Interview with Richard Wilson

Partial Transcript: As a reporter for the Courier-Journal for the last ten years, what has been your relationship with Dr. Martin?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson describes the nature of his relationship with Dr. Martin, noting the sometimes strenuous back-and-forth communication concerning articles about Eastern.

Keywords: education; professional

Subjects: Courier-Journal

Partial Transcript: Do you recall any specific occasion when Dr. Martin maybe disagreed with something you had written and, or, how did he express his displeasure at something you had written?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson discusses Dr. Martin's disagreements with the Courier-Journal's editorial page, noting that as editorials are opinion based, they could show bias against one institution or another.

Keywords: biased; editorial board; opinion pieces; press

Subjects: University of Louisville

Partial Transcript: The biggest run-in we had was back in the late 1960s, the board of regents censured the student regent for what the board considered the distribution of some salacious literature on the campus, perfectly harmless it was the Farber essay, the "The Student as ******."

Segment Synopsis: Wilson recalls two stories that caused the most tension with Dr. Martin. One of them was a response to the censuring of the student regent over distribution of "The Student as ******," a work that compares students to the status of African Americans in the 1960's South; the other being EKU hit with a discrimination lawsuit over women's rights.

Keywords: board of regents; conservative; curfew; sex discrimination

Subjects: Jerry Farber Student Movement University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Using the situation with Sedler as a case in point, what was Martin's relationship with the University of Kentucky?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson discusses Dr. Martin's strong commitment to Eastern and conflicts with UK, particularly over the community college system and state funding. Wilson then defines university "empire building," between certain presidents, and how Eastern strove to create new programs and issues with their quality.

Keywords: community colleges; competition; funding; law enforcement; nursing; programs

Subjects: Adron Doran Eastern Kentucky University

Partial Transcript: Let's look at quality for just a minute, as you mentioned Eastern has gone to more technically oriented programs, that's certainly not the only university in Kentucky that has done so, could you comment maybe on Eastern's shift to technological programs, and also other campuses and how they shifted to technological programs and what this does do to our concept of the well-rounded graduate?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson discusses what he views is Dr. Martin's opinion on technical programs in universities and vocational schools, noting that Dr. Martin thought that every student should have an underpinning in the liberal arts.

Keywords: bachelors; career-oriented education; liberal arts; vocational

Subjects: Eastern Kentucky University John Rowlett

Partial Transcript: Speaking of which, how has the Council of Public Higher Education (CPHE) changed in the last ten years?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson discusses the growing influence of the CPHE as it attempts to develop a state-organized institution away from regional needs.

Keywords: board of trustees; council; executive programs; governor; graduate programs; lay council; state plan

Subjects: Julian Carroll

Partial Transcript: What about Dr. Martin's relationship with the council, has it always been a friendly one, has he had certain disagreements with the council that you could recall?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson talks about the contribution of Dr. Martin on the CPHE, especially concerning his financial expertise, even if Dr. Martin consistently disagreed with the council.

Keywords: autonomy; lay members; legislature; state senate

Subjects: Eastern Kentucky University

Partial Transcript: Did Dr. Martin ever feel that the council might be working against the interests of Eastern, for example that it might be biased toward the University of Kentucky or any, specifically...

Segment Synopsis: Wilson discusses the precarious state of the college system upon the entry of Louisville and Northern Kentucky suddenly in 1970.

Keywords: funding

Subjects: Northern Kentucky University University of Louisville

Partial Transcript: For that matter the Chase School of Law being merged into Northern Kentucky University?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson talks about the initial reaction among university presidents to the merger of Chase Law School and NYU, noting the political implications of the deal.

Keywords: law school; politics

Subjects: Louis Nunn

Partial Transcript: Can you recall any other examples of political influence on the council and do you think its less politically influenced today than it was ten years ago?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson discusses the intricate nature politics play into higher educational decision making, noting the makeup of the CPHE and the political history of some college locations. He later describes the de-politicization of the selection process of college presidents.

Keywords: governor; press

Subjects: Adron Doran Bert Combs Lexington Herald

Partial Transcript: Talking about the methods used to screen candidates for president, at Eastern, and at Morehead also last year, new presidents were selected. Could you comment on the screening process, both universities brought in candidates from across the nation, and in the end two presidents were chosen who had worked their way up through Eastern and Morehead respectively, how open is this process, or, how would you comment on this?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson talks about the interesting process of presidential selections in higher education, detailing the issues that plagued the rushed selection of Dr. Morris Norfleet at Morehead and commenting on J.C. Powell as Eastern's president.

Keywords: board; governor; regents; retirement; secretary

Subjects: J.C. Powell Julian Carroll Morris L. Norfleet

Partial Transcript: As an active partisan in the Democratic party, how did Martin use his political connection to lobby for Eastern's interests, lets perhaps look at the state legislature first, are you aware of any connections that Martin had during the legislative session for things he wanted for Eastern?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson discusses Dr. Martin's political influence in the legislature, reflecting on a particular incident where university presidents banded together to oppose the strengthening of the CPHE to the point of stripping the universities of their autonomy.

Keywords: "super board"; council

Subjects: Harry Sparks Louis Nunn Wendell Ford

Partial Transcript: Dr. Martin has said a couple of times that he worked under five governors of Kentucky, but he never went to see one of them about the university budget. What is your reaction to that statement?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson discusses Dr. Martins relationship with governors Combs and Breathitt and the varying degrees of support he had from the two.

Keywords: legislature; superindentent

Subjects: Bert Combs John Oswald Ned Breathitt

Partial Transcript: Course, it was during Breathitt's term that Eastern, as well as all regional schools, got university status...

Segment Synopsis: Wilson discusses the political motives for promoting the regional colleges into universities, noting Dr. Martin's role in uniting the colleges into achieving said status.

Keywords: compromise; lay members; opossition

Subjects: John Oswald Kelly Thompson Western Kentucky University

Partial Transcript: I don't think Martin's relationship with Nunn was that close...

Segment Synopsis: Wilson continues his discussion on Dr. Martin's relationship with Kentucky governors, telling a few stories documenting each of his respective relationships.

Keywords: local

Subjects: Julian Carroll Louis Nunn Wendell Ford

Partial Transcript: In a December 19 article in the Courier-Journal, you compared the public styles of of Adron Dorn and Dr. Martin in this way: if the two men were orchestrating a parade, Martin would be satisfied with planing it flawlessly, Doran would insist on being the Grand Marshal. Do you still stick by that comparison?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson compares the personalities of Dr. Martin and Dr. Doran, characterizing Dr. Martin as one who works behind the scenes to make things run, with Doran being more outwardly in his leadership.

Keywords:

Subjects: Adron Doran

Partial Transcript: How was Dr. Martin able to find the money to finance new buildings and programs at Eastern?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson discusses the ways Dr. Martin was able to finance the revitalized Eastern campus during the boom years in the 1960s, paving a way for other state universities to begin similar construction projects.

Keywords: dorms; government; revenue bonds; strategy; tuition

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Could you comment on Dr. Martin's national or regional stature; he was a member of Southern Regional Educational Board for a number of years and president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

Segment Synopsis: Wilson recalls Dr. Martin's national reputation.

Keywords: law enforcement; program

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Were you surprised at Dr. Martin's decision to retire at age 65? At that time did you expect him to run for the state senate today?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson comments on Dr. Martin's candidacy for state senator, saying that he hopes someone with experience in higher education can help promote education statewide while also hoping it can make his reporting job a little more interesting.

Keywords: higher education; legislature; retirement

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Could you comment on Dr. Martin's personality, of he was, for example, displeased with an article you had written or an editorial in the Courier-Journal, how did he express his displeasure, was he an open person?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson details Dr. Martin's approach to the press and student activity, noting the lack of strong activity from the Student Movement in the 1960s and Dr. Martin's intimidation of student reporters for the Eastern Progress.

Keywords: censorship; student rights; students

Subjects: Eastern Progress Steve Wilborn

Partial Transcript: Did Dr. Martin's attitude towards students rights change over the years, or did students change?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson comments on the mellowing leadership style of Dr. Martin as his tenure progressed.

Keywords:

Subjects: Eastern Progress

Partial Transcript: Could you comment on Dr. Martin's relationship with the presidents of the other regional universities and the University of Kentucky?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson describes Dr. Martin's relationship with other regional presidents, characterizing him and Dorn as the main leaders of the regional schools, and comments on Dr. Martin's relationship with Dr. Oswald.

Keywords: bloc; regional; strategy

Subjects: Adron Dorn John Oswald

Partial Transcript: Do you recall any humorous stories or anecdotes about Martin now?

Segment Synopsis: Wilson recalls a few stories about Dr. Martin.

Keywords:

Subjects: