Kevin Brooks had no idea what his fraternity brother Gary Ransdell would do with his life when they went to school together in the 1970s.

Brooks, now a real estate lawyer, thought the Louisville native had focus and was likable enough to do something good.

Nearly 30 years later, Ransdell is trying to do something great with his alma mater.

Ransdell became Western’s president in 1997, guiding the university into the 21st century.

Ransdell was born on October 4, 1951 in Louisville.

Brooks met Ransdell when they pledged the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity in spring 1971.

Ransdell is always thinking about Western as president, Brooks said.

The traditions and spirit of Western were on Ransdell’s mind when he decided to enroll in the university. His brother, Denny, was also a Western student.

For a future president, Ransdell’s grades weren’t that great as an underclassman.

After getting mostly B’s and C’s, his grades improved when he got married and became an upperclassman, he said.

Ransdell’s grades haven’t come back to haunt him yet.

“I haven’t had anybody pull out a transcript and give me a hard time,” Ransdell said.

He met his wife Julie at an SAE function during his junior year.

Their first date was on a Sunday afternoon, Ransdell said. They walked across campus, then talked for a few hours while sitting on the steps of Grise Hall.

He also found his fraternity family at Western.

As an SAE, Ransdell got the nickname “Rabbit” because of the speed he displayed in intramural games, he said.

He received his undergraduate degree in mass communications and his master’s degree in public administration from Western.

Ransdell helped develop the mascot that would one day be known as Big Red in 1980 while working as assistant director of alumni affairs at Western.

The future president left the Hill to continue his education, earning a doctorate in education from Indiana University.

He served in administrative roles at Southern Methodist University and Clemson University.

Then the spirit of Western beckoned Ransdell back home.

Ransdell learned of the presidential position while attending a conference with then-President Thomas Meredith. Meredith told Ransdell he was leaving Western for the University of Alabama.

Ransdell knew he was ready to be president after 18 years away from the Hill, but didn’t know if Western’s Board of Regents was ready for him.

But the Board of Regents was ready for change.

Julie Ransdell said Ransdell was ecstatic after learning he would become Western’s ninth president.

“It was an overwhelming feeling of joy,” Julie Ransdell said.

Ransdell’s passion for Western extends to his family. His son Matt Ransdell graduates from Western in May. Matt’s brother, Patrick Ransdell, graduated from Western in 2002.

Patrick Ransdell got interested in Western after visiting campus with Ransdell.

“Hey, this is a cool place,” Patrick Ransdell said.

“Hey, what did you expect?” his father said.

Matt Ransdell said he’s used to people asking him questions about his father and Western.

He doesn’t consider attending the same university where his father is the president as anything special. He decided to come to Western because of baseball, political science and upholding the family tradition of attending Western.

Matt Ransdell sees his father as being a normal guy who’s there for his family and alma mater.

“He’s just any other guy,” Matt Ransdell said.

Family is important to Ransdell, Julie Ransdell said.

During his first years as president, Ransdell would drive a total of 16 hours on the weekends to see Patrick Ransdell’s high school baseball games in South Carolina, she said.

Julie Ransdell said Ransdell is a pretty straight-forward person.

“What you see is what you get,” she said.

Ransdell extends his honest and caring nature to his office.

Adrianne Browning has been Ransdell’s administrative assistant for about a year. Ransdell is organized and professional in the office, but friendly, too, Browning said.

Ransdell greets every person when he first comes to the office in the morning, she said.

And he always says “thank you,” Browning said.

Ransdell’s leadership of Western inspired Browning to apply for the assistant’s job.

Browning said she also admires his vision for Western.

When Ransdell gets the time, he enjoys landscaping his home on Chestnut Street. A fish pond has been a new addition to the home since Ransdell moved there.

Brooks and Ransdell still hang out when they get the chance. They mainly go to Western basketball, football and baseball games, Brooks said. Their wives are also friends.

Ransdell said being president is the best job in the world.

“Not many people get to live out their dream job,” he said.