Interview with John H. Herbst, October 30, 2008

Partial Transcript: --here and all I'm just gonna do is--the way I usually do this is, you know, I just say that I'm continuing this WRFL oral history project.

Segment Synopsis: In this opening segment, Herbst introduces himself and talks about how he first heard about RFL. In the Student Center, Herbst heard informal conversations about starting a student-run radio station. He tells the story about how he officially heard about plans to start a radio station when some of the leaders of RFL came into his office to talk about it.

Keywords: Advisors; Directors; Earliest recollections; Passions; Radio Free Lexington (RFL); Recollections; Student Activities Board (SAB); Succeed; Success; WRFL

Subjects: Broadcasting.; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Administration

Partial Transcript: Um, and a--and was kind of an informal conversation, but in the back of my mind I knew, with these students involved...

Segment Synopsis: Herbst talks about the Concert Committee, its success, and the relationship between this student organization and RFL. Concert Committee was established before RFL and was doing very well the year RFL was started. Herbst talks about the success of Concert Committee and the personalities of people in music.

Keywords: Concert committees; Passions; Radio Free Lexington (RFL); Shows; Successful; WRFL

Subjects: Broadcasting; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Jazz; Jazz Musicians.; Jazz.; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; Student movements; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Administration

Partial Transcript: You know, and it's interesting because, um, I also--another thing I hear you saying is that, um...

Segment Synopsis: Herbst talks about what was going on from the late sixties to the late eighties. This generation was growing up during a unique time in United States history. Herbst talks about how these events shaped and changed the way that the generation of students in the eighties interacted with the world.

Keywords: 1980s; Activities; Cyclical; Directly; Eras; Generations; Involvement; People

Subjects: Assassination; Broadcasting; Civil rights movements; Civil rights movements--United States; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Education; Environmentalism; Kennedy, Robert F., 1925-1968; King, Martin Luther, Jr. 1929-1968; King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Prisons; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; Riots--United States--History--20th century; Student protesters; Sustainable agriculture; University of Kentucky; Vietnam; Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Partial Transcript: I think so. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, the mid to late eighties.

Segment Synopsis: Herbst talks about starting the radio station at the Student Center. Originally, the station was going to be in Miller Hall. Herbst talks about why they had to move the students to the Student Center and some of the work that went into building the station.

Keywords: Asbestos; Basements; Came; Literally; Miller Hall; Money; People; Print shops; Printing; Radio Free Lexington (RFL); Student Center; Student organizations; WRFL; Walls

Subjects: Broadcasting.; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Administration

Partial Transcript: And I will say because of the outstanding work that the students did in nineteen eighty-seven and eighty-eight, this was prior to opening.

Segment Synopsis: Herbst talks about his role as an administrator in WRFL. As an administrator, it was his job to make sure that the station kept its records up to date and that the station kept within the limits of the FCC legislation. He talks about some of the other members of administration who were involved with WRFL and about the original board of directors.

Keywords: Awards; Believes; Board of Directors; Boards; Commercial stations; Concerts; Decisions; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Groups; Jack Blanton; Job descriptions; Kakie Urch; Kathleen "Kakie" Urch; Legal requirements; Money; Radio Free Lexington (RFL); WRFL

Subjects: Broadcasting.; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Administration; WUKY. (Radio Station: Lexington, Ky.).

Partial Transcript: Now how was it--and this was one of those super pre-RFL kind of questions but just to elaborate on that some.

Segment Synopsis: Jeffries asks how anyone at the University of Kentucky who was part of the RFL group knew how to start a radio station. Herbst talks about the people who were heavily involved in starting the station and where they may have gotten their information. He also talks about the different members of university administration who were able to find answers to running the radio station.

Keywords: Activities; Agendas; Legal offices; Licenses; Radio Free Lexington (RFL); Research; Theo Monroe; WRFL

Subjects: Broadcasting.; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Administration

Partial Transcript: Um, do you want to--can you talk some more about, about Theo and his role?

Segment Synopsis: Herbst talks about Theo Monroe and his contribution to the station. Theo Monroe was responsible for looking the legal information for starting the station. Herbst talks about all of the work that Theo Monroe did, as well as his character as a student.

Keywords: Involved; People; Projects; Radio Free Lexington (RFL); Research; Theo Monroe; WRFL

Subjects: Broadcasting.; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Administration

Partial Transcript: Well let me, let me, um, let me, um, sort of transfer the question then to you.

Segment Synopsis: Herbst talks about his own research that he conducted for WRFL. He contacted some people he knew who worked at universities with radio stations and asked them about what they knew. He closes by talking about his belief in the students and in their mission to start WRFL.

Keywords: 24/7; Colleagues; Information; Radio Free Lexington (RFL); Research; Scheduling; WRFL

Subjects: Broadcasting.; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Administration

Partial Transcript: Do you, um--I, I got away from one of the questions earlier that I was going to ask you, if there were, if there are any obstacles that sort of stick out in your mind?

Segment Synopsis: Herbst talks about the problems that had to be solved to build the station. There were several problems and several categories of problems. Herbst expands on issues relating to Miller Hall, the FCC, the University of Kentucky administration, and local commercial radio stations.

Keywords: Construction; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Guidelines; Languages; Miller Hall; Money; Obstacles; Overcoming; Radio Free Lexington (RFL); Records; WRFL

Subjects: Broadcasting.; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Government agencies; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Administration; WUKY. (Radio Station: Lexington, Ky.).

Partial Transcript: Um, let's see, we've just got a few more minutes in this, in this hour.

Segment Synopsis: Herbst talks about some of the memories he has of RFL. He talks a little bit about the first day the station aired. Primarily though, his memories are more about the diversity of people at the station and the diversity of musical interests at WRFL when the station was just beginning.

Keywords: Concerts; Fond memories; Memories; Radio Free Lexington (RFL); Rewarding; WRFL

Subjects: Broadcasting.; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Jazz; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky; World music.

Partial Transcript: Um, this is kind of a, um--I'll ask you this as, as someone who's been involved geographically in the Student Center for so long.

Segment Synopsis: In this closing section, Herbst talks about the influence WRFL has had on the Student Center and on the other student organizations at the Student Center. While WRFL certainly contributes to the Student Center, its influence there is not as bold as it is in the local community. Herbst talks about WRFL's influence and its lasting legacy, in and out of the Student Center.

Keywords: Knowing; Radio Free Lexington (RFL); Rooms; Student Center; WRFL

Subjects: Broadcasting.; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Lexington (Ky.).; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Administration