Bowling Green alum Betty McGuire,

WKU’s 1979 homecoming queen, didn’t let graduation end her

involvement with the university. 

McGuire is the mother of three

children, all of whom attended WKU for some amount of time, and

wife of Lexington alumnus Kreis McGuire.

McGuire met her husband in the fall

of 1976 at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledge dance.

“I was introduced to her by Chuck

Strader and John Perkins, who is now SAE’s chapter advisor at WKU,”

he said.

While at WKU, McGuire was on

scholarship as a twirler for the marching band, vice president of

Chi Omega and secretary for the Student Government

Association.

She said she feels that her

involvement with all of these organizations played a big role in

her being named homecoming queen.

 “Everybody knew Betty around town

and on campus,” Kreis McGuire said. “She was always friendly to

everyone she came in contact with and they knew her smile was

sincere.”

Since her days at WKU, McGuire has

remained involved with the university through the Alumni

Association, Chi Omega and SAE Alumni. She and her husband are also

members of the WKU Parents’ Organization.

McGuire served on the Alumni

Association’s National Board of Directors from 2009 to 2011. She

says for the Board of Directors there is a three-year rotation and

that one must be nominated in order to serve.

“I just went out and promoted the

Alumni Association and raised enthusiasm,” she said. “That is the

whole basis of it — to keep WKU connected in your area.”

McGuire started a new student picnic

in the Lexington area after her first year with the Alumni

Association. She said it was a way for all the new students to meet

other people going to WKU before they got to campus.

After living in Lexington for

several years, McGuire and her family are currently building a

house on Chestnut Street in Bowling Green.

 Her oldest son, Parker, who now

lives in Nashville, attended WKU both his freshman and sophomore

year. 

“I guess she loves (WKU) so much

that her and my dad are building a house right on campus,” Parker

McGuire said. “I’d say that’s dedication.”

Reis McGuire’s said his wife is just

happy to be back in Bowling Green with her old friends. 

While living in Lexington, the

McGuires come back for Homecoming when they don’t have prior

obligations. 

“Homecoming was just fun, you got to

do the floats and go to all the different parties and activities,”

McGuire said. “I guess I just miss being with all my friends and

the people that were so special to me.”