In 1951 he was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa at the University of Kentucky.
Following service in World War II, Dickey was appointed to the faculty of the University of Kentucky College of Education, where he rose to Dean.
In 1956, at the age of 38, Dickey became the youngest person to become the president of the University of Kentucky.
He also oversaw the opening of UK's Patterson School of Diplomacy.
Dickey resigned as president to become director of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.