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A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of Dr. Ronald 1
Melvin McFarland. 2
WHEREAS, Dr. Ronald Melvin McFarland was born June 27, 1950, in Wayne 3
County, Kentucky, to the late Melvin and Mary McFarland; and 4
WHEREAS, Dr. McFarland graduated from Wayne County High School in 1968 5
and attended Somerset Community College and the University of Kentucky before being 6
awarded his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in 7
1975; and 8
WHEREAS, Dr. McFarland returned home to Wayne County to open his own 9
medical practice, Phillips, Pratt, and McFarland, with two fellow doctors in 1976, which 10
later became Monticello Medical Associates. In 1989, he established and co-owned the 11
South Creek Medical Center; and 12
WHEREAS, Dr. McFarland served as the Wayne County basketball team head 13
physician for 45 years, as a member of the Wayne County Parks Board for 30 years and 14
as chairman for 20 years, and as a member of the Wayne County Hospital Board; and 15
WHEREAS, Dr. McFarland cared deeply for athletics and devoted much of his 16
spare time to the community as President of Wayne County Little League, coaching for 17
some of those years, and providing sports physicals for free to all Wayne County athletes; 18
and 19
WHEREAS, Dr. McFarland, in addition to Little League, coached and sponsored 20
the softball teams the Bassett Crushers, the Bassett Products, the T&K/Bassett Products, 21
and Kentucky Softball, as well as the professional softball team Starpath, who were 22
national champions in 1987 and 1988. Dr. McFarland was inducted into the Kentucky 23
Softball Hall of Fame for his work with the sport from 1976 to 1992; and 24
WHEREAS, Dr. McFarland was honored for his commitment to his community by 25
being inducted into the Wayne County Basketball Hall of Fame, the Wayne County 26
Academic Hall of Fame, and the 12th Region Boys Basketball Coaches Association Hall 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1156
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of Fame, and he was awarded the Dr. Rudy Ellis Distinguished Service Award from the 1
Kentucky High School Athletic Association; and 2
WHEREAS, Dr. McFarland developed a true passion for farming that began with 3
his uncle Bill Fred Twyford in 1998, which inspired him to purchase a farm in 2005 to 4
teach his sons the love of farming corn and soybeans. Dr. McFarland's love for his 5
community was truly one from the ground up; and 6
WHEREAS, Dr. McFarland passed from this earthly life on January 14, 2023; and 7
WHEREAS, Dr. McFarland was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Mary 8
Brian, and his son Chris McFarland; and is survived by his wife of 17 years, Mary Ellen 9
Gray; his sons Ross, Todd, and Scott McFarland; his grandchildren, Devin, Kadyn, and 10
Carly; his stepchildren, Keelin and Tara Gray; his stepgrandchildren, Mason and Chloe; 11
and his beloved aunt Wanda Twyford; and 12
WHEREAS, Dr. McFarland's commitment to Wayne County and t he 13
Commonwealth was unmatched, and he will be profoundly missed; 14
NOW, THEREFORE, 15
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 16
Kentucky: 17
Section 1. The Senate hereby expresses its most profound sympathy upon the 18
passing of Dr. Ronald Melvin McFarland. 19
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor and loving 20
memory of Dr. Ronald Melvin McFarland. 21
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 22
Resolution to Senator Max Wise for delivery to the family. 23