David K. Blyth

David Blythe has been described by the following statement, “In a career that covers 50 years, he has touched thousands of University of Kentucky graduates as an instructor, mentor, colleague, leader and engineer of the highest character.”

Born and educated in Georgetown, Kentucky, Dean Blythe received his BS in civil engineering at the University of Kentucky in 1940 and his MCE degree from Cornell University in 1950. He has worked for the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Corps of Engineers and served in the U.S. Air Force as an engineering officer advancing from 2nd Lieutenant to Major during his 4-1/2 years of service. He returned to UK in 1947 as a faculty member in the Civil Engineering Department. Dean Blythe became a professor and was department chair for 12 years. Dean Blythe became associate dean for Continuing Education and Extension at the College of Engineering in 1968, served as associate director of UK’s Institute for Mining and Minerals Research from 1978-83 and was Chair of the Mining Engineering Department and Executive Director of the Mining Engineering Foundation from 1986-87. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor and has been president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Kentucky Section. Dean Blythe served as a civil engineering professor in Liberia, at the University of Durham in England, and served as a Fulbright Scholar in Ecuador.

He continues to participate in the Engineering Alumni Association and enjoys keeping in touch with other alumni and friends in the National Alumni Association. He has been active in community activities serving six years as a member of the Lexington-Fayette County Planning Commission and two years as president of the Citizen’s Association for Planning in Fayette County. He also has been active in his church and has functioned as an officer and chair of several committees. Dean Blythe was inducted into the College of Engineering Hall of Distinction in 1993. He and his wife, Jeanie, reside in Lexington and have three daughters and five grandsons.