Lee and Judy (Ruble) Horne met while attending East Central University. Lee was a football player and Judy a cheerleader.
That joining together has led to a long relationship between ECU, the couple and their family. Because of that connection, the Horne Family will be honored as ECU’s Distinguished Family at the 2019 Evening of Honors and Recognition on Friday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. in ECU Foundation Hall of the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center.
Lee, who became a New York Life Insurance agent in Ada, and Judy actively supported and have given back to ECU.
After graduating from ECU, Lee served as an assistant for legendary head football coach Elvan George at the university in 1961. Lee went on to win the Milam Award, which honors a former ECU football player who had success in his chosen career, in 1977. Lee later was named a Distinguished Alumnus is 2000.
He was ultimately inducted into the ECU Hall of Fame in 2000. Lee later served as a trustee for the ECU Foundation Inc. and was chair for many years as he and Judy have supported ECU and the Foundation in many endeavors before his death in 2009.
Lee and Judy’s son Steve and his wife Allison, along with their son Joshua attended ECU. Steve played football for the Tigers from 1980-83 and graduated in 1990. Joshua is a member of the ECU Class of 2018, the newest ECU graduate in the family.
Jay, the youngest son of Lee and Judy, and his wife Kendra attended ECU as well. Kendra received her bachelor’s degree in 1991 and master’s degree in 2003. Jay is a current trustee and past chair of the ECU Foundation.
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