Acclaimed "portrayer" Jim Lucas to speak at
Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration

RELEASED: January 17, 2008

DANVILLE, KY—Jim Lucas, who is nationally recognized for his portrayal of Martin Luther King, Jr., has been called "remarkable", "uncanny" and "awe-inspiring." Lucas will be the featured speaker at Centre College's Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration on Sunday, January 20 at 6 p.m. in Newlin Hall on campus.

In 1984, while attending the 20th-anniversary celebration of King's march in Washington, D.C., Lucas heard an audio recording of King's famous speech, "I Have a Dream."

"It was a real downer," Lucas said. Frustrated that the recording couldn't motivate people the way King's original speech had, he vowed to memorize the speech and bring King's words to life. His vow has since developed into a dramatic and inspirational one-man show.

Not only does Lucas portray King effectively, he reminds audiences of the history and the context of the times. One audience member said, "I learned more in 60 minutes about Dr. King than I have in my whole life."

Lucas has travelled nationwide, keeping King's messages alive and inspiring young people to help make the world a better place. Former President Bill Clinton called him "The most authentic and exhilarating King that I have ever seen." Lucas has been a guest speaker at NAACP events, Mormon temples and Baptist conventions, as well as a guest on television's "West Wing." He is currently co-starring in the critically acclaimed play "The Meeting,"about the lives and philosophies of Dr. King and Malcolm X.

The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend a reception following the event in lobby of Centre's Norton Center for the Arts.

For more information, please contact James H. Atkins at jh.atkins@centre.edu.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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