Born and raised in Ashland, Ky., Jack Barber came to EKU on a golf scholarship. After playing golf for Eastern for four years, Barber graduated and joined the ranks of PGA professionals.

Serving as golf professional at four clubs in Indiana and Kentucky gave him the opportunity to compete, and win, a number of titles over the years. Barber was Assistant Professional at Highland Golf and Country Club in Indianapolis and the PGA Pro at Lexington Country Club in Lexington and Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis. He was named PGA Professional Emeritus at Meridian for 2014-15.

Barber has held all state PGA offices in both Kentucky and Indiana PGA Sections. He won the Kentucky Open Championship in 1978 and was runner-up the following year. In 1983, Barber won the Kentucky Match Play Championship.

His hard work and professionalism earned the Kentucky PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 1985 and the same designation for Indiana in 1997. Indiana named him PGA Senior Champion in 2003 and he was inducted into the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame in 2011. Barber gained top-level recognitions and was the 2009 National PGA Golf Professional of the Year and was inducted into the PGA National Golf Professional Hall of Fame in 2011.

He has been married to his wife Becky for 46 years and has two sons and three grandchildren. Son Jason followed his dad into the industry and is a Titleist Sales Representative in Texas.