Interview with Robert W. Whalin, November 6, 2015

Partial Transcript: Well I'm here with Robert Whalin and Robert was a four year letterman at the University of Kentucky where he was also the team captain in 1959. Played for two different coaches, uh, which is something--

Segment Synopsis: Whalin introduces himself and his relation to the University of Kentucky as a four-year letterman in men's tennis from 1956 to 1959. During his tennis career at the University of Kentucky Whalin majored in physics, played for two different coaches, and was team captain during 1959.

Keywords: Letterman; Recruitment; Scholarships

Subjects: Tennis; Tennis players.; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: Now, tell me a little bit about your freshman year at UK, playing on the freshman team.

Segment Synopsis: Whalin shares his positive impression of Dr. Downing, who was a mathematics professor and tennis coach at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Downing was Whalin's coach during 1956, Whalin's freshman year, but retired in 1957. Whalin also shares his positive impression of Glenn Dora who was student assistant coach until Dr. Downing retired upon which he became the head coach. Whalin describes his first and second seasons, the successes and matches he and his team shared, as well as the limited tennis facilities they had access to. Whalin describes that the tennis team split their time between two outdoor courts on the side of Memorial Coliseum and the asphalt courts in Woodland Park.

Keywords: Doubles; Matches; Scholarships; Singles; Southern Connecticut Conference; Woodland Park (Lexington, Ky.)

Subjects: Berea College; Centre College (Danville, Ky. : 1918- ); Coaches (Athletics); National Collegiate Athletic Association; Tennis; Tennis players.; Tennis--Anecdotes.; Transylvania University; University of Dayton; University of Kentucky--Sports--History; University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; Vanderbilt University

Partial Transcript: The 1957 team, you know, which you were talking about, was Dr. Downing's last year--

Segment Synopsis: Whalin discusses his sophomore year at the University of Kentucky, which was 1957. He details the team's wins and losses and also shares information about his fellow teammates including Art McCarty, Randy Sexton, Cal Barwick, and Jim Baughman. During 1957 they had their first winning season. Whalin describes Dr. Downing's farewell at the end of the 1957 season, as well as Glenn Dora stepping up as coach for the 1958 season. Whalin details the wins and losses of the 1958 season, which was his junior year. He mentions that it was not until his senior year that scholarships were offered.

Keywords: City parks; Competitiveness; Doubles; Matches; Richmond, (Ky.); Scholarships; Singles; Southern Connecticut Conference; Team work; Teamwork; Tennis--Anecdotes.

Subjects: Coaches (Athletics); Tennis; Tennis players.; University of Kentucky--Sports--History; University of Louisville

Partial Transcript: Your senior year, you were named the team captain--

Segment Synopsis: Whalin describes his senior year at the University of Kentucky, which was 1959. Whalin shares how he was voted team captain by the rest of the team that season, and how much that surprised him since he was very busy outside of tennis with school and marriage. Whalin talks about how he accepted the position as captain despite these outside factors and his inability to practice as much as he had during prior years. Whalin mentions, although he did not end up taking it, that 1959 was the year that he and some of the other team members were offered scholarship money. The interviewer, Emery, provides Whalin with updates on what some of Whalin's tennis teammates did after their undergraduate tennis careers at the University of Kentucky ended.

Keywords: Doubles; Leadership; Letterman; Marriage; Matches; Scholarships; Singles; Tennis umpire; Tennis--Anecdotes.

Subjects: Coaches (Athletics); Tennis; Tennis players.; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: One of the things I want to talk to you about, the school back then did they provide any equipment for the team?

Segment Synopsis: Whalin talks about how the University gave the team shirts and shorts, but not shoes or rackets. Whalin shows his old Frank Parker McGregor racket to the camera. He goes into detail comparing older rackets to newer rackets in terms of power and control. Whalin also goes into detail comparing present-day techniques of playing tennis to techniques of the past, which he says were widely varied.

Keywords: Hop; Pro-fected nylon; Serving; Social class; Southern Connecticut Conference; Sports equipment; Tennis rackets

Subjects: Socioeconomic status; Tennis; Tennis players.; Tennis--Anecdotes.; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: Now what--a, as you, as you say that, what did you go into after school, after your senior year?

Segment Synopsis: Whalin discusses his career and education after his time at the University of Kentucky. After he graduated with a major in physics at the University of Kentucky he spent two years earning a Masters degree in physics at the University of Illinois as well as teaching math there. He then worked in Southern California for six years in private industry. Afterward he had a contract with the Army Corps'
Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksberg, Mississippi. As part of that contract he earned his Ph.D. in oceanography. Before retiring, he was the director of research at a lab in Maryland. After describing his work and education, Whalin shows the camera his award sweater from 1957 or 1958.

Keywords: Army Corps; Graduate school; Letterman; Retirement; Scholarships

Subjects: Coastal engineering.; Education.; Engineering.; Graduate school; Jackson State University; Mathematics.; Oceanography.; Physics.; University of Illinois

Partial Transcript: You know now, you come back to campus, and how I met you were--was you were over at the indoor building one day looking around.

Segment Synopsis: Whalin compares the University of Kentucky during the 1950s to the present-day University of Kentucky. Whalin discusses the differences between the educational environment, professors, and media between then and now. He also discusses the differences in campus living, and talks about his time living in Donovan Hall during his freshman year in 1956.

Keywords: Change; Indoor courts; Outdoor courts; Social media

Subjects: Tennis; Tennis players.; Tennis--Anecdotes.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History