MIDDLESBORO — Standup comedian, and former Eastern Kentucky University professor, Carl Hurley, Ed.D, CPAE, will be the keynote speaker at the the Bell County Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner on April 24.

Dr. Hurley combines an innate skill as a yarn-spinner with the expressiveness of a great comic actor. With an impish giggle on his lips and a twinkle in his eye, he spreads an infectious form of fun that is often outrageous — but always good-natured and clean.

Although a well respected former professor, it was his humor that brought him to the state and national spotlight. It was in 1971, while a professor at Eastern Kentucky University, that his life and career took the turn onto the road to comedy. As someone who believes that humor is the best way to present a message, he decided to “liven up” a boring school conference with a little comic relief.

“I try to encourage people to look for the humor in life,”states Hurley in his promotional material “to take life seriously but not too seriously. Humor brightens the load, makes life more interesting and more enjoyable. The best compliment I can receive is someone coming up to me and saying, ‘That was real funny and there was a good message there also.’”

Hurley was such a hit at the conference, that an increasing number of invitations to speak elsewhere began to land on “America’s Funniest Professor’s” desk, so in 1982 he left his professorship at EKU to become a full-time speaker and entertainer.

Born in a log cabin in the Appalachian foothills of Laurel County, his comedy was influenced by the Grand Ole Opry radio comedians Minnie Pearl and Rod Brasfield. He says he came from a family of “talkers,” and that he spent endless hours listening to his aunts, uncles and cousins swapping yarns that were richly embellished after years of telling.

In addition to his standup comedy, convention keynotes, seminars and workshops, Hurley is often heard several times daily nationwide on XM Radio’s Channel 151, Laugh USA, and Sirius Satellite Radio’s Channel 103, Blue Collar Comedy.

He is also the Author of “We Weren’t Poor — We Just Didn’t Have Any Money”, and his entertainment has been featured in video format.

In addition to the entertainment portion of the event, the chamber will also recognize individuals and businesses with a variety of awards. The evening will begin, however, with a reception from 6-7 p.m., and dinner will follow at 7 p.m.

Tickets to the annual dinner, which is slated for Friday, April 24 at Pine Mountain State Resort Park are $35 per person and may be purchased at the Bell County Chamber of Commerce office. For tickets or further information, phone (606) 248-1075.