Interview with Anthony "Tony" Zola, February 13, 2023

Interview Summary

Anthony Zola served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand from 1970 through 1972, in the Community Development / Agriculture Program. Tony grew up on a farm in Western New York. He wanted to work in Foreign Service, but lacked international experience and was advised to join Peace Corps. He was selected for Thailand group 32. Training was conducted on Molokai, HI, and in Thailand. Tony was assigned to Nong Khai, across the Mekong River from Vientiane, Laos. His work at the Community Development Department required traveling to a district office each week, where he and local counterparts provided support and education to local farmers. They introduced hybrid chickens and cash crops that increased income. Tony was asked by local nurses, police, and bankers to teach English in his spare time. Toward the end of his service he traveled to Laos, met a USAID worker, and was offered a job in charge of Agriculture Extension and Marketing. He stayed in Laos until he was evacuated in 1975. After attending grad school, Tony returned to international work in Africa and Asia. He resides in Thailand, and serves on the Board of Directors of the John F. Kennedy Foundation of Thailand.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Thailand (country of service) 1970-1972 (date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Community Development / Agriculture Thai (language) Lao (language) Peace Corps (U.S.)--1970-1980 Thailand 32 (training cohort) Molokai Nong Khai Thailand Thai Community Development Department USAID Catholic Relief Services World Bank John F. Kennedy Foundation of Thailand teaching English

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

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