DescriptionThe following is an unrehearsed taped interview with Lawrence O. Martin, Alumnus of Eastern Kentucky University who for over thirty years was an employee of Eastern Kentucky University. First as a student worker, Buildings & Grounds and later for Food Service. This interview was taped in conjunction with the Alumni - Staff Project at Eastern Kentucky University.
LocationRichmond, KY
Duration2:03:23
Time Summary00:00 - 01:00 Introduction.
01:00 - 04:00 Lawrence O. Martin, Alumnus of Eastern Kentucky University born October 17, 1919 in a small coal mining town in Bennett, Tennessee. Father worked in coal mines since age 12 at a job called trapping.
04:00 - 08:00 Discussed Father's educational background. By correspondence courses became very skilled in electricity.
08:00 - 12:00 Joined Army Air Force at age nineteen, served six years. Went to Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.
12:00 - 14:00 Discussed his job as Radio operator on Airplane C-45.
14:00 - 17:00 Went into insurance business in Pineville when released from Service.
17:00 - 22:00 Discussed Unions dealing with employees of coal mines.
22:00 - 27:00 Discussed being from a small mining town. Five children in family graduated from college.
27:00 - 30:00 Worked with father in machine repair shop.
30:00 - 32:00 Talks of mother and father with great respect.
32:00 - 36:00 Returned to Eastern Kentucky University in 1957.
36:00 - 38:00 Talks about meaning of "Constitution".
38:00 - 42:00 Discussed reading a lot of history books especially President Truman's. Feels he was a strong individual, a great character and made a deep impression on him.
42:00 - 47:00 Discussed the Depression years.
47:00 - 50:00 Talked about living in a coal mining town during Depression.
50:00 - 53:00 Started working at Eastern in 1958.
53:00 - 59:00 Discussed working tipple at coal mine while senior in high school.
59:00 - 62:00 Feels he received a great educational background from grade and high schools.
62:00 - 63:00 Discussed starting work on Buildings & Grounds.
63:00 - 67:00 Continued discussing working for Buildings & Grounds, wages of 50 cents per hour.
67:00 - 70:00 Discussed interest in cooking.
70:00 - 73:00 Continued discussion of working on campus.
73:00 - 77:00 Discussed starting to work in Food Service March 6, 1963.
77:00 - 80:00 Told story of misunderstanding he had with Dr. Martin.
80:00 - 85:00 Discussed beginning of job in Food Service.
85:00 - 86:00 Stopped teaching in 1972.
86:00 - 91:00 Discussed problems of Powell Building.
91:00 - 95:00 Discussed interviewing people for jobs in Food Service.
95:00 - 99:00 Discussed securing insurance for employees at Eastern.
99:00 - 106:00 Discussed firing employees.
106:00-111:00 Told stories of experiences he had on campus.
111:00-114:00 Continued telling stories.
114:00-118:00 Discussed his retirement.
Restrictionsnone
RightsContact Special Collections and Archives, Crabbe Library, Eastern Kentucky University for reproductions, rights and permission to publish.