Since 1992, Western has inducted 66 people into its Hall of Distinguished Alumni. The inductees have ranged from former Western presidents to fighter pilots. This year, three more will be added to the list.

The awards are based on outstanding performance and dedication to Western. Each year, the Alumni Association Board of Directors chooses alumni to be inducted out of a large pool of nominees.

This year’s alumni will officially be inducted tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. at the Sloan Convention Center

Here are this year’s three inductees into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni:

Bobbe Gorin “Beegie” Adair

Cave City native.

Lives in Franklin, Tenn., with her husband William D. Adair Jr.

Nationally known jazz musician. Adair has played with Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Chet Atkins.

In-house pianist for “The Johnny Cash Show.”

2002 inductee into Western’s music department’s Hall of Fame.

2004 inductee in the Cave City Hall of Fame.

Richard Finley Grise

World War II veteran.

Former chief of surgery at Bowling Green-Warren County Hospital (now The Medical Center). Former president of the Council of the Kentucky Surgical Society.

Former member of the Kentucky Medical Association, the American Medical Association, Southeastern Surgical Congress and the American College of Surgeons’ National Board of Governors.

Survived by his wife, Wilma, and three sons, four stepsons, five grandchildren and eight step-grandchildren.

John Magda

Played halfback on Western’s football team in the late 1930s. Also played baseball at Western.

Fighter pilot in World War II and the Korean War.

During the battle of Midway in June 1942, Magda’s plane ran out of fuel and was ditched in the Pacific Ocean. Magda survived for five days in a rubber life raft and was rescued 300 miles away from where he fell.

Became Blue Angels’ commander in 1950.

Died in battle during the Korean War in 1951.