Yoakam Receives Honorary Degree In Ohio

Country star Dwight Yoakam received an honorary doctorate from Ohio Valley College on Saturday (07MAY05), which was declared Dwight Yoakam Day in his honour.

Yoakam was invited to give the commencement address by the Reverend Keith STOTTS, chancellor and former president of Ohio Valley College. Stotts baptised Yoakam when he was a boy attending the Cleveland Avenue Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio.

Yoakam said during his joke-filled speech, "The future will be the past catching up to you. Avoid it. If you can't avoid it, deny, deny, deny."

After his speech, Yoakam chatted with each graduate and gave them autographed pictures.

Vienna Mayor DAVID NOHE - who declared the day in the singer's honour - gave Yoakam the key to the city.