ASHLAND, Ky. (June 9, 2005) - Keith R. Kappes of Morehead has been reelected to a fourth term as chair of the Board of Directors of the Jesse Stuart Foundation, Inc., a regional publishing house and bookseller.

A JSF board member since 1992, Kappes is vice president for university relations at Morehead State University. He moved into the chair’s position in 2002, succeeding Judy B. Thomas of Greenup, retired president of the Ashland, Inc., Foundation, who had served for 17 years. Thomas remains on the JSF board and its Executive Committee.

"The Jesse Stuart Foundation is making great progress on several fronts and I am pleased by the board’s vote of confidence in my service," said Kappes. "We sincerely appreciate all those individuals who support this organization as volunteers and those whose personal generosity helps us enhance Mr. Stuart’s literary legacy and the personal and family values he championed throughout his life."

Reelected to her second term as vice chair was Jane B. Stephenson of Lexington, Appalachian director of the Steele-Reese Foundation. Dr. James M. Gifford of Ashland, senior editor and CEO of the Foundation, was reelected secretary of the board. Appointed to the Board of Directors for a three-year term was Ronald Cartee of Greenup.

Chartered in Louisville in 1979, the Jesse Stuart Foundation opened offices in Ashland in 1985 with staff and logistical support from Morehead State University and Ashland, Inc. Under the editorial leadership of Dr. Gifford, the JSF began its own publishing operation in 1986 and has published more than 100 printings and editions of books by Stuart and other authors with ties to Kentucky and Appalachia.

In November 2000 the JSF acquired the former Ashland Post Office building at 1645 Winchester Avenue as its permanent home. Today the Foundation operates a bookstore on site and sells books internationally through mail orders, its own Web site at jsfbooks.com and the Web sites of amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

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