Interview with Billy Fouch, February 18, 2020

Partial Transcript: Well, Billy, uh, just to start the interview, why don't you tell us your name and what years you played at the University.

Segment Synopsis: Billy Fouch talks about growing up in Morehead, Kentucky. He talks about playing baseball in Morehead's American Legion Program, Coach Don Hardin who started the program in Morehead, and sports he played throughout high school, especially baseball.

Keywords: All-State champions; Baseball games; Baseball leagues; Baseball tournaments; Center fielders (Baseball); Dickinson System; Don Hardin; High school baseball; High school basketball; High school football; High school quarterbacks; Johnnie LeMaster; Kentucky baseball; Quarterbacks; Rowan County High School (Morehead, Ky.); Rowan County Senior High School (Morehead, Ky.); Scholarships.; Summer baseball leagues; Summer leagues; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Subjects: American Legion Baseball; Baseball coaches; Baseball for children; Baseball for children--Coaching.; Baseball for children--Training; Baseball players; Baseball teams.; Baseball--Coaching.; Baseball.; Childhood; High school; High school athletes; Morehead (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Well, so, you, you wrap up your high school baseball--

Segment Synopsis: Fouch describes his recruitment experiences with the University of Kentucky, Morehead State University, and Marshall University for baseball and football. He talks about UK's former head baseball coaches, Dick Parsons and Jordan "Tuffy" Horne. He talks about his playing style. He talks about the availability of baseball scholarships at UK at the time.

Keywords: Athletic scholarships; Baseball lineups; Baseball scholarships; College costs; Contact hitters; Defense; Dick Parsons; Don Hardin; Free rides; Head coaches; Jordan "Tuffy" Horne; Jordan Horne; Line drive hitters; Marshall University; Morehead State University; Partial scholarships; Playing styles; Southeastern Conference (SEC); Split scholarships; Tuition costs

Subjects: Baseball coaches; Baseball players; Baseball--Coaching.; Baseball--Scouting; Baseball.; Coaches (Athletics); College athletes; College athletes--Recruiting; College choice; College sports--Coaching; College sports--Kentucky; College sports--Scouting; College sports.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Scholarships.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: Have a weight program? When you say you worked hard at it, did they have a weight program at that time?

Segment Synopsis: Fouch talks about the UK baseball team's access to weight facilities and weight program at the time. He talks about adjusting to college life his freshman year and how being on the baseball team facilitated that adjustment. He talks about the community of UK's baseball team and the impactful role of seniors on the team.

Keywords: Adjustment periods; African American baseball players; Alfred Eugene "Sonny" Collins; Baseball players, Black; Baseball practices; Comparison; Derek Bryant; Derek R. Bryant; Friends; Friendships; Intimidation; James Curtis Lett; Jim Lett; Life changes; Marv Foley; Marvis Edwin Foley; Marvis Foley; Social interactions; Social networking; Social networks; Sonny Collins; Weight programs; Weight rooms

Subjects: Baseball players; Baseball stories, American; Baseball stories.; Baseball teams.; Baseball--Equipment and supplies; Baseball--Training.; Baseball.; College athletes; College environment; College freshmen; College seniors; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; College students--Social networks; Sports facilities.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Football; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: Where did the baseball team stay there at that point in time?

Segment Synopsis: Fouch talks about UK's baseball team living in the Kirwan-Blanding dormitory complex with UK's football team during his time at the university. He talks about how UK's campus was laid out and the cafeteria at the dormitories.

Keywords: Basketball players; Basketball teams; Campus layouts; College cafeterias; College diets; College food; Dining commons; Dorms; Food; Housing facilities; Housing situations; Housing.; Kirwan-Blanding Complex (Lexington, Ky.); Kirwan-Blanding Towers (Lexington, Ky.); Living situations; Residence halls; University cafeterias; University food

Subjects: Baseball players; Baseball teams.; Campus size; College athletes; College campuses.; College facilities.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social networks; College students.; Dormitories; Football players.; Student housing; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Football; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: Uh, as a school, how was UK thought of at that point in time?

Segment Synopsis: Fouch describes UK's reputation in terms of academics, athletics, and the SEC when he was a student. He talks about UK's academic resources at the time.

Keywords: Academic facilities; Academic resources; Access to education; Accessibility; College facilities; Education quality; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education, Higher.; School reputations; Southeastern Conference (SEC); Tutoring services

Subjects: College sports--Kentucky; College students.; Reputations; Southeastern Conference; Tutors and tutoring--United States; Tutors and tutoring.; Universities and colleges--Ratings and rankings.; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: So your freshman class--big class, like you're saying--who were, uh--any other really good players in your freshman class?

Segment Synopsis: Fouch talks about standout baseball players in his freshman class. He talks about team and personal statistics. He describes the team's attitude going into the season, impressions of Coach Horne, and impressions of Assistant Coach Rick Derrickson.

Keywords: All-SEC; All-SEC players; Assistant coaches; Catchers (Baseball); Darrell Saunders; Derek Bryant; Derek R. Bryant; Freshman starters; Freshmen baseball players; Freshmen classes; Head coaches; Jim Sherrill; Jimmy Sherrill; John Koenen; Jordan "Tuffy" Horne; Jordan Horne; Left fielders (Baseball); Marv Foley; Marvis Edwin Foley; Marvis Foley; Rick Derrickson; Right fielders (Baseball); Shortstop (Baseball); Southeastern Conference (SEC); Steve Bush

Subjects: Baseball players; Baseball players--United States--Statistics.; Baseball teams.; Baseball--Coaching.; Baseball--Training; Baseball.; Coaches (Athletics); College athletes; College freshmen; College sports--Coaching; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; College students--Attitudes.; Southeastern Conference; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: So we're going to move into your second year now. Which I don't know that it's your best year because you all didn't win the conference, but you were an All-American your second year.

Segment Synopsis: Fouch recalls personal and team statistics in his sophomore year playing baseball at UK. He recalls other schools UK played and respective wins and losses.

Keywords: All-American athletes; All-American baseball; All-American players; All-Americans; Auburn University; Baseball conferences; Baseball games; Losses; Louisiana State University; School rivalries; School rivals; Southeastern Conference (SEC); Team performances; University of Florida; University of Georgia; University of Tennessee; Wins

Subjects: Baseball players; Baseball players--United States--Statistics.; Baseball teams.; Baseball--Defense; Baseball--Records; Baseball--Records--United States.; Baseball--Tournaments; Baseball.; College sophomores; Southeastern Conference; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: Okay, your, your home field that you played on, what was that like?

Segment Synopsis: Fouch compares the baseball facilities UK had when he was a student athlete to the new, multi-million dollar facilities UK has built today. He talks about his reaction to the development of baseball facilities on campus.

Keywords: Astonishment; Baseball attendance; Baseball games; Baseball technology; Baseball tournaments; Batting cages; Dugouts; Equipment quality; Facility quality; Field seating; Gratefulness; Hitting cages; Locker rooms; Program development; Scoreboards; Surprise; Technological development

Subjects: Baseball fields; Baseball teams.; Baseball--Equipment and supplies; Baseball--United States.; Baseball.; College athletes; College facilities.; College sports--Economic aspects--United States.; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; Program budgeting.; Sports facilities.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: I'm going to ask you maybe kind of a dumb question, but how did you find out you made All-American?

Segment Synopsis: Fouch recalls how he found out he earned the All-American and All-SEC titles in his sophomore year. He describes his reactions to receiving the titles.

Keywords: Achievements; All-American athletes; All-American players; All-Americans; All-SEC; All-SEC athletes; All-SEC players; Announcements; Athletic achievements; Athletic titles; Awards; Baseball All-Americans; Dick Parsons; Dom Fucci; Football players; Honors; Interdepartmental recognition; Letters; Reactions; Southeastern Conference (SEC); Sports titles; University of Kentucky--Football

Subjects: Achievers; Baseball players; Baseball players--Selection and appointment; Baseball--Records; Baseball--Records--United States.; Baseball--United States.; Baseball.; College athletes; Southeastern Conference; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: Well let's go into your third year here, 1975.

Segment Synopsis: Fouch discusses team and personal statistics during his junior year in UK baseball. He talks about memorable victories, school rivalries, Steve Pewitt, and playing against Condredge Holloway, the University of Tennessee's first Black athlete. He recalls the sign-stealing scandal involving the Houston Astros.

Keywords: Baseball games; Baseball signs and signals; Baseball strategies; Condredge Holloway; Contact hitters; Football players; Houston Astros (Baseball team); Losses; Parkway Field (Louisville, Ky.); Pitchers (Baseball); Scandals; School rivalries; Shortstop (Baseball); Steve Pewitt; Technological development; University of Florida; University of Kentucky--Football; Vanderbilt University; Wins

Subjects: African American baseball players; African American trailblazers; Baseball players; Baseball players, Black; Baseball stories, American; Baseball stories.; Baseball teams.; Baseball--Tournaments; Baseball.; College juniors; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History; University of Louisville; University of Tennessee

Partial Transcript: Well, everything seems--you know, you have this big freshman class that comes in together.

Segment Synopsis: Fouch talks about key players on UK's baseball team during his senior year and their accomplishments. He talks about UK's biggest school rival and national rankings for baseball at the time. Fouch recalls the double-header against Auburn University and how his senior year team became the first in UK's baseball history to win the SEC East.

Keywords: All-SEC; Athletic history; Athletic records; Athletic victories; Baseball All-SEC; Baseball games; Baseball practices; Darrell Saunders; Hitting practices; Interpersonal relations; Jim Sherrill; Jimmy Sherrill; John Koenen; Maturity; SEC East; SEC champions; School rivals; Self-growth; Self-motivation; Southeastern Conference (SEC); Team dynamics; Team maturity; Vanderbilt University; Wins

Subjects: Auburn University; Baseball players; Baseball players--United States--Statistics.; Baseball stories, American; Baseball stories.; Baseball teams.; Baseball--Records; Baseball--Records--United States.; Baseball--Tournaments; Baseball--Training.; Baseball.; College athletes; College seniors; College sports--Kentucky; Southeastern Conference; Teamwork essentials; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History; University of Tennessee

Partial Transcript: Do you, do you know what your final statistics were for, for your--when you--what you hit?

Segment Synopsis: Fouch recalls his final baseball statistics during his senior year at UK. He talks about John Koenen and Jimmy Sherrill's statistics.

Keywords: Athletic victories; Athletic wins; Batting averages; Final statistics; Hitters; Home runs; Jim Sherrill; Jimmy Sherrill; John Koenen; Morehead State University; Right hitters; University of Tennessee; Wins

Subjects: Baseball players; Baseball--Records; Baseball--Records--United States.; Baseball--United States--Statistics.; Baseball.; College athletes; College seniors; College sports--Kentucky; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: Anything you would do different?

Segment Synopsis: Fouch talks about what he would do differently during his time as a UK athlete if he were given the chance again.

Keywords: Academic opportunities; Athletic opportunities; Baseball practices; College opportunities; Hitters; Personal growth; Reflection; Self-improvement; Self-motivation; Self-reflection; Summer leagues

Subjects: Baseball players; Baseball teams.; Baseball--Training.; Baseball.; Cape Cod Baseball League; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History; Work ethic.

Partial Transcript: When--at the end of your--okay, so now you're a senior. Did you graduate on time?

Segment Synopsis: Fouch talks about how long it took him to graduate and what he earned his degree in. He talks about nobody on the team being drafted post-graduation and potential reasons why.

Keywords: Athletic performance; Bachelor's degrees; Baseball camps; Baseball skills; Baseball tryouts; Coach rapports; College degrees; Education, Secondary.; Outfielders; Preferred tryouts; Secondary education; St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team); Summer tryouts; Undergraduate degrees

Subjects: Baseball draft; Baseball players; Baseball teams.; Baseball.; Commencement ceremonies.; Degrees, Academic.; Undergraduate; Undergraduates; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: So take us through, you, you know--I want to come back one more thing on your UK career, but--so you graduate.

Segment Synopsis: Fouch talks about his former teaching career, involvement in a banking business partnership, and current business work and investments in fast food, convenience stores, commercial property, a temporary staffing agency, and Reno's Roadhouse.

Keywords: Banking businesses; Banks and banking.; Business careers; Business investors; Commercial property; Education, Secondary.; Fleming County (Ky.); Graduate degrees; Graduate school; Graduate students; Investors; Master's degrees; Math teachers; Mathematics; Partnerships; Reno's Roadhouse (Morehead, Ky.); Secondary education; Temporary staffing agencies

Subjects: BP Oil (Firm); BP Oil Corporation; Business enterprises.; Business.; Capitalists and financiers.; Career moves; Careers; Careers & opportunities; Commercial real estate.; Convenience stores; Teachers.; Temporary help services.; Wendy's International

Partial Transcript: Well let, let's kind of begin to wrap this up here. What--any final thoughts on your UK career?

Segment Synopsis: Fouch reflects on his most valuable gains and takeaways from his time as a UK student athlete. He talks about his personal growth during this time.

Keywords: College environment; College experiences; Friends; Friendship; Life choices; Life decisions; Maturation processes; Maturity; Morehead State University; Personal growth; Reflection; Self-growth; Self-reflection; Southeastern Conference (SEC)

Subjects: Baseball players; Baseball teams.; Baseball.; College choice; Interpersonal relations.; Southeastern Conference; Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Partial Transcript: How--you know, the players--and we met a few of the players today, you know--how would you like for them to remember you, like your UK legacy?

Segment Synopsis: Fouch describes how he would like other UK baseball players to remember him and his baseball team's contributions to UK's baseball program.

Keywords: Athletic legacies; College connections; College experiences; Effort; Foundational contributions; Personal reflections; Program contributions; Program development; Program expansion; Reflection; Self-reflection; Social networking; Team contributions; University connections

Subjects: Baseball players; Baseball teams.; Baseball.; College athletes; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; Legacies; Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Sports--History; Work ethic.