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2023 Homecoming Alumni Award Recipient

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Bill Straus '69 - Distinguished Alumnus Award

For more than four decades, Bill Straus has enjoyed an accomplished career as a professional photographer. Straus graduated from LWC in 1970 and by 1978, he had launched his own photography business. Over the years, Straus's portfolio has grown to feature photography in the diverse areas of equine, athletics, pop culture, commercial and advertising. His images have been published in many publications, including: Sports Illustrated, The Blood-Horse, Pacemaker (England), Hong Kong Racing World, Sky Magazine, Lexington Magazine and Keeneland Magazine. Straus’s photographs have appeared on more than 250 magazine covers, including 63 for The Thoroughbred Record. Straus has done work for the NCAA, Coca-Cola, GTE, Bank One, Jordan-Chiles, Blue Grass Airport and Kentucky Utilities Company. One of the more unique highlights of Straus’s career was when he was chosen to be Queen Elizabeth II's personal photographer during her private visits to central Kentucky in 1989 and 1991.

For his work in thoroughbred racing, Straus received the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Photography in 1984 and an honorable mention in 1986. In addition, Straus has received awards from the Kentucky Professional Photographers Association, Kentucky Arts Commission, Mamiya Cameras, Lexington Advertising Club and the College Sports Information Directors of America.

A lifelong Lexington, Kentucky, native, Straus is a member of several clubs and organizations and has served on the boards of Thursday’s Child, the Hearing and Speech Center, and the Children’s Charities of the Bluegrass. Straus holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University. He enjoys participating in celebrity-charity golf tournaments and is engaged to be married on June 15, 2024. Straus has been a faithful supporter of Lindsey Wilson College for more than 20 years.

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