For Immediate Release
Contact: Channell Barbour 502-564-2611 or
Ed Lawrence (502) 564-3757 or 1-888-833-ARTS

(Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Paul Patton inducted Richard Taylor today as the new Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate induction ceremony was held in the Capitol Rotunda, at 11:00 a.m., and provided many opportunities for the public to become better acquainted with the literary arts in Kentucky. Newly appointed Secretary of the Education, Arts and Humanities Cabinet Marlene M. Helm welcomed the public.

Governor Paul E. Patton introduced Richard Taylor, Frankfort, as Poet Laureate for the 1999-2000 term. Under Kentucky Code, Sec. 153.600, the Governor selects the Poet Laureate as recommended to him by the Kentucky Arts Council, the Department of Libraries and Archives, and the Department of Education. "I am very pleased that Richard Taylor has been selected," said Governor Patton. "Not only has he achieved literary distinction, he has also been active in promoting the literary arts, in fact all of the arts in our schools truly knows that Education Pays."

Kentucky State University Professor of English, co-owner of Poor Richard’s Books, and distinguished author Richard Taylor succeeded Joy Bale Boone as Poet Laureate of Kentucky. Taylor read from his most recent work, In the Country of Morning Calm, published by Larkspur Press. He also authored Girty, a novel reprinted by Gnomen Press and Three Kentucky Tragedies, published as part of the New Reader Series by University Press of Kentucky.

In addition to his teaching and writing career, Taylor has been active over the years with the Governor’s Scholars Program, the University Press of Kentucky editorial board, Kentucky Humanities Council speakers bureau, and the Artists in the Schools Program of the National Endowment for the Arts.

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