Interview with William Yount

Partial Transcript: And you were in the Merchant Marines?

Segment Synopsis: Yount talks about his career in the marines and in the oil business.

Keywords: Franklin County, Kentucky; Standard Oil

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: As regards to the river, Kentucky River, what are your first memories of the river?

Segment Synopsis: Yount describes many boating trips that he and his family have taken.

Keywords: Benson Creek; Franklin County, Kentucky; Tombigbee River

Subjects: Boats and boating--Kentucky River (Ky.) Kentucky River (Ky.) Rivers--Kentucky Rivers--Recreational use

Partial Transcript: As far as floods are concerned, the first flood I remember was in the 20s.

Segment Synopsis: Yount says that Kentucky Utilities mismanaged water control at Dix Dam and caused several floods. He was one of the plaintiffs that brought a lawsuit against Kentucky Utilities. The case was passed around the courts and he ultimately lost.

Keywords: 1937; 1978; Dix Dam; Flood damage; Kentucky Utilities; Lawsuit

Subjects: Dams--Kentucky Floods--Kentucky Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Under no consideration could you build a dam ten foot high using the construction methods they used.

Segment Synopsis: Yount gives detailed description about how deteriorated Dix Dam is and the damage that would be caused if it collapsed. He claims that within nine hours, Frankfort would be covered in water; including the second story of the Capitol Building.

Keywords: Dam collapse; Dam construction; Dix Dam; Floods; Frankfort, Kentucky

Subjects: Dams--Kentucky Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: We finally had to get a court order to go in and see the dam.

Segment Synopsis: Yount claims that Kentucky Utilities brought in out-of-state "expert" witnesses that had never seen the river. He also claimed that they paid one man to testify.

Keywords: Flood damage; Kentucky Utilities; Lawsuit

Subjects: Floods--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: In 1958 or 9, they did extensive repair on the lock down here.

Segment Synopsis: Yount says that the locks on the Kentucky River are in need of serious repair.

Keywords:

Subjects: Dams--Kentucky Kentucky River (Ky.) Locks (Hydraulic engineering)--Kentucky River (Ky.) United States Army Corp of Engineers