Interview with Terry Mobley, February 22, 2017

Partial Transcript: Uh, today is February 22nd, 2017. Put that on the record.

Segment Synopsis: Kyle Macy begins the interview by noting the date.

Partial Transcript: First off, I'd like to start off, if you would, just state your name and the years you were at UK.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses his time at UK, describing both his years as a player and as an employee of the University. He also describes the four years in between his time as a student and an employee of UK when he worked for the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).

Keywords: Athletic directors; Athletics; Basketball; Board of Trustees; Chief development officers; Development; International Business Machines (IBM); UK; UK athletics; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Athletics.; Basketball.; Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, you grew up in Harrodsburg.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes growing up in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and the beginning of his journey in basketball, which started early in his childhood. He discusses the various factors that led to him playing basketball and the different teams he played for throughout grade school. He also discusses the successes he had in high school with basketball.

Keywords: Athletics; Basketball; Education; Elementary Schools; Farms; Fathers; High Schools; High school basketball; Integration; Middle Schools; UK; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Basketball.; Childhood; Harrodsburg (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Anyway, Coach Rupp, I remember him coming to the locker room and he said I have a scholarship waiting for you, uh, at UK.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses meeting Adolph Rupp and being offered a scholarship to play basketball at UK. He describes visiting several other universities and his eventual decision to attend UK. He talks about what it was like to visit UK as a senior in high school, seeing how the basketball program worked from the inside.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; Harrodsburg (Ky.); High school; Impressions; Recruiting; Recruitment; Scholarships; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Basketball.; Harrodsburg (Ky.); Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, so, you, you commit to UK.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses the adjustments he had to make when he started at UK, focusing on the academic changes he had to make in order to succeed. He also discusses competition with other players at UK and how he adjusted to that.

Keywords: Academics; Adjustments; Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Classes; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; Freshman seasons; Freshmen; Studies; Studying; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: Who'd you room with when you were at UK?

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses his roommates throughout his time at UK, Don Rolfes and Randy Embry. He also mentions the other players who began at UK during his first year.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; Don Rolfes; Freshmen; Randy Embry; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: Do you remember the first time you met Coach Rupp?

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses meeting Adolph Rupp for the first time and how he would describe his coaching and demeanor to others.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; High school; Impressions; Recruiting; Recruitment; Scholarships; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: Do you have any favorite stories of your experiences playing for Coach Rupp?

Segment Synopsis: Mobley details two stories about his experience with Adolph Rupp that he feels best describe his relationship with the coach and Rupp's character.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Asia; Athletics; Basketball; Billy Graham; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; Injuries; Media day; Olympics; Picture day; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: Let's talk, um--you referred to it a couple times and we, we talked about it off-camera before we got started--

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses the injury he sustained during his senior year after a collision with Louie Dampier, a sophomore basketball player.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; Eye injuries; Injuries; Louie Dampier; Scrimmages; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: Okay, well let's talk about your sophomore year.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley details his sophomore season and why he believes the team didn't achieve the success of UK teams of other years. He discusses a couple notable players from that season and describes how players would spend the off-season.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Charles Ishmael; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; Cotton Nash; Scotty Baesler; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: So you move into your junior season.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes the events of his junior season, which saw much more success than the previous year. He describes why the team was more successful and how specific teams were able to beat them throughout their season.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; Georgia Tech University; Junior seasons; Juniors; Larry Conley; Larry Lentz; Loyola University; Mickey Gibson; Rebound record; Rebounds; Southeastern Conference (SEC); Ted Deeken; Tommy Kron; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky; Vanderbilt University

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

Partial Transcript: What was the big difference from going from, uh, what'd we say, sixteen and nine year before your sophomore year to twenty-one and six?

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes the differences between the UK basketball team his sophomore season and the team his junior season. He discusses how these changes led to different levels of success.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; Improvement; Juniors; Larry Conley; Sophomores; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky; Zone defense

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

Partial Transcript: So you head into your senior year.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes the events of his senior season and details the success of two players from that season: Louie Dampier and Pat Riley. He discusses why these sophomores were able to play so much even though Rupp preferred to play more experienced players.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; Louie Dampier; Pat Riley; Senior season; Seniors; Sophomores; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: Um, what was it like playing in Memorial Coliseum?

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses the experience of playing basketball in Memorial Coliseum and the differences between it and other stadiums. He describes the difficulties visiting teams had with the experience and how UK players would become accustomed to the difficulties.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Coach Rupp; Coliseums; College basketball; College sports; Fire marshals; Memorial Coliseum; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: Um, did they have a senior night back then?

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes his senior night and contrasts it with current festivities surrounding senior night at UK.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; Senior nights; Seniors; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: Do you have any, like, favorite memories of your time at UK?

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes his favorite memory from playing basketball at UK: scoring the winning points of the Sugar Bowl game against Duke in his junior season.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; Duke University; New Orleans (La.); UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: How do you think--um, looking back, how did playing at UK kind of prepare you, then, for the rest of your life?

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes the impact that UK had on his life and what he learned from his time at UK as a student.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Athletics; Basketball; Coach Rupp; College basketball; College sports; Students; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: You talked about, uh, before we started, too about the--back then it was not just one voice of the Wildcats.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes the variety of radio announcers that would cover UK basketball games and Adolph Rupp's relationship with them. He also briefly mentions the relationship between Rupp and "Happy" Chandler through an anecdote.

Keywords: Athletics; Basketball; College basketball; College sports; Happy Chandler; Media; Radio; Radio announcers; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Basketball; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Radio.; Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: We've talked to some of the players about their practice gear and nowadays all the gear the players--it was a little different back then, wasn't it?

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes the practice gear that the team used during his time at UK and contrasts it with the current state of practice gear that UK basketball players receive.

Keywords: Athletics; Basketball; Clothing; College basketball; College sports; Converse; Practice gear; Practices; Shoes; UK; UK athletics; UK basketball; Uniforms; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Athletics.; Basketball.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: After--you said you worked, uh, for about nine or ten years away from UK.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses the presidents of UK during his time as a student and moving into his time working for UK in various positions.

Keywords: Albert D. Kirwan; Charles T. Wethington Jr.; College presidents; David P. Roselle; Frank G. Dickey; Herman L. Donovan; John W. Oswald; Lee T. Todd Jr.; Lexington (Ky.); Otis A. Singletary; President Dickey; President Donovan; President Kirwan; President Oswald; President Roselle; President Singletary; President Todd; President Wethington; Presidents; University of Kentucky; University presidents

Subjects: College presidents.; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: What was the first position you, you were hired as?

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes his position as chief development officer and the responsibilities he held in that position. He discusses the achievements in fundraising that occurred at UK during his tenure, including the first successful one billion dollar fundraising campaign for a public institution. He also details his transition to working with public and government relations at UK.

Keywords: Budgets; Charles T. Wethington Jr.; Chief development officers; Community relations; Fund raising; Fundraising; Funds; Government relations; Lee T. Todd Jr.; Lobbying; Lobbyists; President Todd; President Wethington; Public relations (PR); University of Kentucky

Subjects: Fund raising.; Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: I guess it's fair to say you've seen the University from just about every angle.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes the experience of speaking at his fiftieth class reunion about the changes that UK has experienced over the years and his pride in the University.

Keywords: 50th class reunions; Academics; Athletics; Basketball; Class reunions; Dormitories; Dorms; Fiftieth class reunions; Housing; Libraries; Memories; Pride; Public speaking; Reminiscing; Residence halls; Reunions; Speaking; Students; Tuition; Universities; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Now, um, I guess you just didn't have enough going on: you also were on a lot of different boards.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses the various boards upon which he has sat throughout his career and describes his work with the Hope Center of Lexington, Kentucky and the pride he feels in the work that they do.

Keywords: Boards; Business Partnership Foundation; Center on Aging Foundation; Fund raising; Fundraising; Funds; Gluck Equine Research Foundation; Hope Center; Hope Center of Lexington; Lexington (Ky.); Meetings; Mining and Engineering Foundation; One Parent Scholar House; UK; UK Development Council; UK National Alumni Board; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Fund raising.; Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: And le, let's talk about this: the recipient UK Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses honors that he has received from the UK Alumni Association. He also describes the large amount of traveling he had to do for UK throughout his career, including attending the funerals of many UK donors.

Keywords: Alumni clubs; Donations; Donors; Finances; Fund raising; Fundraising; Funds; Funerals; Kentucky; Travel; Traveling; UK; UK Alumni Association; UK Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Fund raising.; Kentucky.; Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: You met your wife at the University?

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses meeting his wife through Randy Embry, and his three children who all attended UK. He also describes how he would like to be remembered by people in the future for his life and contributions to UK.

Keywords: Basketball; Children; Credibility; Families; Honesty; Integrity; Legacies; Lexington (Ky.); Owensboro (Ky.); Randy Embry; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: I do have a couple more--

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses the relationship that he has with Jim Stuckert, how it started, and how it continues. He describes meeting Stuckert and doing business with him before becoming friends.

Keywords: Business; Finances; Financial advising; Hilliard Lyons; Jim Stuckert; Lexington (Ky.); Stock brokers; Stocks; UK; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Did you work with W. T. Young?

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes his relationship with William T. Young and his thoughts about Young as a person. He discusses Young's involvement with the William T. Young Library and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) house at UK. He also briefly discusses his thoughts on John Gaines, who he describes as a "visionary."

Keywords: Fraternities; John Gaines; Lexington (Ky.); Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE); Transylvania University; University of Kentucky; William T. Young; William T. Young Library

Subjects: Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Bill Gatton.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes Bill Gatton's character and business instincts. He discusses meeting with Gatton about the business school at UK and he tells two stories that show Gatton's character and personality.

Keywords: Bill Gatton; Bristol (Tenn.); Business; Carol Martin Gatton; Gatton College of Business and Economics; Golf; Instincts; Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Subjects: Bristol (Tenn.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: We're gettin--I got one more guy before--

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes his feelings about Hillary Boone. He discusses Boone's interests and his vision for art collecting.

Keywords: Art; Art collecting; Art collections; Hillary Boone; Hillary J. Boone; Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Subjects: Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Y, you worked with several different presidents--

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes his impressions of each of the presidents of UK under which he worked. He describes working with and the characteristics of presidents Singletary, Roselle, Wethington, and Todd.

Keywords: Charles T. Wethington Jr.; College presidents; David P. Roselle; Lee T. Todd Jr.; Lexington (Ky.); Otis A. Singletary; President Roselle; President Singletary; President Todd; President Wethington; Presidents; University of Kentucky; University presidents; William T. Young Library

Subjects: College presidents.; Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Then, you know, I know you never worked for Dr. Capilouto--

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses his thoughts on Eli Capilouto and his experience working on the selection committee that helped bring Capilouto to UK. He describes how Capilouto has brought so much change to the face of UK. Mobley also discusses visiting Capilouto at his home before his selection.

Keywords: Board of Trustees; Buildings; College presidents; Committees; Eli Capilouto; Human capital; Infrastructure; Medical centers; President Capilouto; Presidents; Private partnerships; Selection committees; University of Kentucky; University presidents

Subjects: College presidents.; Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Let's, let's back up for just a minute.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses his selection as Interim Athletic Director between Larry Ivy and Mitch Barnhart, and his relationship with Ivy throughout the transition from Ivy to Mobley as Athletic Director. He also describes his time as Athletic Director and some of the responsibilities of the position.

Keywords: Athletic directors; Athletics; Interim athletics directors; Larry Ivy; Lexington (Ky.); Media; Mitch Barnhart; Press; Press conferences; UK athletics; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Athletics.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: You know, I wanna go over like two or three more things here.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes his thoughts on Dick Parsons and his experience with finding Parsons a position in the development office at UK.

Keywords: Baseball; Basketball; Development; Dick Parsons; James R. Parsons; Lexington (Ky.); Otis A. Singletary; Singletary; UK; UK athletics; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: My other, my other person, you know, is a guy who's kind of--I consider to be my mentor, who I know went over there is Jerry Claiborne.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley discusses his thoughts on Jerry Claiborne and working with him in the development office at UK. He also describes helping Claiborne with Christmas shopping for his wife.

Keywords: Athletics; Coach Claiborne; Development; Football; Jerry Claiborne; Recruiting; Recruitment; Tennis; UK; UK athletics; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Football.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well you, you talked a little bit about, uh, you know, all the changes that you saw in the University.

Segment Synopsis: Mobley describes his thoughts on UK and the importance of the work that is done there. He discusses his thoughts on Keith Madison. He also describes the pride he feels about the people and the accomplishments of UK, as well as his own experience with UK.

Keywords: Baseball; Keith Madison; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Medical centers; Nasal sprays; Patents; Pharmacy; Pride; Research; UK; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky