Regina Byrd, Dion Houchins, Michael Meredith Named to 2025 EC Hall of Distinguished Alumni Class

Regina Byrd, Dion Houchins, and Michael Lee Meredith will be in inducted into the EC HODA class of 2025.

Darren Doyle, story:
The Edmonson County Hall of Distinguished Alumni Committee has announced three inductees for the 2025 Class. Regina Parsley Byrd, Dion W. Houchins, and Michael Lee Meredith will be inducted in a public ceremony that will be held in March, 2025.

Regina Parsley Byrd, a 1970 graduate of Edmonson County High School, has made a significant impact in her community and beyond, according to a released statement from the EC HODA.

A lifelong Edmonson County resident, Regina is a financial advisor with over 30 years of experience, managing offices in Bowling Green and Hodgenville. She has led the boards of several non-profit organizations, including the Commonwealth Health Corporation Foundation, Networking Women of Bowling Green, and the Edmonson County Woman’s Club. She has also been an active member of the Edmonson County Tourism Commission, Bowling Green Women’s Fund, Chalybeate Homemakers, and the Elm Street Society.

Her efforts have earned her several accolades, including the prestigious Athena Award in 2003. Regina and her husband, Ken, live in the Chalybeate community, where they cherish time with their children and grandchildren. Through her work and dedication, Regina has made a lasting impact on her community, especially in empowering others to succeed at their highest potential.

Dion W. Houchins, a 1983 graduate of Edmonson County High School, was a standout student and athlete at ECHS, earning 10 varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball where he helped lead all three teams to championships and received multiple individual accolades along the way.

A talented math student, Dion earned the Ray Family Math Scholarship, which set him on a path to pursue an accounting degree at WKU. Dion’s career spans roles within and outside Edmonson County. He worked as a public accountant and a bank executive, including a 10-year tenure at Bank of Edmonson County as Executive Vice President and Board Member. I009, Dion joined Houchens Industries and later became CEO and Chairman of the Board in 2020. Under his leadership, Houchens Industries, the largest 100% employee-owned business in the U.S., has expanded its holdings significantly while enhancing profitability and diversification for its employee owners.

Beyond his professional success, Dion has been an active community leader. He served as President of the Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce and has served as a board member in numerous organizations, including the Warren County Water District, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, and the WKU Hilltopper Athletic Foundation.

Dion and his wife, Lois Ann, live in Bowling Green and cherish time with their daughters and grandchildren, living out the values of integrity, teamwork, and loyalty.

Michael Lee Meredith is a 2003 graduate of Edmonson County High School. He served two years on the Brownsville City Council prior to serving in the Kentucky House of Representatives where he is proudly known as the Gentleman from Edmonson. Michael was the youngest member of the legislature when he was elected and now, after 14 years, he is one of the most senior members and has represented Edmonson County in the House longer than anyone in our county’s history.

He chairs the House Banking and Insurance Committee and is the former chair of the House Local Government Committee.

Michael has passed numerous pieces of important legislation, including helping secure $50 million for a veterans nursing home in South Central Kentucky. A strong advocate for our local schools and students, he was instrumental in getting $10 million for the new vocational center at ECHS.

  He has served on the boards of the Edmonson County Tourism Commission and Lifeskills. He is currently a member of the Edmonson County Lion’s Club and is a Leadership Edmonson County Alumnus.

In his professional role, Michael is a loan officer at Bank of Edmonson County. He and his wife, Jamie, are the proud parents of Emorie and Darby and they reside in the Oakland community.

Selection Criteria
According to the HODA Committee, the three inductees selected for the 2025 Class were chosen from a pool of 24 nominations submitted by members of the community. '

"The committee took great care to evaluate each nomination to ensure that those selected reflected the criteria set forth," the committee said in their statement.
These include:

• Individual must clearly demonstrate outstanding personal, civic, or professional achievements.
• Individual brings honor and recognition to the alma mater through his/her profession or service.
• Individual of strong personal character, moral conviction, and outstanding service/contributions.
• Individual having attended or graduated no less than fifteen years from date of consideration.
• Individual whose achievements in career, public service, and volunteer activities are worthy of recognition and have brought honor to the Edmonson County School District.

"The 2025 ECHS Honorary Alumnus will also be announced at the event, but as has become tradition, recipients of that award are not revealed until the evening of the Induction Ceremony."

Special Considerations for Selection
"The committee works diligently to thoroughly evaluate all nominees to select an exceptional class for the prestigious honor of induction into the Edmonson County Hall of Distinguished Alumni and this year is no different. While the committee discussed many worthy names of individuals who deserve consideration, we are limited to only evaluate those with complete nomination forms. Consequently, if the community feels strongly that someone should be included, then the onus is on them to submit a complete and detailed nomination for that candidate that thoroughly describes their contributions to the community as well as their professional success. Once a nomination is submitted, it will remain in the pool for consideration for three years. Unlike previous years of Edmonson County HODA, 2025 will be the first year that some names will rotate out of the nomination pool as they will have exceeded their automatic three-year consideration. It does not preclude them from nomination again. Consequently, it is more important than ever for the community to engage with the nomination process by submitting nominations on behalf of worthy individuals."

The 2025 Edmonson County HODA Committee
According to the their statement, there are ten members of the 2025 Edmonson County HODA Committee. They are responsible for selecting each year’s class, identifying sponsors, planning and executing the annual Induction Ceremony and Dinner, and ensuring that the program is held in high regard through a consistent and fair selection process.

"They meet throughout the year and bring unique perspectives through their different professional experiences, community engagement roles, and broad generational representation."

The 2025 Edmonson County HODA Committee members are:

• Regina Parsley Byrd
• Jamie Carnes
• Cooper Clark
• April Hennion
• Amanda Lich, Chair
• Hon. Ronald Scott Lindsey
• Carol Stice
• Laura-Grace Vincent
• Johnny Webb
• Jonathan Williams

The committee also stated that in the event that a committee member is nominated for consideration, it is customary that the member excuses themself from the HODA Committee to preserve the integrity of the process.

2025 Induction Ceremony & Sponsorship Opportunities
The 2025 Induction Ceremony and Dinner will be held on Friday, March 14 at 6 p.m. at Tayvin Gardens.

"We would like to thank the sponsors who have already pledged their support for the event and look forward to acknowledging them publicly in the coming months. We encourage those who have an interest in sponsoring the event to reach out to secure their spot. The committee is actively seeking sponsors for the event now that the class has been selected. All contributions are tax-deductible."

Platinum Sponsor
One Platinum Sponsorship will be offered for $3,000. Platinum Sponsorship is the single highest sponsorship level with the donor’s logo and/or name receiving top billing in all marketing leading up to and during the event. This sponsor will receive a table of 8 in a premium location and one reserved parking space near the venue door on the evening of the event.
 
Gold Sponsors
Four Gold Sponsorships will be offered at $1,000 each. Gold Sponsorship is the second highest sponsorship level with the donor’s logo and/or name receiving multiple recognition opportunities leading up to and during the event. Sponsors will receive a table of 8 in a proximate location.
 
Silver Sponsors
Six Silver Sponsorships will be offered at $500 each. Silver Sponsorship is the third highest sponsorship level with the donor’s logo and/or name receiving recognition during the event. These sponsors will receive a table of 8 in a main floor location.
 
Table sales and individual ticket sales will be offered to the general public in the coming weeks, pending availability," the committee stated. No tickets will be sold on the evening of the event.

"Depending on demand by our inductees (they receive first right of refusal as our VIPs for the evening), event sponsorship at one of the levels listed above may offer the only assurance that your group will have a reserved table. Please see any committee member for sponsorship information or email [email protected] to learn more. The sponsorship levels will be filled on a first come, first served basis."
 
"The committee would like to thank the community for their support of this special program and encourage everyone to begin thinking about who they may wish to nominate for the 2026 class."