Prestonsburg, KY (May 13, 2005) - Mr. Paul R. Gearheart will be honored with one of the first two honorary degrees presented by Big Sandy Community and Technical College on Friday, May 13, 2005 for his service as a member of the Big Sandy Community and Technical College Board of Directors from 1988 until 2001 and as its chair from 1994 until 2000. He also serves on the Big Sandy College Educational Foundation Board. He has actively supported the college through his gifts to improve the facilities, to enhance the scholarship program and to enable faculty to engage in professional development.

Mr. Gearheart was born at Toler Creek, Kentucky and grew up in rural Floyd County. Developing a love for education and a dedication to excellence early, he graduated at the top of his class from Betsy Layne High School, while playing basketball for the famous Betsy Layne Bobcats.

At the age of 17, Gearheart lost his left eye in a tragic accident while playing basketball. After hearing the prognosis from the doctor that he was permanently blinded in his left eye, Mr. Gearheart said, " What I thought then was that I would have to work twice as hard as the next person, just to keep up." And he did!

The Gearhearts purchased Roberts/Olga Telephone Company serving 72 customers with crank phones on June 1, 1953, thus beginning an entrepreneurial empire that has lasted more than 50 years and is still growing.

Paul Gearheart's business interests serve customers in southern West Virginia, western Virginia and eastern Kentucky. His companies include Gearheart Communications, Inc.; Inter Mountain Cable, Inc., telephone and television services, radio stations WXLR and WXKZ and WPRG television; Mountain Telephone and Data Systems and Mikrotec Internet Service. Mr. Gearheart is also part owner of East Kentucky Network, an independent telephone conglomerate owned and operated by shareholders.

Mr. Gearheart's love of eastern Kentucky led him to establish the Sandy Valley Water District. He also served on various organizations including: Big Sandy Area Development District (Chair 1968), Kentucky Telephone Association Board (President 1979), Floyd County Development Authority, Bank Josephine Board, Kentucky Opry Board, Center of Rural Development Board, Kentucky Cable TV Association Board, and Big Sandy Community and Technical College Board (Chair 1994-2000). He is also a member of the Church of Christ and the Thomas C. Cecil Masonic Lodge. He continues to be directly involved in the operations of the companies and says he has no plans to retire.

Mr. Gearheart and his wife Elaine reside at Harold, Kentucky.