BY OLIVA ROSS, STAFF WRITER
Joe Paul Clayton is a well-known name around Bellarmine. Clayton is much more than a name on a few buildings and field on campus. Clayton, who graduated from Bellarmine in 1971, was the CEO of Dish Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. He was an active member of Alpha Delta Gamma (ADG) and to this day remains a proud ADG member.
The Concord sat down for a phone interview with Clayton, and it’s not hard to see how much he loves his school.
To start off, do you have a fondest memory of Bellarmine? It was my first day because it was all male, and I met a lot of great guys who still are my friends today. Most them were in ADG. My first day I met some of my greatest friends.
Do you have a favorite part of Bellarmine? I’m guessing it might be the building with your name on it? Well, it is now, but when I started in 1967 there were only four buildings. I guess I like the intramural field, which is now Clayton Field. It was important to me. I remember we did the inauguration and dedication there, and I remember I picked up a piece of grass that day and said that it meant a lot to me because I used to play on that field.
You have an impressive resume. How do you think Bellarmine prepared you for your career? I was a business administration major, but what Bellarmine really gives you is the liberal arts education. When you are in a place like Singapore or Paris, they ask you about art, history, books; so I think I got to be a citizen of the world from my education at Bellarmine. I took French classes, and then got to work for a French company years later. So even though I’m a business major, the liberal arts education educates you and makes you a well-rounded individual.
You have donated and invested so much into Bellarmine. What has inspired you to want to give back in the way that you have? I think it’s because of the basic background I got from Bellarmine. Once again, Bellarmine taught me about life. Its affiliation, being Catholic, is extremely important to me. I’m a big believer. That’s good for business, and it’s good for education. I’m an investor there because I have seen the difference it can make. A little school in Kentucky that is one of the best kept secrets in America most certainly does deserve my money. I haven’t given back as much as it’s given me.
That says a lot about Bellarmine. Yes, I’m very grateful for my Bellarmine education, friends, teachers; they encouraged me to excel and succeed. It’s a special place. Not everyone gets a chance to experience it, and I love it.
You also give back in the form of a scholarship. Yes, I have a scholarship that I give every year to kids from my hometown, Bardstown, Kentucky. I only ask them two things: work hard, and when you’re able to, give back.
Do you have any advice for current students? I’ve met a lot of people smarter than me, people that went to Ivy Leagues, but I’ve never met a person that could outwork me. I believe work ethic will help you exceed your expectations; all you have to do is be willing to outwork the next person. I also think it’s really important to find someone you like whom you want to emulate, a role model. They can teach you a thing or two.
We started a column in The Concord called Bite Out of Bardstown. Do you have any trusted restaurants you used to visit during your time at Bellarmine? Well, all the places I used to go have probably shut down! I used to love to go to Kaelin’s with my parents before it closed. I have a lot of great memories on Bardstown Road. I’m not sure I took a bite out Bardstown, but I certainly took a drink out of it!
Thank you so much for taking time to talk, is there anything else you want to say? Make sure you tell them I’m an Alpha Delta Gamma man!