Ruric Nevel Roark (May 19, 1859 – April 14, 1909) was Eastern Kentucky University's first president.

Captain Roark was a member of the legislature in the capital of Frankfort, Kentucky and was gone for extended periods of time.

Ruric N. Roark often told his father how much he missed him, asked him when he would return, and gave him updates on how life was in Greenville.

[1] Roark was fascinated with the idea of normal schools and spent much time researching them.

Roark and the board of EKU hired the Olmsted brothers to begin expanding current buildings and construct new ones.

Roark said in a letter to the Olmsted brothers on September 16, 1908, that EKU was “having a little trouble with the state authorities” about their finances.

It says that no matter what hardship came his way, whether that was inadequate funds, a lawsuit, or a small staff, he always had a smile on his face and was unfazed.

[5] The board of regents selected his wife to act as the next university president in his absence.

Governor Augustus E. Willson was the guest of honor and at the conclusion of the ceremony he deposited in the cornerstone a photograph of Dr.

It is named after Ruric Nevel Roark, the first president of Eastern Kentucky University.