Resources
Written By: Summer Clarkson 
Caring for the Commonwealth
Alex Beaven (Pennington & Company), contributing writer
Sigma Pi empowers its members to achieve great things in life, from personal accomplishments to selfless service in their communities. Kentucky State Treasurer Mark Metcalf (Kentucky ’76) is grateful for the personal development he experienced as an undergraduate that helped him prepare to dutifully represent his home state.
A Fraternal Foundation
As a young man in college, Metcalf was recruited into Sigma Pi by his eventual big brother, Sam Burchett (Kentucky ’76). He was proud to join Epsilon-Beta, an award-winning chapter full of responsible members who made him feel right at home.
“I enjoyed making new friends and learned to appreciate our teamwork. That whole experience added many fond memories to my time at UK, so I was a big winner all-around with that decision to join.”
Beyond college, Metcalf has done business and maintained strong connections with several alumni brothers. He also continued to support the brotherhood for six years through the Sigma Pi Housing Foundation. Metcalf appreciates his lifelong bonds with Sigma Pi alumni who continue to be sources of guidance in his life.
Early Lessons in Leadership
Metcalf’s leadership experience stems from elected positions within Sigma Pi and student government activity. During his senior year, he was elected UK’s student body president and served on the university’s board of trustees.
“I was able to secure my first job following graduation because of these experiences,” Metcalf added. He worked with Congressman Harold Rogers, currently the oldest serving member of the House of Representatives. “My Sigma Pi experience gave everything more value through college.”
For today’s Sigma Pi membership, Metcalf stresses the importance of doing their best to capitalize on chances for personal and professional growth. He acknowledges how undergraduate leadership positions helped him build a career while strengthening fraternal bonds.
“Be thankful for your opportunities and make the most of every opportunity by faithful service and by being good to those you serve with. Be demanding but also fair, and appreciate the hard work others do that creates success for everyone.”
Metcalf’s drive to serve others led to six terms as an elected Garrard County attorney and three years of appointment as an assistant Commonwealth’s attorney. As special assistant attorney general, he twice represented Kentucky before the U.S. Supreme Court. Metcalf also had a 29-year career with the U.S. Army that included closing American combat operations in Iraq in 2011. Metcalf also served at the Justice Department under President George W. Bush, an experience he believes made every subsequent job far more meaningful.
Serving the State
Recognizing the influence of the state treasurer’s office, Metcalf was eager to pursue the role and begin managing Kentucky’s financial health. He was elected in November 2023 and assumed office on January 1, 2024. In the first two years of his term, he has focused on fulfilling the promises he made to voters—protecting their tax dollars, promoting responsible financial management, and ensuring that every Kentuckian can trust the stewardship of the state’s finances.
After being elected state treasurer, Metcalf asked his big brother, Sam, to serve as Kentucky’s general counsel. Sam joined him after providing a great example in college of how Sigma Pi could influence Metcalf’s professional development.
Metcalf has placed a major emphasis on recovering the economy in Kentucky’s coalfield regions. He believes that by improving the value of coal as an energy source, Kentucky can enjoy an energy production renaissance that would restore the state to a rightful position as one of the nation’s major energy centers.
“My position on fossil fuels is to enhance their value to Kentucky and the United States—it is the most reliable and cheapest form of energy. To give you an example, emerging technologies show potential for coal to be burned just as cleanly as natural gas.”
Policies for the People
Another critical responsibility is paying out millions of dollars in unclaimed property. Unclaimed property is money that belongs to Kentuckians but has been lost or forgotten over time, including dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance proceeds, and overpayments on utility bills. In his first year as State Treasurer, Metcalf returned a record-breaking $34 million in unclaimed property to Kentuckians.
Today, Treasurer Metcalf is responsible for safeguarding more than $1 billion in unclaimed property, and he estimates breaking an office record by paying out $35 to $40 million in 2025 alone.
Metcalf’s administration is also working hard to restore unclaimed child support for Kentucky families in need. This effort is coupled with further financial support for the state’s justice system as part of the state treasurer’s mission to better serve the people of Kentucky.
“Whenever an unclaimed property award is made, we check to make sure the recipient has paid all their taxes and, if they owe any child support, we withhold that and send it to rightful recipients. We’re working on a program to do the same for crime victims and to reimburse county expenses toward the justice system.”
Treasurer Metcalf currently lives with his wife in his hometown of Lancaster, Kentucky, and has enjoyed helping raise his nieces and nephews. He is grateful for his family life and treats his stepsons as his own.