On April 25, Warren County Public Schools will induct nine individuals into its Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

The ceremony will be held at the Knicely Conference Center, 2355 Nashville Road, with the doors opening at 5 p.m. with light refreshments and the program/dinner beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/HODA2025.

•Carlos D’Angelo Bailey, a 1994 graduate of Warren Central High School, is a respected attorney and committed public servant. As an attorney, Mr. Bailey has demonstrated a dedication to helping others as he specializes in diverse legal fields from criminal law to civil rights. In addition, he has served as a Bowling Green city commissioner since 2021 (the second African American elected to the office, following Commissioner Joe Denning), where he advocates for the underrepresented and ensures that everyone in the community has an equal voice.

Beyond his professional duties, Mr. Bailey has actively contributed to local nonprofits, boards and committees to improve the lives of those around him. He was honored with the Bowling Green Trailblazer Award by the Bowling Green NAACP Trailblazer Committee for his work in law and civil rights. His fellow attorneys have also honored him with the Pro Bono Publico Award. In 2024, he was recognized with the MLK Humanitarian Award by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee of Bowling Green. In 2025, Mr. Bailey became the first African American to serve as president of the Warren County Bar Association.

Mr. Bailey received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Western Kentucky University in 2000 and his Juris Doctor from Chase College of Law in 2005.

•Ginger Appling Cleary, a 1984 Warren East High School graduate, has been a successful State Farm insurance agency owner in Bowling Green for 30 years, who continues to give back to the broader community.

Ms. Cleary has received numerous awards in her field including Crystal Excellence, President’s Club, Golden Triangle, Legion of Honor, National Convention Qualifier, Ambassador for Life, Senior Vice President’s Club, Multiple Line Achievement, Select Agent and the National Multi-line Sales Award. In 2019, she was recognized as one of the top 50 Agents in the Nation for Life Production in the President’s Club of State Farm. Ms. Cleary has committed her professional and philanthropic efforts to giving back to Bowling Green and Warren County. She actively supports Junior Achievement of South Central Kentucky, where she is a board member and development chair. Ms. Cleary is also a board member of the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation, c0-founded the Bowling Green Professional Marketing Association in 1992, is a member of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, past Chamber ambassador and an alumnus of Leadership Bowling Green, where she received the Bart Hagerman Leadership Award. She is a lifetime member of Western Kentucky University’s Alumni Association, as well as a member of the WKU Fan Committee’s Executive Board. Ms. Cleary is also a proud member of the Women’s Fund of South Central Kentucky and WKU Sisterhood. She is an affiliate with the Realtors Association of Southern Kentucky, a Kentucky Colonel, and a member and greeter at Living Hope Baptist church. She was awarded the American Business Women’s Business Associate of the Year, Best of Bowling Green Insurance Agent, Bowling Green-Warren County Jaycees James “Doc” Kaelin Recruiter of the Year, and Chester Hock Appointed Board Member of the Year. Prior to her employment with State Farm, she was in leadership and director roles at First Federal Bank/First American Bank, Capitol Arts Center and General Growth Companies at Greenwood Mall.

Ms. Cleary received her Bachelor’s degree in 1993 from Western Kentucky University.

•Stan England, a 1964 Warren County High School (now Warren Central High School) graduate, is a member of the WCHS Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. England credits his high school teachers, coaches and administrators for helping him overcome many obstacles, while preparing him for opportunities to succeed. Growing up in an underserved area of Bowling Green, Mr. England came from humble beginnings where his passion for helping children began. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college.

Mr. England served as the 1 st chief professional officer (CPO) of the 8 th Judicial District Pretrial Services Program, 1 st executive director of local Big Brothers Big Sisters programs and CPO of Boys & Girls Clubs in Bowling Green, Franklin and Morgantown. Mr. England is a lifelong champion for the children of Warren County-Bowling Greenand beyond.

Mr. England currently serves on the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation’s Board of Directors, the BGPR Jr Golf Committee and is a member of the WCHS Athletic Hall of Fame Committee. His name is on the Stan England Junior Golf – Wall of Champions, an honor representing his mark on the community for generations to come. Mr. England volunteers for the American Legion Post 23, devoting his time to the nursing home visitation program, and has served as an officer or member of various civic clubs, diversity initiatives and school safety programs.

Mr. England graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor’s degree in Science and Master’s degree in Public Service and Parks and Recreation Administration.

• Dr. Kellye S. Joiner, DVM, PhD, a 1991 graduate of Greenwood High School, is an associate professor at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Joiner is a faculty member in the Department of Pathobiology. She is actively engaged in the teaching mission of the college (clinical and didactic), most notably in the fields of diagnostic pathology, systemic pathology, avian pathology and immunology. She also lectures in three other professional-level courses and several graduate-level courses focused on poultry disease and pathology.

With a teaching style that integrates storytelling and anecdotes with theory, Dr. Joiner’s efforts to help students engage with and contextualize complex materials enabled her to receive numerous student accolades, including the Student Government Association Teacher of the Year, the Student American Veterinary Medical Association Teacher of the Year, and the coveted Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award. In 2024, she received the Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, the highest distinction given to a faculty member at Auburn University.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Joiner mentors professional and graduate students, overseeing research projects, advising graduate students and supporting post-DVM pathology residents. She also plays a crucial role in addressing the national shortage of avian veterinarians by leading the development of an American College of Poultry Veterinarians certified training program in poultry pathology at Auburn.

Dr. Joiner attended Western Kentucky University before being admitted to Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She graduated cum laude from Auburn University with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and her PhD in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences.

•Joshua M. Poling, a 2004 Greenwood High School graduate, is a successful restaurant entrepreneur and business owner. Mr. Poling first opened the restaurant Home Cafe & Marketplace with his wife Chelsey in 2011, two months before they got married. In 2018, the couple opened Hickory and Oak, an upscale restaurant, making a one-million-dollar investment in downtown Bowling Green. Through Mr. Poling’s generosity, Hickory and Oak is known for numerous community events including providing steaks to veterans on Veterans Day, as well as gifting steaks to local educators during the first week of school. He also integrates the restaurant into downtown events which are vital to the community’s culture.

Following the devastating tornadoes that impacted Bowling Green and Warren County in December 2021, Mr. Poling organized local restaurants to donate approximately $100,000 in gift cards to help tornado victims.

In June 2024, Mr. Poling and his wife acquired Broadbent B&B Foods. The company was started in 1909 making classic Kentucky salt-cured hams. It has since expanded to offering bacon and smoked sausage, as well as a full line of pantry staples. Mr. Poling was instrumental in getting the Broadbent products on Amazon as he expanded the company’s national reach. His family is only the third family to own Broadbent B&B Foods since opening their doors in the early 1900’s.

Mr. Poling received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Miami University (Oxford, OH) in 2008 and his Associate degree in Culinary Arts from Sullivan University in 2009.

•Jackie Strode, a 1968 graduate of Bristow High School, selflessly served the community and Commonwealth as Warren County Jailer for 23 years and a Kentucky State Police (KSP) trooper for 21 years. Before serving locally, he was a proud United States marine.

While with the KSP, Mr. Strode served eight years as the public information officer for the Bowling Green post. During this time, he taught over 10,000 students about the dangers of drugs and how to stay safe, while also educating students about driver safety. Throughout his public service career, Mr. Strode has served on various boards and committees including Bowling Green-Warren County Military Liaison, Barren River Area Safe Space, CASA of South Central Kentucky, Rape Crisis Center, Warren County Public Schools Safety Committee, Bowling-Warren County Drug Prevention program, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bowling Green-Warren County Mental Health team, and more. As Warren County Jailer, he was active with the Kentucky Jailers Association,serving as the state office sergeant-at-arms and the vice president.

Expanding his service and leadership reach, Mr. Strode is active in the Fraternal Order of Police, American Legion and Three Springs Baptist Church. He currently serves as the chaplain for both the Fraternal Order of Police and the American Legion.

Mr. Strode has earned many awards and recognitions including KY Jailer of the Year, Hughes and Coleman Hometown Hero and Bowling Green’s Strode Appreciation Day(November 19, 2013).

•Melanie Scott Watts, a 1988 Warren Central High School graduate, served the city of Bowling Green honorably as a highly regarded Bowling Green Police Department (BGPD) officer and deputy chief. After retiring from BGPD, she continues to leave her mark on the community at Lifeskills in Bowling Green where she is the regional executive director.

Ms. Watts had a long and distinguished career with the BGPD, rising to the rank of deputy chief field operations bureau. In that role, she supervised the patrol division, criminal investigations and dispatch operations. She was supervisor to 115 officers and 23 civilian employees. In 2010, she was recognized with the highly distinguished honor of Officer of the Year.

As a former foster parent, Ms. Watts and her husband adopted four children. She is known for being a voice for vulnerable children as she has shared the mission and vision of the Family Enrichment Center as a board member since 2018, more recently serving as president of the board from 2021-2023. She has also served on the Bowling Green Junior Woman’s Club Board of Directors, started the Coats for Kids partnership with the Bowling Green Police Department, and served as secretary for the Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center’s Board of Directors.

She graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Broadcasting, earned her Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University and completed an Administrative Officers Course from the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville.

•Steven Allen Wheeler, a 1966 Alvaton High School graduate, has been a pillar in the Bowling Green-Warren County community for over 50 years. He graduated from Western Kentucky University (WKU) in 1971 and joined J.C. Holland & Company, where he became a partner in 1974. Mr. Wheeler remained a partner of the tax and investment firm until May 2022, when he left to join David Chandler as chief financial officer of Chandler Real Estate.

After graduating from WKU with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Mr. Wheeler has held several certifications and licenses, holding professional licenses in over 30 states. Mr. Wheeler has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants, Financial Planning Association and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. Mr. Wheeler has been involved in various religious, charitable and civic organizations. He has been an active member of Old Union Missionary Baptist Church holding various service positions including that of Deacon for the last 48 years. He also served as past board member and president of Alvaton Elementary PTO, and served on the team to write and implement the Warren County School Occupational Tax. Mr. Wheeler served as past president of the Board of Directors of Orchestra Kentucky; past board member of Hospice of Southern Kentucky; past board member and past divisional vice president of the Bowling Green-Warren County Chamber of Commerce; past board member and board treasurer of the Arts of Southern Kentucky Inc.; past board member of the Bowling Green-Warren County Western Symphony Orchestra; past board member of The Community Foundation of South Central Kentucky; as well as volunteer involvement in Junior Achievement of South Central Kentucky. In 2023, Mr. Wheeler was honored to serve on the WCPS Education Foundation board, but as a result of illness resigned soon thereafter. Mr. Wheeler is very excited regarding the potential good this Foundation will provide to WCPS’ students.

In 2008, WKU’s Gordon Ford College of Business’ Accounting Program awarded Mr. Wheeler the Outstanding Alumnus Award. In 2022, Mr. Wheeler was honored to receive the Lotus Award from Hospice of Southern Kentucky and in July of 2024, he received the Janet Bass Smith Memorial Award for Exemplary Volunteerism from Arts of Southern Kentucky.

•Kerry T. Young, a 1983 Warren East High School (WEHS) graduate, is a dedicated leader who has made an extraordinary impact on our schools and community. Mr. Young devoted himself to serving others in education and leadership roles. His passion for education was evident through his years of service on the Warren County Public Schools Board of Education from 2007 to 2022. He rose through the ranks, serving as vice chairman from 2009 to 2012 and chairman from 2013 to 2022. Under his leadership, the district grew from 12,000 to over 18,000 students, becoming the fourth-largest in the state. He helped oversee a budget that more than doubled, and was a member of the leadership team involved in the development of 30 projects totaling over $440 million. These included building nine new schools, designing two more schools, and remodeling or adding to three existing campuses—leaving a lasting legacy of educational infrastructure in the community.

His leadership extended to the Kentucky School Boards Association, where he served on the board of directors from 2017 to 2022, as the 3rd region chair from 2017 to 2019, and as director-at-large from 2020 to 2022.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, he has been a steadfast servant to his faith and community. As a deacon at Greenwood Park Church of Christ since 2005, he also served as a counselor at Greenwood Park Youth Camp from 2002 to 2008; in 2009, he became the camp’s director. Over the past 22 years, he has influenced the lives of countless young people, overseeing an average of 130 campers and 60 staff each year.

Today, he continues to bring his expertise and passion for community development as part of Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects in a business development role, after retiring from the United Parcel Service where he provided over 38 years of service.

I am originally from Owensboro and graduated from Owensboro High School. In 1994, I received a degree in print journalism from Murray State University. I have lived in Bowling Green and have worked at the paper since I graduated.

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