James Robert Bergman
James (Jim) Robert Bergman was born on August 7, 1929, to Robert M. and Frances Hay Bergman. He was a graduate of Hazard High School and Centre College and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Kentucky. He later received a Bachelor of Divinity Degree form Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.
Earl Cox, a longtime friend says, “He was a graduate of Hazard High School, but his Irvine friends kept up with him because he spent most summers with his grandparents in Irvine, and we went to church together.” Jim’s father worked for the Mowbray and Robinson Lumber Company that developed the Robinson Forest.
Jim joined the Navy after graduating from high school in 1951. He was stationed in Japan in 1952 and 1953 and worked with the children of military personnel stationed there.
After completing seminary in 1960, Jim was the campus minister at Berea College and at the University of Georgia. It was then that the University of Georgia admitted the first two black students to the school. Jim spent the next two years with the state Baptist Student Union in Louisville. Then in 1964-65 taught psychology and coached tennis at Georgetown College. He served as Dean of Students at Georgetown College until 1975. Mike Calhoun, a former student and coach at EKU, said, “Jim Bergman was the heart and soul of what Georgetown College is all about.” His next move was to the Caney Creek Community College (Alice Lloyd College). He served as Dean of Men there for 21 years and retired in 1996 as Dean of Students. Over the years, he touched many lives as a visiting Pastor throughout Kentucky and most recently served as interim Pastor at Paint Lick Christian Church.
He married Betty Swope and together they have on daughter, Jennifer Thacker and three sons, Brian, Chris and David. He and Betty have seven grandchildren, Lauren, Logan, Brayden, Cooer, Ashley, Emma and Kaitlyn.
His son David, who is Assistant to the President of the University of the Cumberlands (Cumberland College), has particularly warm memories of growing up with his father. “One of dad’s strongest concerns was to be an influence in one of the last frontiers (higher education) before students started serving as citizens, volunteers, contributors to society,” He said.
“Jim Bergman was a true friend to everyone”, said a friend and admirer, Tom Bonny. “He was as comfortable with the friendships he established with those who had little influence as he was with his many very influential friends. I recently heard a man say that the character of a person could be determined by the way he/she treated those people who had no power. If that is the case, Jim Bergman had the character of a great man.”
Jim died on December 14, 2004 and is buried in Frankfort, Ky.
Earl Cox, a longtime friend says, “He was a graduate of Hazard High School, but his Irvine friends kept up with him because he spent most summers with his grandparents in Irvine, and we went to church together.” Jim’s father worked for the Mowbray and Robinson Lumber Company that developed the Robinson Forest.
Jim joined the Navy after graduating from high school in 1951. He was stationed in Japan in 1952 and 1953 and worked with the children of military personnel stationed there.
After completing seminary in 1960, Jim was the campus minister at Berea College and at the University of Georgia. It was then that the University of Georgia admitted the first two black students to the school. Jim spent the next two years with the state Baptist Student Union in Louisville. Then in 1964-65 taught psychology and coached tennis at Georgetown College. He served as Dean of Students at Georgetown College until 1975. Mike Calhoun, a former student and coach at EKU, said, “Jim Bergman was the heart and soul of what Georgetown College is all about.” His next move was to the Caney Creek Community College (Alice Lloyd College). He served as Dean of Men there for 21 years and retired in 1996 as Dean of Students. Over the years, he touched many lives as a visiting Pastor throughout Kentucky and most recently served as interim Pastor at Paint Lick Christian Church.
He married Betty Swope and together they have on daughter, Jennifer Thacker and three sons, Brian, Chris and David. He and Betty have seven grandchildren, Lauren, Logan, Brayden, Cooer, Ashley, Emma and Kaitlyn.
His son David, who is Assistant to the President of the University of the Cumberlands (Cumberland College), has particularly warm memories of growing up with his father. “One of dad’s strongest concerns was to be an influence in one of the last frontiers (higher education) before students started serving as citizens, volunteers, contributors to society,” He said.
“Jim Bergman was a true friend to everyone”, said a friend and admirer, Tom Bonny. “He was as comfortable with the friendships he established with those who had little influence as he was with his many very influential friends. I recently heard a man say that the character of a person could be determined by the way he/she treated those people who had no power. If that is the case, Jim Bergman had the character of a great man.”
Jim died on December 14, 2004 and is buried in Frankfort, Ky.