Dan Walker, Jr. describes life growing up in Richmond, KY, black businesses in the area, and his former membership with the Masons, NAACP, and Core. He discusses his family background, attending Richmond High School, and his time in the military service. Mr. Walker recalls racial tension in Madison County, segregation, and civil rights movements…
James Carr, Jr. describes his life growing up in the rural areas of Madison County and the Richmond Community during his youth. Mr. Carr covers various topics in this interview and discusses his family background, education, the black communities in rural areas throughout Madison County, farming, tobacco, and land ownership. At the age of 18 Mr.…
John Denton is a native of Cumberland County, TN. He attended University of Tennessee at 16 years old. In this interview Denton describes his college career and the ROTC experience. He joined the Army after obtaining his master's degree and served in the Vietnam war.
Robert McKinney was born in Hart County, Kentucky. He joined the Army after high school and upon being discharged he was hired by the Louisville Police Department. He would later join the State Police force before coming to EKU to help start the Law Enforcement Training Program. In this interview, McKinney describes working as a police officer and…
Guy Strong was born in Irvine, Kentucky, where he played multiple sports growing up. He attended the University of Kentucky from 1948-1951, on a basketball scholarship, where he found himself on a national championship team. He transferred to EKU for one year before entering the military and serving in the Korean War. He then returned to EKU on the…
Ron Marionneaux was born in Monroe, Louisiana. After attending Louisiana Tech, Dr. Marionneaux joined the Army. He returned to college at Northeast Louisiana State College and completed his PhD at Indiana University in 1970. In this interview, he talks about the accidental meeting by the incoming chair of the Geography Department at EKU and being…
William Sexton was born in Carlisle, Kentucky, and attended the University of Kentucky for one semester before transferring to EKU. During his time at Eastern, Sexton moved from student to faculty, to department chair to dean, and then up to two vice-presidencies. In his interview, he describes what he has done at EKU, including leaving to join the…
Manchester native Elbert Hudson graduated joined the Navy as a machinist during World War II. In this interview, Mr. Hudson describes his experience in the Navy, including the sinking of his ship off Okinawa. After the service he began attending EKU as a World War II veteran. He recounts campus life and Richmond as they were when he enrolled in the…
George Robinson grew up in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Dr. Robinson joined the Navy, then finished college with a degree in history. Around the time he completed his doctorate he met Paul Nagle from EKU, who got him hired at EKU. In this interview, Dr. Robinson discusses coming to campus and the courses he taught before becoming chair of the History…
Otis Bundy is a native of Kentucky and graduated from Clay County High School. Mr. Bundy went into the Army after high school and fought in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. He attended EKU on the GI Bill and majoring in agriculture. In his interview he talks about how he came to work on a farm and the changes in agriculture that he…
Donnie Riddell, Richmond native, attended Eastern Kentucky State College in 1962, but quit after his second semester to join the Air Force. Mr. Riddell discusses his military service and his presidential appointment under Lyndon Johnson's presidency. He returned to EKU in 1979, and again in the 1990's. He remembers his professors, and the changes…
Mike Embry was born in Louisville, but lived throughout Kentucky during his high school years. He attended Morehead State University, the University of Louisville, and was in the Air Force before he came to EKU in 1973. In this interview Mr. Embry discusses his time as a journalism student at EKU. He recalls professors and fellow students and his…
Joseph R. Schwendeman was born in Fargo, North Dakota. He came to EKU to be the Chair of Geography/Geology Department after leaving the same position at the University of North Dakota. Schwendeman discusses his aviation experiences in the Navy and at the University of North Dakota, as well as the role he played in forming the Aviation Program. He…
Shannon Johnson, a native of Madison County, attended EKU on a football scholarship. In this interview Johnson discusses campus life, sports, and his memories of teammates. He discusses President Martin and shares his account of Vice-president Lyndon Johnson speaking at his graduation.
Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent of Schools in Allen County, Former Mayor, Hospital Administrator, and Executive Director of the Housing Authority
In this interview, Alex Eversole, Superintendent of Perry County Schools, discusses his background, education, and military service. He also comments on school boards, problems in the system, his decision to leave the Perry County School System.
In this interview, Zack Banks, Former Superintendent of Jackson County Schools, discusses his background, education, military service, and prior teaching positions. He also discusses the problems in the school system of the past several years.
In this interview, Richard Gentry, Professor/ Former Superintendent, discusses his education, military service, previous positions, good superintendents he has known, and East Bernstadt Independent. He reflects on the differences in the school system then
In this interview, Vernon Miniard, Superintendent of the Monticello School System, discusses his family and background, his time working for Blue Diamond Coal Co., as well as his time in the military and education. He also discusses school boards, problem
In this interview, Roy Camic, Superintendent of Boyle County Schools, discusses his personal and educational background, his military service, and positions held prior to becoming Superintendent. He also comments on his reasons for wanting to become super
In this interview, Robert Polston, School Superintendent of Clinton County, relfects on his 25 years in this position and offers his opinions on the progress of Clinton County.