Interview with H. Brown Wright, February 3, 2016

Interview Summary

H. Brown Wright, a former TVA employee, begins the interview by discussing his overall career at TVA. Wright's first assignment in regional planning is discussed. The dynamics of regional planning at TVA are considered. Wright describes his work on the Normandy Dam project. Additionally, the interviewee talks of his participation in community assistance work at TVA, including memorable experiences. Wright details his work on planning for development of TVA nuclear power plants in rural areas. Measures such as socioeconomic assessments and workforce surveys were undertaken to prepare communities for the influx of people to their town. Each TVA nuclear site is listed. Wright explains the factors that went into socioeconomic assessments. Wright's transition to working on planning TVA's 1982 World's Fair exhibit is examined. Wright recalls how the TVA designed and created a barge float that would be used for the World's Fair exhibit and TVA's 50th Anniversary celebration. An overview of the exhibit is provided. Activities planned on TVA's 50th Anniversary celebration along the Tennessee River are recalled. TVA's 1982 World's Fair commemorative stamp is also remembered. The interviewee explains what he learned from being a project manager on the World's Fair exhibit. Wright illustrates his participation in technological economic development, including a program for sharing technology among federal agencies. To conclude the interview, Wright shares his memories of working at TVA, including how he was hired.

Interview Keyword

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Normandy Dam (Tenn.) Community assistance Town Lift Program 1982 World's Fair Socio-economic assessments TVA 50th Anniversary World's Fair and 50th Anniversary Coordinator Technological economic development

Interview LC Subject

Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Regional planning Regional planners Economic development Community development Nuclear power plants Job creation Assessments and research Infrastructure Construction workers Knoxville (Tenn.) Exhibit Project management Technology Cooperation

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.