Interview with Glenwood L. Creech, January 20, 1993

Interview Summary

In this interview, Glenwood L. Creech discusses some of the difficulties of interpreting and presenting the University of Kentucky to the general public, explaining its mission, and maintaining public support. This issue surfaced during Dr. John T. Oswald's tenure; Oswald had come to U.K. from the University of California at Berkley, and was perceived as being a liberal. Creech became U.K.'s Vice-President of University Relations from 1965-1968, after Oswald contacted him about accepting this position, while he was Director of the Division of Agriculture at the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. He describes his duties with this position. Creech states that he admired Dr. Oswald and respected his goals, particularly his goal of building UK into a "prestigious institution." He notes that he did not always agree with his methods, but worked to get the public to accept both. He and Oswald disagreed over the shift in emphasis from teaching to the research arm of the institution, and Creech notes that he almost resigned over this difference in philosophy. Creech admired Louie B. Nunn, and recalls that while Nunn was running for office, Nunn stated that "he would see that Oswald got moved out" if elected Governor of Kentucky. Creech discusses the fact that he always had the "yearning to go back" to his farm," and never had any aspirations to be a university president, though his name was mentioned as a replacement when Oswald left. Creech says he was told that the selection committee was going to pick him to be president at their next meeting, even though he didn't want the position, but it never happened. He was later told that Albert D. Kirwan, who later became interim president, was the only member who objected to his appointment. Dr. Otis A. Singletary was eventually appointed as Oswald's replacement. Creech talks about the qualities he feels are needed to be a successful public university president, and that they are totally unrelated to academic attainment. He believes that "the principal job of the president is to protect the integrity of the institution, and all the implications that it has, and that's to get resources for it so it can fulfill its mission appropriately." He discusses at great length the issue of obtaining adequate resources to keep the university viable as well as competitive. Creech discusses the political climate at the university and notes he perceives an inverse relationship between morality and education.

Interview Keyword

A.B. "Happy" Chandler A.D. "Ab" Kirwin Florida Atlantic University John W. Oswald Louie B. Nunn U.K. Alumni Association Dr. John Oswald Vice President of University Public Relations Research Teaching Maxwell Place Public service Albert Kirwan University of California, Berkeley Educators College teachers--Social conditions College teaching.

Interview LC Subject

Creech, Glenwood L., 1920- Creech, Glenwood L., 1920- --Interviews Kirwan, Albert Dennis Nunn, Louie B., 1924-2004 Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995 University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History Universities and colleges--Public relations College presidents College administrators Education, Higher--Kentucky Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995 Universities and colleges--Research Universities and colleges Universities and colleges--Faculty Universities and colleges--Administration

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 be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.