Profile

Gene Cravens never does anything halfway.

Gene was born in Kentucky and still lives there, more than 90 years later.

He married Jean in 1956 and they are still married today, 70 years later.

He joined Kiwanis back in 1965 and is still an active member today, 61 years later.

His story begins in the small town of Utica, Kentucky on November 24, 1935. His parents were farmers, so Gene and his three brothers grew up in that classic American lifestyle. He met Jean at a party in nearby Owensboro when they were both high school students. It was love at first sight, kind of. “I was impressed this city girl knew what a trench silo was,” says Gene.

Before Jean became his primary interest in life, he was fascinated by electricity, which was fairly new in rural Kentucky communities. He recounts, “I can remember seeing kerosene lights in some farmhouses.”

Gene, curious by nature, wanted to know how electrical devices worked. It opened a whole new world to him. “There were so many electrical things I didn’t know existed, but I learned enough that I began wiring buildings on the family farm and converted an old school bus into a brooder house for chickens.”

He earned a cover story of what was then known as Rural Kentuckian magazine, which touted him as the State FFA (Future Farmers of America) Rural Electrification Champion.

With his high school years coming to a close and looking forward to further his education, he had some decisions to make. “My parents both went to the University of Kentucky, so naturally I went there as well, majoring in Agriculture.”

The other big decision had to do with Jean. “She came to UK after graduating from high school majoring in Education.”

By then they knew they were meant to be together, so on September 1, 1956, They earned their “Mr. and Mrs.” degree. Gene graduated in 1958 and Jean in 1959.

Gene landed a job with New York Life Insurance Company in Lexington, and true to form, he spent his entire career there, achieving Chartered Life Underwriter status. He also started investing in real estate and in 1964 he founded the Cravens Property Company. His holdings have increased dramatically over the years and he still active with it today.

In 1965, Gene joined the Bluegrass Kiwanis Club in Lexington, a community service organization, and this ignited his desire to do good things in the community. He soon rose to president of the club on his way to 22 years of perfect attendance. “Our club grew to more than 100 members, which was remarkable in that we had limits on each profession, whether doctors, lawyers, professors or realtors. We had no problem attracting high quality speakers for our weekly meetings, including the governor of Kentucky, a US senator, chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority and others.”

Gene has organized and/or participated in dozens of Kiwanis service projects. At the time Gene joined Kiwanis, there were no female members. That changed over the years and this year, Gene and Jean’s granddaughter is president of the club!

Meanwhile, Gene and Jean have been involved with Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass for years. She was instrumental in starting the High Street Neighborhood Center, the Community Shelter and the HOPE Center in Lexington. She has also been active with Kentucky Refugees Ministries and the International Book Project. In 1995, she was honored with the Algeron Sydney Sullivan Medallion Citizen Award, a prestigious humanitariam awared recognizing citizens who have selflessly given or served others. They were both featured last year in the JA Bluegrass Business Hall of Fame JA Laureate.

He and Jean are also quite active in their church. Gene says, “When our church decided to build a Habitat for Humanity home for a fellow member, Jean and I helped.”

From that experience they became committed to Habitat’s mission, at first supporting the work of their hometown affiliate, the Jimmy Carter Work Project, then for the next 20 years they traveled internationally, participating in the construction of some of Habitat’s earliest home builds (Habitat started in 1976). They have traveled all of the world building homes with Habitat (some of them working with Jimmy Carter) and Heifer International. “We also went on a Baptist Hospital mission trips to Russia and India.”

In the process, they have visited over 100 countries.

The Cravens’ commitment to Habitat continues to this day. They have wintered in Vero Beach for many years and Gene volunteers at the Habitat Re-Store five days a week, again, to this day. Both were instrumental in efforts that led to Indian River Habitat’s Women Build initiative. They have contributed to a scholarship program for Habitat homeowners and their children, also helped tutor students and provided ESL (English as a Second Language) assistance for families in the community, as well as volunteering regularly at the Habitat Re-Store.

Meanwhile, Gene has increased his investments, building and operating a number of real estate enterprises including commercial properties and an apartment near the University of Kentucky campus.

His financial relationship with the school has only grown closer over time. He established the Cravens Family Scholarship in UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment along with the Gene Cravens Alpha Gamma Rho Scholarship. He has supported the AGR Chapter House, contributed to UK Arboretum and UK Healthcare. They have pledged major financial support to the Gene and Jean Cravens Distinguished Professorship in Land-Grant Service Fund at the College of Agriculture.

He and Jean are life members of the Arboretum and UK Alumni Association, both serving on the board of directors. They are also both members of the University Wildcat Society.

Outside of their lifelong support and participation with the university, Gene has served on many boards including Kentucky Baptist Hospital Board (chairman), Lexington Kentucky Apartment Association (president), and Lexington Life Underwriters (president).

He and Jean are both deacons of Calvary Baptist Church in Lexington and Gene serves on the board of trustees at Community Church in Vero Beach.

They are both examples of ‘lives well lived’ and should be an inspiration for all of us to give of ourselves without limits.