Dr. Tom Kearns served Northern Kentucky as the institution’s faculty athletic representative (FAR) for 23 years from 1984 through 2007 and was influential in the development of both the Norse athletic program and the GLVC. Kearns saved several athletics programs in the NKU athletics program from being completely eliminated in a 1980 budget cut and showed an incomparable commitment to student-athletes, the athletics staff, the athletics program and the university. He instilled a ‘do it the right way’ approach and took the responsibility of being the ‘conscience of the program.’ In addition to certifying the eligibility of every NKU student-athlete for 23 years, Kearns served on numerous councils and committees including a 27-year stint on the NKU Athletic Council, four NCAA self-study committees and several search committees. In addition to his dedication to his institution and assisting in NKU’s transition into the GLVC, Kearns helped grow the conference into one of the premier Division II conferences it is today. He served the league with stints as both Treasurer and President and assisted with the budget reporting system and the development of the current revenue sharing policy. Kearns spearheaded the league’s first major expansion in 1995 as president and assisted the league in transitioning from a part-time to full-time commissioner and to presidential control. He developed the conference handbook and kept it and the Constitution and Bylaws current each year. Kearns wrote the GLVC Hall of Fame guidelines and served on the league’s initial awards committee. He put in countless hours developing league schedules and developed an evaluation tool for officials. Kearns retired from NKU in 2007 and he and his wife Carol reside in Villa Hills, Ky.