Interview with Jim Green, April 3, 2019

Partial Transcript: Well, I'm here with Jim Green and, and Jim's the greatest UK track star of all time, so it's an honor to have you here in the studio, Jim.

Segment Synopsis: Jim Green talks about his hometown and growing up in Eminence, Kentucky. He talks about influential teachers and coaches in his earlier education. He talks about his successful high school running career and training.

Keywords: Athletic training; Childhood influences; Community dynamics; Early influences; Encouragement; Football coaches; High school football; High school teachers; Math teachers; Motivation; Motivators; National titles; Small towns; State titles; Track stars

Subjects: African Americans--Sports; Childhood; Coaches (Athletics); Community relations; Educators; Eminence (Ky.); High school; High school athletes; Parents.; Teachers.; Track and field athletes.; Track and field.; Training.; Work ethic.

Partial Transcript: Great, well, you know, you--as I say, you, you're a high school legend and you're coming out of high school and you're, now you're going to go into college.

Segment Synopsis: Green talks about what it was like to go through the recruitment process and receiving track and scholarship offers from about one hundred schools throughout the nation. He talks about his experience with the University of Kentucky's recruitment. He talks about the beginnings of his relationships with the coaches and assistant coaches at UK's track program.

Keywords: Assistant coaches; Athletic scholarships; Big Ten Conference (U.S.); College recruiters; Conditioning; Indiana State University; Murray State University; Ohio State University; Olympians; Pat Etcheberry; Press Whelan; Program development; Sprinters; Stanford University; Track programs; Training programs; Training regimen; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Southern California; University of Texas; University of Wisconsin; Western Kentucky University

Subjects: African American athletes; African Americans--Sports; Campus visits; Coaches (Athletics); College athletes; College athletes--Recruiting; College campuses.; College choice; College environment; College integration; College sports--Coaching; College sports--Kentucky; College sports--Scouting; College sports.; College students, Black; Discrimination in sports; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Educational change--Kentucky; Scholarships.; Track and field athletes.; Track and field--Coaching; Track and field.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: In--at this point in time, you know, and I don't know how much it evolves, you know, but at this point in time how would you describe your running style?

Segment Synopsis: Green describes his running style. He talks about how others described his running style. He talks about his intense training.

Keywords: 440 yard run; Climate; Effort; Fluent; Hard work; Running stride; Running styles; Stride; Tracks; Training facilities; Weather

Subjects: African American athletes; African Americans--Sports; College athletes; College sports.; Runners (Sports); Running.; Track and field athletes.; Track and field.; Training.; Work ethic.

Partial Transcript: Well, so now you, you arrive at UK.

Segment Synopsis: Green discusses his first impressions of UK's campus and students. He talks about how the campus and its facilities have changed over time.

Keywords: Apartments; Campus changes; Campus development; Campus improvements; Campus size; Dormitories; Dorms; First impressions; Luxuries; Prejudice; Racism; Racist attitudes; Racist innuendos; Racist language; Racist speech

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College buildings.; College campuses.; College environment; College facilities.; College histories; College integration; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; Discrimination in higher education; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Educational change--Kentucky; Student housing; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: I had great teammates. They were very protective.

Segment Synopsis: Green talks about his close relationship with his track teammates and how they protected each other. He talks about his relationship with the other four black athletes on UK's campus at the time and how Greg Page's death impacted each of them.

Keywords: Bill Lightsey; Bob Milligan; Brothers; Camaraderie; Chuck Peters; Communities; Families; Friendship; Greg Page; Grief; Grieving; Houston Hogg; Interpersonal relations.; Nate Northington; Personal impacts; Personalities; Practice fatalities; Protection; Ray Sabatini; Teammates; Tom Johnson; Wilbur Hackett, Jr.

Subjects: African American athletes; African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Sports; Campus violence; College athletes; College athletes--Recruiting; College environment; College histories; College integration; College sports; College sports-Kentucky; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; Death.; Discrimination in higher education; Discrimination in sports; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Educational change--Kentucky; Prejudices.; Racism in sports.; Racism.; Track and field athletes.; Track and field.; Wounds and injuries.

Partial Transcript: And then--(Green coughs)--Wilbur and Houston, did they--they stayed the entire time?

Segment Synopsis: Green describes what it was like to be an African American athlete in the SEC soon after integration. He talks about how fans treated African American college football players at games. He tells stories of racist encounters and racist attitudes in the deep south.

Keywords: Attitudes; Bill Lightsey; Chuck Peters; Civil Rights Movement; Civil rights; Civil rights movements; Coaching philosophies; Deep south; Football games; Integration; Mississippi State University; Name-calling; Ole Miss; Press Whelan; Program development; Southeastern Conference (SEC); Sports fans; Track meets; University of Florida; University of Mississippi

Subjects: African American athletes; African Americans--Sports; Coaches (Athletics); College athletes; College football players; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; College students, Black; Discrimination in sports; Football players.; Racism in sports.; Racism.; Sports spectators; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: Well we're going to, we're going to come back to this in a second because there's a very specific reason why we are but--very successful freshman year.

Segment Synopsis: Green talks about his running career and accomplishments during his freshman year at UK. He talks about winning the SEC Indoors, winning the national championship in Detroit, winning the SEC Outdoors, his competition, and the Olympic trials. He talks about Etcheberry's training strategies. He talks about UK's reaction to the team's successes.

Keywords: 100 yard dash; 220 yard dash; 400 yard relay; Athletic directors; Cobo Hall (Detroit, Michi.); Competition; Competitors; Conditioning; Encouragement; Heats; Motivation; National championships; Olympic trials; Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995; Pat Etcheberry; SEC championships; SEC indoor track and field; SEC indoors; SEC outdoor track and field; SEC outdoors; Simpson, O.J., 1947-; Singletary, Otis A.; Southeastern Conference (SEC); Sprint double; Sprinters; Track conferences; Track meets; Trash talk; Warm-ups; World-class

Subjects: African American athletes; African Americans--Sports; Coaches (Athletics); Colle presidents; College athletes; College environment; College freshmen; College histories; College integration; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; Discrimination in sports; National Collegiate Athletic Association; Southeastern Conference; Track and field athletes.; Track and field.; Training.; University of Kentucky--Sports--History; Wounds and injuries.

Partial Transcript: Of course John and Tommie was on the stand with the black gloves.

Segment Synopsis: Green discusses the pivotal role he believes track and field had in advancing the Civil Rights Movement. He talks about Tommy Smith and John Carlos' global, public salute to the movement on the Olympic stage at Mexico City in 1968.

Keywords: Affordable housing; Civil rights; Civil rights demonstrations; Civil rights leaders; Consequences; Death threats; Demonstrations; Global arenas; Global stages; Global statements; Job market; Jobs; Olympic Stadium (Mexico City, Mexico); Oppression; Protests; Statements; Unemployment

Subjects: African American athletes; African American trailblazers; African Americans--Sports; Al-Amin, Jamil, 1943-; Carlos, John, 1945-; Civil rights movements.; Davis, Angela Y. (Angela Yvonne), 1944-; Edwards, Harry, 1942-; King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968.; Mexico City (Mexico); Olympics--History.; Olympics.; Racism in sports.; Racism.; Smith, Tommie,1944-; X, Malcolm, 1925-1965.

Partial Transcript: Before we go into your sophomore year here, how do you feel about paying the athletes now?

Segment Synopsis: Green discusses his opinion on paying athletes today. He questions how the money large conferences make is divvied among athletes, coaches, and other involved individuals.

Keywords: Annual pay; Athletic conferences; Basketball; Basketball players; Bills; Coaches (Athletics); Football; Football players; National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); Publicity; Scholarships.; Sports conferences; Sports revenues; Unequal pay

Subjects: Athletes; College athletes; College sports--Economic aspects--United States.; College sports.; Discrimination in sports; Income.; Professional sports.; Revenue; Salaries

Partial Transcript: Well, you know, let's move into your sophomore year, okay?

Segment Synopsis: Green talks about the sports medicine available to him when he was an athlete at UK versus sports medicine available today.

Keywords: Gatorade; Hamstring injuries; Healing; Healing times; Ice packs; Kinesiology tape; Kinesiology taping; Masseuses; Physical therapists; Physical therapy; Recovery; Recovery times; Rub downs; Technology development; Technology improvement; Track injuries

Subjects: College athletes; College facilities.; College sports.; Discrimination in sports; Sports medicine and health science; Sports medicine.; Training.; Wounds and injuries.

Partial Transcript: It, it, it just, it's different--it's--a whole lot of difference in the equipment, uh, they have right now.

Segment Synopsis: Green describes the track facilities UK had during his time with the track program versus its facilities now. He talks about his relationships with Press Whelan and Pat Etcheberry.

Keywords: Communication; Degrees; Friendship; Graduation; Interpersonal relations.; Mentors; Mentorship; Personal influences; Phone calls; Professional relations.; Sports facilities; Track arenas; Track facilities

Subjects: Coaches (Athletics); College athletes; College facilities.; College sports--Coaching; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; Education, Higher.; Track and field athletes.; Track and field--Coaching; Track and field.; Training.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History; Work ethic.

Partial Transcript: Anything stand out to you about your sophomore year, uh, you know, other than, you know, your--

Segment Synopsis: Green talks about African American efforts, especially by African American athletes, to create more opportunities for African Americans down the line when it comes to athletics and college campuses. He talks about the impact of this work on UK today.

Keywords: Athletic opportunities; Career opportunities; Civil rights; Discrimination on campus; Educational opportunities; Halls of fame; Houston Hogg; Integration; Opportunities; Racist attitudes; University changes; University impacts; Valerie Steele; Wilbur Hackett, Jr.

Subjects: African American athletes; African American trailblazers; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Sports; Civil rights movements.; College athletes; College sports.; College students, Black; Discrimination in higher education; Discrimination in sports; Educational change--Kentucky; Minorities in higher education; Racism in sports.; Racism.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: So you're going into your junior year.

Segment Synopsis: Green talks about meeting his wife at UK and marrying her. He talks about all the generations of family members that have come through UK after him.

Keywords: Brothers-in-law; College juniors; College roommates; Discrimination on campus; Engineers; Family legacies; Fathers; Halls of fame; Law degrees; Law schools; Master's degrees; Motivations; Nieces; Parenting; Personal values; Personalities; Racism on campus; Reputations

Subjects: African American trailblazers; College students, Black; College students.; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education, Higher.; Families.; First-generation college students; Marriage.; Minorities in higher education; Racism.; University of Kentucky; Wives.

Partial Transcript: Well, now you, now we come back for your junior year.

Segment Synopsis: Green talks about his running career as a junior at UK. He talks about his attitude going into that year.

Keywords: 100 yard dash; 220 yard dash; Concentration; Desires; Double relays; Motivations; National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); SEC champions; SEC championships; Southeastern Conference (SEC); Sprint doubles

Subjects: African American athletes; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Sports; College athletes; College juniors; College sports.; College students--Attitudes.; Track and field athletes.; Track and field.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History; Work ethic.

Partial Transcript: So, uh, I don't know if this is a good time but, you know, the way I see your career, you know, you, you go from being the freshman coming in from Eminence to now big man on campus, you know.

Segment Synopsis: Green describes how he met some civil rights leaders and the relationships he shared with them.

Keywords: Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, 1947-; Activism; Advocates; Brown, Jim, 1936-; Civil Rights Movement; Civil rights; Civil rights figures; Civil rights leaders; Fraternities; Instrumental figures; James Nathaniel Brown; King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968.; Louisville (Ky.); Opportunities

Subjects: Ali, Muhammad, 1942-2016.; Carlos, John, 1945-; Civil rights movements.; Davis, Angela Y. (Angela Yvonne). 1944-; Jackson, Jesse, 1941-; Newton, Huey P..; Smith, Tommie, 1944-; Track and field athletes.; Track and field.; X, Malcolm, 1925-1965.

Partial Transcript: Well, now let's move into your senior year, okay?

Segment Synopsis: Green talks about his senior year at UK. He talks about winning SEC and NCAA championship titles, regaining motivation in his running, and his world record for the 300-yard dash. He reflects on his final year at UK.

Keywords: Camaraderie; Cobo Hall (Detroit, Michi.); Collegiate meets; Competition; Determination; Humility; Motivations; NCAA championships; NCAA titles; National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); Personal goals; Philosophies; Religious philosophies; SEC championships; SEC titles; Southeastern Conference (SEC); Sprinters; Steroids; Talent; Teammates; Technology; Technology development; Track meets; Track teams; World records

Subjects: African American athletes; African American college students.; African American trailblazers; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Sports; College athletes; College seniors; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Minorities in higher education; National Collegiate Athletic Association; Southeastern Conference; Track and field athletes.; Track and field.; Training.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History; Work ethic.

Partial Transcript: Well, you, you know, I know--my line here as we move into your post-graduate stuff is Press always told you you can't eat those shoes--

Segment Synopsis: Green talks about his experiences running on the ITA Circuit, the ABC Race, and the Sugarbowl Classic. He talks about the potential of football as a transitional career from track.

Keywords: ABC Race; Bob Hayes; Caitlyn Jenner; Camaraderie; Career transitions; Carlos, John, 1945-; England; Friendship; Global experiences; ITA Circuit; International Track Association (U.S.); Interpersonal relations.; Isaac Curtis; Mel Gray; Simpson, O.J., 1947-; South America; Sugarbowl Classic

Subjects: African American athletes; African Americans--Sports; Athletics.; Career moves; Careers; Football players.; Football.; Professional sports.; Track and field athletes.; Track and field.; Travel.

Partial Transcript: But now, your post-graduate career, um, you went to work for Novartis Pharmaceuticals?

Segment Synopsis: Green talks about working for two companies in Kentucky before being employed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. He talks about his work in those three companies.

Keywords: Executive sales specialists; Kentucky; Pharmaceutical companies; Pharmaceutical representatives; Pharmaceuticals; Sales representatives; Tennessee; University jobs; University presidents; University programs; Upward Bound Program (U.S.); West Virginia

Subjects: Careers; Lexington (Ky.); Louisville (Ky.); Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Retirement.; Sales personnel.; University of Kentucky; Wives.; Work.

Partial Transcript: The one thing I, I have a note here is tell me about your White House experience and Barack Obama.

Segment Synopsis: Green describes what it was like to visit the White House and meet former President Barack Obama. He talks about Barack Obama's impact on the United States.

Keywords: African American presidents; Basketball players; Black presidents; Election days; Invitations; Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball team); Life experiences; Opportunities; Presidential impacts; Small towns; University of Kentucky; White House; White House invitations

Subjects: African American trailblazers; Obama, Barack.; Presidents.; United States presidents.; White House Administrative Office (U.S.); Wives.

Partial Transcript: Now, you--I know you told me you retired and you felt like, "I've got more to give."

Segment Synopsis: Green talks about his work mentoring children and teaching at a middle school in Louisville, Kentucky. He talks about why he decided to go into this work during his retirement and why it is so important to him.

Keywords: Boundaries; Clothing; Father figures; Guidance; Lassiter Middle School (Louisville, Ky.); Life stories; Mentors; Mentorship; Necessities; Parental figures; Personal experiences; Personal stories; Philosophies; Preferred subs; Preferred substitute teachers; Public service; Social skills

Subjects: African American middle school teachers; Careers; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Mentoring in education.; Mentoring.; Middle school students; Middle school teachers; Retirement issues, plans and lifestyles; Retirement.; Substitute teachers; Teachers.; Work.

Partial Transcript: You know, that would be a, a good place to end but I actually do have two other questions for you, you know.

Segment Synopsis: Green talks about how he would like to be remembered as a UK athlete. He talks about being proud to be a UK alumnus. He recounts stories of people recognizing his name or the school and his impact, as well as the school's impact on those people.

Keywords: Ambassadors; Athletic ambassadors; Basketball; Car dealerships; Cincinnati (Ohio); Coaches (Athletics); Football; Memories.; New York City (N.Y.); Opening doors; Opportunities; Personal impacts; Personal stories.; Public figures; Public recognition; Resilience; Sales trainings; School pride; Systemic changes; UK colors; University impacts; Willpower

Subjects: African American athletes; African American college students.; African American trailblazers; African Americans--Sports; College athletes; College campuses.; College environment; College graduates; College histories; College integration; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; College students, Black; Discrimination in higher education; Discrimination in sports; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Educational change--Kentucky; Halls of fame; Minorities in higher education; Professional sports.; Racism in sports.; Racism.; Track and field athletes.; Track and field.; Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History