Former Hazard Mayor Nan Gorman, 98, becomes WYMT's oldest guest ever

Nan Gorman, the former Hazard mayor who helped shape the city’s civic identity and designed the Kentucky state seal, became WYMT’s oldest guest ever at 98 during a special “Issues and Answers” episode with anchor and managing editor Steve Hensley.

For Perry County readers, her name still carries weight because it sits at the intersection of local government, art and family legacy. Gorman, known for years as Mayor Nan, moved from Memphis, Tennessee, to Hazard in 1929 as a child. She later studied at the University of Cincinnati and Parsons School of Design in New York City before becoming the first full-time artist ever employed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Her work for the state left a lasting mark in a place visible to every Kentuckian: the state seal, with its motto, United We Stand, Divided We Fall. That same blend of public service and creative work has kept Gorman recognizable in Hazard long after her time in office.

Gorman’s path into city leadership came after the death of her husband, Mayor Bill Gorman, who served as Hazard’s mayor from 1978 until 2010. After his death, Nan Gorman was elected on a write-in ballot to finish his term, keeping the family name at City Hall during a moment of transition for the mountain community.

Her life in Hazard has remained closely tied to the town itself. A 2025 profile said she lived on Gorman Ridge Road and still spent her days painting. That same profile noted she had written and illustrated multiple books, including Appalachian Christmas, which was published in 2004.

The WYMT appearance gave local viewers a rare chance to see a figure whose influence stretches from the city’s political history to Kentucky’s visual identity. Joe Dan Gorman, her nephew, shared the news of the milestone, underscoring how widely known her name remains in the area. In a region where civic memory often lives in family names and public landmarks, Nan Gorman remains one of Hazard’s most enduring links to its past and present.