W. David Denton

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David Denton (Dave) is a 1969 graduate of the UK College of Law. A native of Somerset, Kentucky, he moved to Paducah upon graduating law school. In Paducah, he quickly made a name for himself not only as a premier attorney but also as a business and civic leader. In 1979 he founded one of the largest and most diverse law firms in the western Kentucky region. He currently serves as the managing attorney of the Denton Law Firm and oversees management operations and professional development of the firm. With Dave’s wealth of knowledge and over 50 years of legal experience, the firm greatly values his leadership.

Dave’s business and civic accomplishments are noteworthy. He was the attorney and an organizing investor for the formation of Paducah Bank Shares, Inc., a holding company that owns and controls Paducah Bank & Trust Company, with offices in Paducah and Louisville. He has been involved as an investor, organizer and motivating force behind numerous real estate development projects and other highly successful business ventures during his career. He has served as the past chair of the Paducah-McCracken County Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Paducah Economic Development Council where he has been influential in economic development throughout the western Kentucky region. He is a former member of the Kentucky Council of Higher Education and is former Chair of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Executive Branch Ethics Commission. He was the long-term Chair of the Paducah-McCracken Public Library Board of Trustees. Dave also takes great pride in his recent induction into the University of Kentucky College of Law Hall of Fame.

Having a passion for education, he successfully chaired a fundraising campaign which raised more than $8.4 million through private donations in Paducah for the construction of the University of Kentucky College of Engineering on the Paducah campus of West Kentucky Community and Technical College.

Education

Murray State University, B.S., 1964
University of Kentucky, J.D., 1969

Admitted to Practice

Kentucky, 1969
S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky

Practice Areas

Administrative Law
Banking
Business Corporations & Partnerships
Contracts & Commercial Law

Career Review

United States Army, 1964-1966
Attorney and an organizing investor for the formation of Paducah Bank Shares, , a locally owned, independent bank.
Attended and participated in arbitration seminars, presented by the American Health Lawyers These seminars addressed various approaches for resolving medical/business disputes through the use of mediation and arbitration.
Formerly served as local counsel for Bon Secours Mercy Health.
As the past Chair of Greater Paducah Economic Development, David successfully guided a project known as Riverport West, acquiring options to purchase approximately 1,300 acres on the Ohio River for development as an intermodal industrial park.
David served as outside counsel for the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport for over 30 years.
David served as corporation counsel for the City of Paducah for over 40 years.

Professional Associations

Kentucky Bar Association
McCracken County Bar Association

Professional/Personal Achievements

AV Preeminent Rating with Martindale-Hubbell
Kentucky Bar Association, Senior Counselor for 50 years practicing law, 2016
2014 CLE Award Recipient, Kentucky Bar Association
Inducted into University of Kentucky College of Law Hall of Fame, 2014
Director, Kentucky Humanities Council, 2013-2017
Chair, Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission
Murray State University Regional Advisory Board, 2008-2009
2008 Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Twenty-Year Leadership and Service Award, November 2008
Hero of the Red Cross, Paducah Chapter of the American Red Cross
Rotarian of the Year, Rotary Club of Paducah
Honored by McCracken County Public Library
Chair, Greater Paducah Economic Development Council
Director, Kentucky Bar Foundation, 2003-2010
Life Fellow, Kentucky Bar Foundation, 2003
Chair of the Lourdes Hospital Foundation Board, 2003-2005
Law Advisor to the County Sheriff’s Merit Board, 2002
City of Paducah, Distinguished Citizen Award, 2002
Corporation Counsel, City of Paducah, 1972 to present
Past President, Municipal Attorneys Association of Kentucky
Past President, Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce
Past President, Greater Paducah Industrial Development, Inc.
Past President, Rotary Club of Paducah
Past Chair, Easter Seals of West Kentucky, Inc.
Past President, Country Club of Paducah
Board of Directors, McCracken County Public Library
Former Chair, Board of Trustees, McCracken County Public Library, 13 years.
Former Member, Kentucky Council of Higher Education
Former Director, Kentucky Hospital Attorney Association
President, McCracken County Bar Association, 1994-95
Secretary, Paducah Bank Shares, Inc., 1981-Present
Member, Board of University of Kentucky Law Visiting Committee
Chair, Paducah Community College Engineering Gift Campaign, 1995
Chair, Paducah Community College Challenger Space Center Gift Campaign
US Naval War College. Civilian Participant, 1996
USAF Air War College. Civilian Participant, 1995
Boss of the Year, International Association of Administrative Professionals, 1984
Director, The Paducah Bank and Trust Company, 1978-Present
Member, Kentucky Advocates for Higher Education
Director, Kentucky Western Waterways
Member, Corporate Compliance Committee (Mercy Health Kentucky-Indiana Region)
Member/Finance Chair, West Kentucky Regional Roundtable

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