photos of many historic landmarks
which have now been destroyed.
In 1967 Bob made the decision to free-lance his art and writing. He began to develop
a series called ‘Kentucky Images’ which featured a pen-ink drawing of some Kentucky landmark and a descriptive
narrative to explain it’s significance. The series was carried for nearly three years in more than 100 newspapers each
week. It was during this time that he founded his publishing company Kentucky Images.
| Heritage Artists in DC |
|
In 1972 he was selected as one of the original Kentucky Heritage Artists, and served several years as Executive Director
for the group.
His interests and talents brought him to the attention of Harry Lee Waterfield, founder and President
of Investor’s Heritage Life Insurance Company. Waterfield, who had served two terms as Kentucky’s lieutenant governor,
requested twenty paintings representing Kentucky’s heritage to be hung in the Investor’s Heritage Insurance Company
headquarters in Frankfort. Governor Waterfield wanted these completed by 1974, so they could be dedicated during the Kentucky
Bi-Centennial Celebration.
Governor Waterfield’s request for 20 paintings grew to a collection of 45 original
pen-ink drawings before the exhibit was complete. This represents the largest collection of Robert Powell originals to hang
in one place, and became the nucleus for his first book, THIS IS KENTUCKY. It was Powell’s view of the state as seen
through the eyes of one Kentucky artist. It was an instant success and the schools expressed enough interest that a special
schoolbook edition was printed for use in the classroom.
| RAP - Mac & Jake |
|
From that initial venture in book publishing, Bob compiled quite an impressive track record. In 1982 he was named “Author
of the Year” by the Kentucky school librarians. He has received many honors and citations from civic, historical and
educational associations across the state. In 1974 Robert Powell became the first author to complete a personal appearance
tour of all Kentucky’s Library districts. An exhibit of illustrations from his book was featured in the Public Library
and he presented assembly programs in the schools and a slide presentation for the public at the Library, with a reception
and autograph session.
His second book, KENTUCKY GOVERNORS, also received wide acclaim. This magnificent volume included
a pen-ink portrait of every Kentucky governor from Isaac Shelby (the first) through Julian M. Carroll, who was governor at
the time the book was published. It also included a complete listing of all Kentucky’s lieutenant governors as well
as the governors of Confederate Kentucky.
KENTUCKE: The Story of a Proud Heritage was Bob’s first textbook. Created
as a Kentucky studies text for the middle school students, it was added to the state list of approved social studies textbooks
in 1977. In 1980 it was revised, updated and re-adopted for the fifth grade level. For the 1987 social studies adoption, the
book was completely re-designed and re-written for the fourth grade level. There were two textbooks approved for Kentucky
studies for the period 1987-1993 and both were written by Robert A. Powell. In 1985 he and his daughter Karen Sue Powell wrote,
designed and illustrated FRONTIER KENTUCKY; a history textbook for fourth graders.
Robert A. Powell has written thousands
of articles for newspapers and magazines, had 28 books published - from history books to picture books and even novels, edited
numerous magazines and publications, and served for 20 years as Executive Editor for Kentucky Images Publications.
He
has published hundreds of art prints and thousands upon thousands of sketchbook calendars. Robert A. Powell is without a doubt
one of the most prolific artists in the state
