Sharp, sharp and penetrating eyes sit alone in the Eagle's Nest, click click click, tap, tap, tap, on the Oliver No. 9 typewriter. One finger attached to a partially paralyzed body fervently pecks out powerful letters drawing admirers nation wide and millions of dollars for education. Such was the life of social reformer

Alice Spencer Lloyd. Her office was called the Eagle's Nest, from there she kept a keen eye on her efforts for education reform and touched the world with her stories.

Originally from Boston, Alice Lloyd moved to Knott County, Kentucky in 1916. Overcoming tough physical handicaps from a bout with polio, Lloyd worked passionately for social reform . It was during this time, that a local landowner on Caney Creek, offered her part of his land in trade for educating his children. Llyod used this land to found a model community in Appalachia which started with the Caney Creek Community Center. Later, Lloyd, her mother, assistant June Buchanan and local volunteers built Caney High School in 1919 with donated money.

Soon, Lloyd realized that better education built stronger, healthier communities. No longer limiting herself to the idea of one model community, she spread her abilities and compassion throughout the region. She worked tirelessly for 46 years starting 100 elementary and secondary schools. Area volunteers built most of the schools from scratch.

By 1923 she opened Caney Junior College, later renamed Alice Lloyd College. First accredited in the 1950s, the institution became a a four-year college in 1981. Lloyd's tenacity inspired over 2,000 students to earn college degrees during her lifetime. Many students fulfilled her wish and became community leaders in Eastern Kentucky. To help inspire students, Lloyd established a ceremony called the Purpose Road. During the ceremony, each student stood in front of the school group and declared their life's goals. Although tuition was free, all students lived on campus and helped with growing vegetables and upkeep of the school. Lloyd enforced a strict code of conduct. " No tobacco or playing cards, no liquor, no firearms, no unauthorized meetings with the opposite sex." But, students did have fun "whahooing," a student slang term for when the boys climbed a magnolia tree to talk with girls hanging out of their dorm windows!

In 1955, Lloyd, who always avoided cameras and the spot light, was featured on the television show "This is Your Life". The national media seized on the story of the shy woman in Kentucky building better futures for so many people. Her efforts were recognized and donations poured in from around the country. In 1962, Lloyd died, she was buried on a hillside overlooking the college.

 Sources:

Kleber, John E. The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 1992.

Searles, P. David. A College for Appalachia: Alice Lloyd or Caney Creek. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1995.

Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Kentucky (606) 368-2101