Interview with Glenwood L. Creech, January 20, 1993

Partial Transcript: --was in agriculture.

Segment Synopsis: Creech talks about his experience as Vice President of University Relations and the programs they built while maintaining public support.

Keywords: Ab Kirwan; Agriculture; Albert D. Kirwan; Bill Clinton; Civic club meetings; Dr. John Oswald; Faculty; Free speech; Free speech movement; Garagus; Graduate programs; Inauguration; J. W. Patterson; June 1968; Leadership; Liberal; Prestonsburg (Ky.); Public service; Public support; Students; Taxes; UK VP of University Relations; University of Kentucky Vice President of University Relations; Women

Subjects: College administrators; College presidents; College students.; Discrimination in higher education; Discrimination.; Eastern Kentucky University; Graduate education; Lexington (Ky.); Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Public relations; Universities and colleges--Research; University of California, Berkeley; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Agriculture

Partial Transcript: You said at one point that, uh, you said, "We're not trying to make UK into another Berkeley."

Segment Synopsis: Creech says that Dr. Oswald wanted to make a "little University of California Berkeley" out of the University of Kentucky, which the public disagreed with.

Keywords: Dr. John Oswald; Educational opportunities; Free speech movement; Graduate education; June 1968; Misconceptions; Nobel prize winners; Prestonsburg (Ky.); Speeches; UK; UK VP of Relations; University of Kentucky Vice President of University Relations

Subjects: College administrators; College environment; College presidents; Education--Political aspects; Graduate education; Lexington (Ky.); Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Departments; Universities and colleges--Public relations; Universities and colleges.; University of California, Berkeley; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. Press

Partial Transcript: So, uh, I was just, uh, you know, agr--I think this sort of press release sort of just captured that whole period in a sense in terms of what had been going on.

Segment Synopsis: Creech came back to the University of Kentucky because his roots were from around here. He discusses his previous job at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Keywords: Albert Clay; Cabinet meetings; Director of the Division of Agriculture; Dr. John Oswald; Educators; Institutions; Invitations; Leadership; Power structures; President of Kellogg Foundation; Press releases; Prestigious institutions; Public; Public support; Stanford University; State; Teaching; UK

Subjects: College administrators; College presidents; College publications; Lexington (Ky.); Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995; Stanford (Ky.); Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Public relations; Universities and colleges--Research; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Agriculture; W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Partial Transcript: And Oswald talked me out of, uh, leaving at that time.

Segment Synopsis: Oswald wanted the emphasis on research for the University of Kentucky, but Creech did not agree and wanted the emphasis to be on the teachers. Creech brought fifty European scientists to the institution to study at either the doctoral or post-doctoral level, but he ended up not having enough time for them.

Keywords: Cabinet meetings; Depository of knowledge; Doctoral level; Dr. John Oswald; Four dimensions; Graduate level; Mankind; Outstanding; Public service; Recommendations; Research; Research institutions; Stipends; Students; Teaching; UK; Undergraduate level; W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Subjects: College administrators; College administrators--Training of; College presidents; College publications; College teachers--Social conditions; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Lexington (Ky.); Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Research; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Then it wasn't long 'til I saw his rotation of deans and department chairmen, uh, and his unwillingness to reward people who had been--I--who I thought had been great teachers.

Segment Synopsis: Paul Nagel was the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky. Oswald wanted teachers to publish research and wanted to hire Dean Paul Nagel because of his influence on research.

Keywords: April; Best sellers; Biographies; College of Arts and Sciences; Deans; Department chairman; Dr. John Oswald; Dr. Thomas Clark; Dr. Thompson; Engaged; Great deans; Great teachers; Historical associations; Historical figures; History Department; Individuals; Institutions; Interviews; Jobs; Paul Nagel; Retirement; Reward teachers; Tom Clark; UK; University; Virginia

Subjects: College administrators; College administrators--Training of; College department heads; College presidents; College publications; College teachers as authors; College teachers--Rating of.; College teachers--Salaries, etc.; College teachers--Social conditions; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education--Study and teaching; Educators; Lexington (Ky.); Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--History; Universities and colleges--Research; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Arts and Sciences

Partial Transcript: But what makes me ill to think if I'm sending my son to university to get exposed to great minds, that my son is basically gonna be taught by teaching assistants.

Segment Synopsis: He explains his approach to fixing the university's appearance in the eyes of the public. He talks about how he did not support the method of research, but was still loyal.

Keywords: Approach; Development of the university; Dr. John Oswald; Exposure; Governors; Ideas; Lectures; Louie Nunn; Noble; Non-English speaking teaching assistants; Political opposition; Public acceptance; University

Subjects: College administrators; College presidents; College publications; College publicity; College teachers--Political activity; Courier-journal (Louisville, Ky.); Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995; Teachers' assistants; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Professional staff; Universities and colleges--Public relations; Universities and colleges--Research; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. Press

Partial Transcript: Let me ask you this, let's go right to the point there.

Segment Synopsis: Creech talks about Oswald leaving the University of Kentucky. Creech says he had no aspirations to be the next president, even though he was most qualified. Creech says that Dr. Ralph Angelucci told him everyone wanted him to be president, but Creech says he did not want to the president because it would harm his emotional well-being.

Keywords: 1965-1968; Alumni; Alumni meetings; Appointments; Aspirations; Board of Trustees; Candidates; Costs; Deans; Destroyed; Dr. John Oswald; Dr. Ralph Angelucci; Elected; Emotional threads; Football; Freedom of movement; Governors; Happy Chandler; Health; Legislators; Letters to governors; Louie Nunn; Missions; Money; Political support; Positions; Prestigious; Public perceptions; Public relations; University presidents; Verbal abuse; Wife

Subjects: College administrators; College presidents; Lobbying; Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae.; Universities and colleges--Public relations; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Arts and Sciences

Partial Transcript: Now why would Ab Kirwan fight it?

Segment Synopsis: Creech says that Dr. Oswald was accused of stealing the china, linen, and silver from Maxwell Place, the University of Kentucky president's home.

Keywords: Ab Kirwan; Albert D. Kirwan; Appointments; Cabinet meetings; China; Dr. John Oswald; Farms; Institutions; Legislators; Linens; Maxwell Place; President of the university; Public money; Public support; Responsibility; Selection; Silver; Small university; State income tax; Tasks

Subjects: College administrators; College histories; College presidents; Frankfort (Ky.); Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995; Universities and colleges--Administration.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So when Ralph, uh, Angelucci came over to talk to you, that was for the permanent job, that wasn’t for the acting job--

Segment Synopsis: Creech talks about Albert D. Kirwan as acting president. He says Singletary was chosen as president but Creech doesn't think he was hired for the right reasons.

Keywords: Ab Kirwan; Academic achievements; Academic community; Academic containment; Academic qualifications; Acting presidents; Albert D. Kirwan; Alumni clubs; Board meetings; Dr. Otis Singletary; Faculty; Headquarters; Local press; Maxwell Place; Mobilized resources; Press coverage; Problems; Public consumption; Public relations; Resignation; Rewarding achievement; UK

Subjects: College administrators; College histories; College presidents; Press releases.; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Public relations; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: When you watched the, um, Roselle, Wilkinson, Webbington, Chandler, uh, thing unfold, did you think back to, to--

Segment Synopsis: The interviewer discusses past scandals at the university. He says that success is based on the economic situation at the time.

Keywords: 1960s; Academic leaders; Advisory groups; Budget cuts; Candidates; Community college boards of trustees; Community college groups; Conrad; Dr. David P. Roselle; Dr. John Oswald; Economic situation; Governors; Happy Chandler; Louie Nunn; Money; President of the university; Prestigious deans; Prosperous time; Research; Resources; Respected; Shortfalls; UK; Wallace Wilkinson

Subjects: College administrators; College histories; College presidents; Frankfort (Ky.); Nunn, Louie B., 1924-2004; Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995; Universities and colleges--Administration.; University of Kentucky; University of Wisconsin; Wilkinson, Wallace G.

Partial Transcript: What was the board meeting like where Oswald announced his resignation? Were you there?

Segment Synopsis: Creech discusses how everyone knew about Oswald's resignation before the board meeting, and his actions after resignation.

Keywords: Ab Kirwan; Acting presidents; Albert D. Kirwan; Appraisal; Betty Kirwan; Board meetings; China; Dr. Frank Dickey; Dr. John Oswald; Dr. Otis Singletary; Financial affairs; Happy Chandler; Linens; Maxwell Place; Paul Crowdas; Penn State University; Pennsylvania State University; Presidents; Prestigious institutions; Public relations; Reputation; Resignation; Resigns; Silver; Tenure; UK; Vice presidents

Subjects: College administrators; College histories; College presidents; Frankfort (Ky.); Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Public relations; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: You know, as, as we were talking about this and...

Segment Synopsis: Creech thinks the University of Kentucky is pure but is it consumed by dirty politics with that being said the distinguished professor gives a speech at dinner and everyone is embarrassed of his lies.

Keywords: Adversaries; Bargain; College level; Community colleges; Departments; Dinners; Dirty politics; Distinguished professors; Faculty unions; Higher education; Higher level; Injustices; Lies; Morality; Personal reasons; Profane; Promotions; Richard Nixon; Speeches; Tenure; Unions; University life; Untrue

Subjects: Atlantic University (Boca Raton, Fla.); Casey County (Ky.); College administrators; College presidents; College teachers--Social conditions; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Hardin County (Ky.); Politics; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Washington (D.C.)