‘His impact will be felt for generations.’ Beshear, others pay tribute to P.G. Peeples
P.G. Peeples left his mark on many people in Lexington and Kentucky.
Peeples, 80, died Tuesday, April 28, at his office at the Urban League, where he spent 55 years as its president and CEO. During his tenure at the nonprofit, the civil rights leader helped expand job training, scholarship programs and was a pioneer in affordable housing in Lexington.
He was a fixture in the city’s civil rights movement, pushing for equality in the city’s institutions from city council chambers to kindergarten classrooms. He served on dozens of boards and commissions in Lexington and Kentucky during his five decades of public service.
Mayor Linda Gorton has known Peeples for decades.
“P.G. Peeples fought to make Lexington a better place for over five decades through the Urban League,” Gorton said. “It was an honor to work with him to improve education, job training, housing and more. We began a long friendship when we served together on the very first FCPS (Fayette County Public Schools) Equity Council. I loved him dearly! Our city is a better place because of his strong leadership.”
Gov. Beshear, John Calipari, others remember Peeples
In a social media post, Gov. Andy Beshear praised Peeples for his tenacity and decades of public service.
“Kentucky has lost a true leader with the passing of P.G. Peeples, a civil rights champion who led the Lexington Urban League for five decades and transformed communities across Kentucky and beyond. He championed civil rights, education, affordable housing and more and made an undeniable difference in the lives of many,” Beshear said. “This is a great loss, but his impact will be felt for generations.“
An avid University of Kentucky basketball fan, the civil rights leader was also friends with former UK basketball coach John Calipari. In a social media post, Calipari said Peeples became a mentor to him.
“His accomplishments are too many to mention but the impact he had on people both young and old is amazing,” Calipari said. “He helped me build a program that brought people together and reached out to help people throughout the state. We had continued to talk weekly including yesterday morning.”
Colman Eldridge, the chair of the Kentucky Democrat Party, praised Peeples for his work to improve the lives of all Kentuckians.
“Kentucky is better because P.G. Peeples dedicated his life to living the Golden Rule and bending government to do the same. May we find peace knowing that as he’s been called to rest, God has prepared a seat and a room for the man who fought to ensure others had one,” Eldridge said in social media post.
An honorary doctorate from UK
UK president Eli Capilouto said Peeples gave him a tour of Lexington, including many Urban League housing developments, when Capilouto first arrived in Lexington 15 years ago. Peeples was honored with an honorary doctorate from UK in 2019. Peeples graduated with an undergraduate degree from UK in 1968.
“As we said when we awarded him with our highest honor — an honorary doctorate — Mr. Peeples is regarded as a servant-leader focused on the well-being of others and his impact on the Lexington community is profound. Indeed, he was, and our community and the lives of so many are much the better for it,” Capilouto said.
Aaron Thompson, president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, which oversees higher education policy in Kentucky, said he was one of many people who looked to Peeples as a mentor.
“So many people are better off because P.G. Peeples chose a life of service,” Thompson said in a statement. “His impact will live on through the people he mentored, the families he helped and the doors he opened for future generations.”
Praise from business and education leaders
Commerce Lexington, the city’s chamber of commerce, said Peeples championed economic opportunity for everyone. Peeples served on its board from 2004 to 2023.
“In whatever capacity he served, he challenged our organization and the community to work harder to ensure that all segments of our city had the opportunity to prosper,” the chamber said in a statement. “Simply put, his work changed lives and made Lexington a far better place to live and work. We will miss him greatly.”
Fayette County Public Schools, which has an award in honor of Peeples, praised him for his tireless efforts to improve education for all students. Peeples and the Urban League led the charge to improve education outcomes for minority students in 2001.
“Mr. Peeples was both a supporter and challenger of this district, always pushing us to be better because he cared so deeply about our children and our community,” said FCPS Superintendent Demetrus Liggins. “His partnership, wisdom and advocacy have left an indelible mark on Fayette County Public Schools, and his legacy will to continue to inspire our work for generations to come.”
State Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, who is also a former Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council member, said she cherished Peeples’ insights and advice over many years and multiple policy decisions.
“PG Peeples was a giant in our community and far beyond,” Bledsoe said. “His leadership shaped not only institutions but lives; opening doors, creating opportunities and pushing all of us to be better. His impact will be felt for generations in ways both seen and unseen. For me, this loss is personal. I will miss his wisdom, his candor and his unwavering belief in people. Lexington is better because of PG. And we are all better for having known him.”
This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 1:30 PM.
