Interview with Lewis W. Cochran, June 4, 1985

Interview Summary

Lewis W. "Bud" Cochran begins this interview by discussing some of the early appointments to the Otis A. Singletary administration at the University of Kentucky. He recalls how they related to the reorganization plan, particularly those that Cochran was involved with or affected his work. He describes individuals who were chosen, including John Stevenson, George Denmark, Larry Forgy, and Charles T. Wethington. He talks at length about the responsibilities of these various appointments as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Cochran discusses his own administrative style and the accreditation process. He discusses the community college system and his concerns regarding maintenance of "proper academic programs and proper standards", as well as duplication of programs between the community college and vocational school systems. Cochran emphasizes that all community colleges are not nearly as standardized as they are in Kentucky. He discusses the placement of the community colleges around the state, particularly in the Owensboro and Henderson communities, located in western Kentucky, and some of the problems regarding accessibility to students. He mentions concerns from different administrators that selective admission would funnel the good students from the community colleges to UK.

Cochran describes taking Board meetings to the community college campuses starting back during Oswald's tenure, and recalls the first one was in Henderson, Kentucky around 1965. Cochran recalls Singletary continued to develop a working relationship with the Board, and mentions some of the 1969-1970 Board members, including J. Robert Miller and Wendall Butler, both state government ex officiis; Governor Louie B. Nunn, who was chairman of the board ex officio, former Governor A. B. "Happy Chandler, Floyd Wright, and George Griffin, a Republican. He notes that Singletary and Oswald had similar styles in working with their Boards and describes a few of their methods, such as pre-Board briefings and informal information sessions prior to the formal meeting. He also talks about the 1971-1972 Board, and mentions members Eugene Goss, a Republican, Steve Bright, and Albert Clay.

Interview LC Subject

Cochran, Lewis W. "Bud," 1915-1996 Cochran, Lewis W. "Bud," 1915-1996--Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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