Mayor's Office

As the Mayor of Hazard, I welcome you to the official web site for the City of Hazard. More importantly, I would like to say 'Welcome Home!' If you've ever been to Hazard, you know that's what we strive to do here - make it a 'home' to everyone who comes to Hazard. I hope that you find the information on these pages helpful and interesting, and would like to invite you to 'come home to the mountains,' even if it's for the very first time.

~William D. Gorman, Mayor of Hazard

 

Biography

Mayor Bill Gorman is entering his 7th term as Mayor of Hazard. Under his leadership, the City of Hazard has grown and prospered with the addition and creation of new services, facilities, jobs, and opportunities for the citizens of Hazard and Perry County, Kentucky.

Raised in Hazard, Mayor Gorman is a graduate of Hazard High School and a former student of Bowling Green Business University (Western Kentucky University). He is married to Nan Hagan Gorman, and has two children and two step-children.

Mayor Gorman is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Hazard, where he has served as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher and Superintendent. He has had many positions and served on numerous Boards and Committees for organizations such as KRADD, LKLP, Hazard Lions Club, the East Kentucky Corperation and the Kentucky League of Cities.

 

 

The President of Hazard TV Cable Company, Mayor Gorman built and operated the first commercial television broadcasting station in Eastern Kentucky, Channel 57, from 1968 until 1985. During this time, he helped raise millions of dollars for charities, including Hazard High School, Dilce Combs High School, MC Napier High School, and local chapters of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Mayor Gorman also aided in the fund drive leading to the formation of Hazard Community College.

 

Mayor Gorman has been the recipient of many awards, including Hazard and Perry County's Civic Night Young Man (1956) and Man (1971) of the Year. He received the Eastern Kentucky Leadership Award for Outstanding Public Service in 1997, and the "Big Hitter Award" for Outstanding Mayor of Kentucky from the Kentucky League of Cities in 1999.

 

Mayor Gorman invited President Bill Clinton to Hazard in 1999, and on July 5 of that year hosted President Clinton and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson during their tour and presentation to the community. Over 20,000 people gathered in Hazard to welcome the Commander-in-Chief to Eastern Kentucky. Mayor Gorman was also instrumental in the creation of the new Hal Rogers Center, with an 810 seat auditorium and the Rural Law Enforcement Training Center, the first training center for rural law enforcement in the nation.

Mayor Gorman first became Mayor in 1978, and has held the office since, winning the most recent election (2002) with over 83% of the popular vote