1. Paul Hitchcock
Honored with
Cultural Heritage
Award
Sept. 19, 2013 – It was with great
delight that Morehead State Public
Radio General Manager Paul Hitchcock
accepted the distinguished Cultural
Heritage Award during the proceedings
of the sixth annual Col. Bill Williams
Heritage Blues Festival at Greenbo Lake
State Resort Park this last Friday on Sep.
13.
The festival pays respect to the proud
impact and legacy of the Greenup
County blues musician, a local hero who
brought peace to those around him with
his soulful and lively melodies.
Witnessing the event, Hitchcock was
inspired by the show that was put on by
those in attendance. "The Colonel Bill
Williams Heritage Music Festival is a
great example of a community
celebrating its culture and heritage. It's
important to remember where you come
from and pass on your heritage to future
generations. I'm honored to be a part of
such a worthwhile activity," he
remarked.
According to the “Blues Who's Who” by
Sheldon Harris, Williams both learned
and taught himself how to play his guitar
in a personal folk/blues/finger-picking
style. During his life, he performed for
television, radio and a short film,
including the documentary Thinking Out
Loud.
Devoted to spreading his hopeful sound,
he traveled and brought his melodies to
numerous venues across the
Appalachians and Piedmont areas of
Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and
North and South Carolina.
Williams also performed at the
Mountain Heritage Folk Festival,
University of Louisville Folk Festival,
University of Chicago Folklore Society
Festival, Festival of American Folklife
(Montreal and Washington, D.C.), and
the Mariposa Folk Festival in Toronto.
Some of his more famous songs include
Corn Liquor Blues, Lucky Blues, My
Girlfriend Left Me, Bill's Rag, and
Banjo Rag.
It is easy to see why Hitchcock was
chosen as a candidate and the eventual
winner of the award. He has been a
veteran broadcaster in the field for more
than 30 years, first beginning his bright
career in 1981 as the music and program
director at the college radio station
WRVG Radio in Georgetown, KY. He
also served as the promotions director at
WTKC radio in Lexington.
He first started work at WMKY
(Morehead State Public Radio) in 1986
and was promoted as its general manager
in 2003. Hitchcock holds a B.A. degree
in communications/psychology from
Georgetown College and an M.A. degree
in communications from MSU.
His various achievements include the
award for Best Local
Music/Entertainment Series (2000) from
the National Federation of Community
Broadcasters for “US 23 Talent
Showcase,” a live performance series
recorded at the Mountain Arts Center in
Prestonsburg. He is also a past president
of the Morehead-Rowan County

2. Chamber of Commerce and Rowan
County Christmas. He currently serves
on boards for the Morehead Tourism
Commission, MCTCS Rowan Campus
Advisory Council, MSU Staff Congress,
and is a member of the board for the
Kentucky Broadcasters Association and
Kentucky Public Radio.
Additional information can be found at
606-783-2001.