DescriptionDr. Fred E. Darling, Athlete, Coach, Professor, Chair. College of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics. Native of Glouster, Ohio. All-American Athlete, successful coach of football and track, dedicated teacher, and innovative administrator. Recipient of prestigious honors including "National Fitness Award" presented by Lyndon B. Johnson, merit award by governors Breathitt and Carroll, distinguished alumni awards by Eastern and Indiana University. His leadership from 1946 to 1984 helped bring Eastern to state and national prominence, and aided the establishment of Kentucky's first college of health, physical education, recreation and athletics.
In this interview with Fred E. Darling and wife Edna, Mr. & Mrs. Darling discuss their college days and the years they spent at EKU.
LocationRichmond, KY
Duration1:01:13
Time Summary"00:00 - 01:20 Introduction
01:20 - 04:10 Fred E. Darling was born April 6, 1919 in Southeast Ohio, Athens County. Parents were Charles Darling and Cora Darling. His Father's occupation was coal mining.
04:10 - 07:50 Discusses his educational background, graduating EKU 1942.
07:50 - 11:00 Discussed growing up years during Depression and family ties as a result of Depression.
11:00 - 14:00 Discussed Father's health of Black Lung resulting from working in coal mines.
14:00 - 20:30 Discussed he and his brother coming to EKU on Scholarship to play Football.
20:30 - 31:00 Continued discussion of his Football career.
31:00 - 39:00 Talked about activities and life on Campus as a Football player.
39:00 - 50:00 Continued discussion of his team mates and jobs they were involved in today.
50:00 - 63:10 Discussed Rome Rankin.
63:10 - 64:30 Introduction.
64:30 - 67:00 Discussed Football 1941.
67:00 - 71:00 Discussed Tom McDonough and Tom Samuels.
71:00 - 77:10 Compared size of Football players then and now.
77:10 - 84:00 Discussed teams EKU played and results.
84:00 - 94:00 Discussed offensive and defensive games in early years.
94:00 - 99:00 Discussed Rome Rankin always wearing red carnation at Football games.
99:00 - 101:30 Mrs. Darling comments on how she and Mr. Darling met.
101:30-111:40 Mrs. Darling discussed Father being President at Morehead.
111:40-114:00 Discussed President Donovan.
114:00-119:00 Mrs. Darling discussed living in Dorm on Campus.
119:00-125:00 Discussed Mrs. Case."
RightsContact Special Collections and Archives, Crabbe Library, Eastern Kentucky University for reproductions, rights and permission to publish.