Interview with Larry Conley, October 17, 2019
Project: University of Kentucky Athletics: Men's Basketball Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Larry Conley, a former University of Kentucky men's basketball team member is interviewed by Kyle Macy, another former player, about his early life, his college career, and his career in broadcasting. Conley attributes his interest in basketball to his high school coach, who convinced him to join the team his sophomore year. Not long after joining the team, Conley saw great success and lead his team to win the state championship both his junior and senior year. This success obviously caught the attention of many college basketball programs, including Duke, but Conley knew he had to choose UK. Conley remembers when he first got to UK he had a lot to learn, especially when Coach Rupp told him it was going to be rough if he didn't catch on quick to his coaching style and mannerisms. Conley pressed on, and became one of the better players on the team, befriending big name players like Pat Riley and Louie Dampier. Conley's senior year was the year of Rupp's Runts. The fateful Kentucky vs. Texas Western game was something that Conley says he will remember forever. Conley recalls it just being a game to him and his teammates, but to everyone else it was a racial showdown of black and white. Shortly after the championship game, Conley was drafted onto the Kentucky Colonels professional basketball team. Because of the time being close to the height of the Vietnam War, Conley was forced to enlist into the National Guard, therefore ending his professional career forever. After his service, Conley turned to sports broadcasting, which he did for 42 years.Interview Accession
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Conley, Larry Interview by Kyle Macy. 17 Oct. 2019. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Conley, L. (2019, October 17). Interview by K. Macy. University of Kentucky Athletics: Men's Basketball Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Conley, Larry, interview by Kyle Macy. October 17, 2019, University of Kentucky Athletics: Men's Basketball Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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