Interview with James Stuckert, March 1st, 1976

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: James Stuckert is an alumnus of the University of Kentucky and (then) president of the Alumni Association. He talks about his first impressions when he first came to UK as a freshman in 1955. He also talks about how it looks fairly different today (1976).

Keywords: Burley Tobacco Warehouse; Donovan Hall; Limestone St.; Ted Shields; administration buildings; busses; dormitories; freshmen; getting lost; parking lots; registration; roommates; students; trees; university campuses; veterans

Subjects: University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Stuckert talks about how he chose UK over another school and what made him change his major from pre medical to mechanical engineering.

Keywords: Pre Med Society; budgets; civil engineering; college majors; dean of civil engineering; engineering; family members; finances; mechanical engineering; medical centers; pre medical; refrigeration and air conditioning businesses; registrations; scholarships; state schools

Subjects: Louisville (Ky.).; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: He talks about some of his professors and his decision to pursue an MBA at UK. He describes Dr. Frank Dickey, who was university president while he was attending UK. He remembers the student protests of Dickey's refusal to give them a holiday after a winning football game against Tennessee.

Keywords: Kentucky v. Tennessee football game; football; sporting events; student activism; student protests

Subjects: Dickey, Frank Graves.; Education.; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: He talks about the complacency of the 1950's, what he feels are the most important parts of being a college student and his experience in Kappa Sigma. He tells how he was accepted into Kappa Sigma.

Keywords: 1950's; Beta Nu chapter; God; Kappa Sigma; academic achievements; academics; athletics; church; college students; complacency; fraternities; freedoms; initiations; pledges; religion; reunions; snow; social events; students

Subjects: Education.; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: He talks about the social events associated with fraternities while he was at UK.

Keywords: events; fraternities; social events; sororities

Subjects: Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995.; Singletary, Otis A.; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: He talks about being an elected member of UK's Student Government Association. He also talks about social events related to the SGA and continues to talk about fraternity involvement.

Keywords: College of Engineering; Kappa Sigma; SGA; Student Government Association (SGA); activism; administration; board of trustees; choice; fraternities; fraternity row; grade point average; meetings; parties; representatives; reunions; social events; social functions; socializing; student government; students

Subjects: University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: He talks about the lack of interest that students had in non-university politics. He also remembers an incident when he was in the ROTC and his group almost destroyed a bridge by marching over it.

Keywords: ROTC; US 60; bridges; concrete; elections; governors; inaugurations; politicians; politics; presidential elections; students

Subjects: Frankfort (Ky.).; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Stuckert talks about black students at UK during the 1950s and how white students reacted to them. He also talks about his feelings that everybody ought to be treated with respect simply because they are fellow human beings.

Keywords: John T. Smith; Manley (??); alumni; award ceremonies; desegregation; engineering students; honorary fraternities; integration; mechanical engineering; racism; respect; students; tolerance; vice president for minority affairs

Subjects: African Americans.; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: He talks about his background and how liberalism and conservativism really didn't come into play much in his field, unlike in other college majors. He talks about some of his professors he took classes with in his MBA program.

Keywords: Davoe (??); First Security National Bank and Trust; German; Masdon (??); Stowcroft (??); banking; business; business economics; business law; economics; electives; engineering; faculty; faculty members; law professors; liberalism; marketing; master of business administration; money; parents; professors; speech; students

Subjects: University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Stuckert talks about the status of the engineering program at UK in the late 1950's. He also talks about the relationship that UK had with the Lexington community and some of the popular student hangouts at that time.

Keywords: College of Engineering; Commonwealth Stadium; Korean War; Maxon's; automobiles; calculators; cars; change; engineering; engineering students; entertainment; expansion; land; movies; slide rules; social events; space race; students

Subjects: African Americans.; Lexington (Ky.).; United States. Montgomery G.I. Bill.; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: He talks about the Kentucky Kernel and WBKY, which was the student radio station. He mentions the post office that used to be in McVey Hall. He describes some of the places where he spent his time as a student, especially the M.I. King Library.

Keywords: Kentucky Kernel:WBKY; Margaret I. King Library; Maxon's; McVey Hall; administration; advertisements; athletics; bicycles; board of trustees; campus newspaper; classes; editorials; faculty; freshmen; libraries; library stacks; music; newspapers; post offices; radio:media; reporting; social events; sports; sports teams; student government; student newspapers; students; studying

Subjects: University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Stuckert talks about sports at UK and the changes over time. He also discusses the coaches. He especially talks about Blanton Collier, whom he has gotten to know quite well since graduating from UK.

Keywords: Blanton Collier; Commonwealth Stadium; age; alumnae; alumni; athletics; coaches; coaching; finances; football games; funding; roommates; social events; sports; students

Subjects: Basketball.; Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977.; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Stuckert contrasts the culture of fraternities in the 1950's to the way that fraternities have become (1970's). He states that they were not nearly as snobby or exclusive then as they have become. He talks about the poor backgrounds of many of his fraternity brothers and the camaraderie he felt as a fraternity member.

Keywords: East Fork of the Big Sandy; Greek system; Kappa Sigma; Lexington Herald; academics; automobiles; cars; change; fraternities; homecoming; honoraries; money; participation; poverty; snobbery; social events; track meets; trophies

Subjects: University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: James Stuckert talks about how the student body today (the mid 1970's) are better prepared academically than students of his generation.

Keywords: academic preparation; academics; athletics; change; improvements; preparedness; students

Subjects: Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995.; Singletary, Otis A.; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: He talks about UK's alumni, initiatives they have been involved in and ways that the Alumni Association has tried to get more alumni to join. He describes some of the benefits of being a member of the association. He also discusses Dr. Singletary and his support for the Alumni Association. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: "Kentucky alumnus"; "Old Blue"; "career day"; "open door"; Alumni Association; Blue and White Fund; Chi Omega; Development Council; Gene Stewart; John Crockett; Julian Carroll; Republicans; UK fellows; academics; administration; alumnae; alumni; alumni house; athletics; board members; committees; development board; discount books; donations; finances; financial support; legislators; life insurance; political support from alumni; politics; representatives; senators; sororities; students; tours; undergraduates; university presidents; university press

Subjects: Singletary, Otis A.; Spindletop Farm (Ky.).; University of Kentucky.