The Owensboro Times
Updated May 4, 2021 | 11:33 pm
Photo by Bryan Lemon, WKU
Western Kentucky University made a special degree presentation May 1 to Owensboro couple Douglas and Tresa Wells, parents of Elliott Wells, who died in December.
The Bachelor of Arts degree was awarded posthumously to Douglas Elliott Wells during the evening ceremony of WKU’s Fall 2020/Spring 2021 Commencement.
“Douglas and Tresa, on behalf of all those in the WKU Family, please accept our deepest sympathies,” President Timothy C. Caboni said. “Elliott represented well the Spirit of WKU, and we are so happy you were able to be with us here today.”
WKU (7-2) took down Tennessee Tech University (0-9) 88-68 without junior center Charles Bassey, extending its win streak to five.Â
Prior to the game, WKU announced their starting center would not play as a precaution because of back spasms stemming from an elbow in the back during Saturdayâs win at Alabama.Â
Before the tip, WKU honored Elliott Wells, a former Herald staffer and intern in the athletic department this fall with a moment of silence.Â
âWhat a horrible loss, what a fine young man,â head coach Rick Stansbury said. âI always enjoyed Elliott in a press conference. Heâd always have an intelligent basketball question. He was a pleasant young man, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.âÂ
Douglas âElliottâ Wells, of Owensboro, died Friday morning, Dec. 18, in his home.
He was 22.Â
Wells was a senior at WKU, studying broadcasting and public relations with a minor in journalism writing.
He was very involved on campus, and he was a member of the Kentucky Delta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon.Â
He was active in WKUâs on-campus sports broadcast, the Extra Point. Wells worked for the Herald for several semesters as a sportswriter, covering the soccer and basketball beats.
Wells began an internship with WKU Athletics in the fall of 2020 as a media relations assistant.Â
Wells, who his friends remember for his smile and sense of humor, was loved by many. His death has hit every community he touched at WKU hard, including his brothers in SigEp, the broadcasting department, and our team at the Herald.