Interview with Thomas D. Clark, October 9, 1991

Interview Summary

In this interview, Dr. Clark discusses the administrations of the various presidents he served under including Herman L. Donovan, Frank Dickey, and John Oswald, as well as each of their associations with the University of Kentucky Athletic Association. Clark has a great amount of respect for Donovan but believes the university could have progressed further if Donovan put as much emphasis on academics as he did with athletics. Clark describes the type of pressure put on Donovan to support athletics. Clark does give Donovan credit for his contribution to establishing the university press. Clark recounts the point shaving scandal that occurred during Donovan's administration and touches on the relationship between Shively, Donovan, Rupp, and Chandler. Clark discusses the differences between Donovan's and Frank Dickey's approach to athletics. Donovan and Dickey had a strong relationship after Donovan was gone. Clark believes that Dickey was just too nice of a guy to run a university. Under John Oswald's administration, Clark saw that the decisions were made before the committee meetings and Oswald just went along with everything. Clark touches on various scandals that occurred in athletics at the University of Kentucky and also describes Adolph Rupp's association with university athletics, as well as Ed Curd, Ab Kirwan, Tom Ballantine, and Blanton Collier.

Interview Keyword

Ab Kirwan Adolph Rupp Albert Kirwan Football coaches Herman Donovan Judge Saul Street Bear Bryant Bernie Shively Board of Trustees Frank Dickey Guy Huguelet Happy Chandler University of Kentucky Athletic Association James Graham Keen Johnson Richard Stoll Wallace Muir Frank McVey Athletic councils Ed Curd Fabulous Five (Kentucky Wildcats) Desegregation Point shaving scandals World War II Thomas Ballantine Decision-making Blanton Collier

Interview LC Subject

Clark, Thomas Dionysius, 1903-2005 Clark, Thomas Dionysius, 1903-2005--Interviews Dickey, Frank Graves University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History Coaches (Athletics) College administrators College administrators--Rating of College administrators--Selection and appointment. College environment College presidents College sports. College teachers--Social conditions Education, Higher--Kentucky Educators Universities and colleges--Administration. Universities and colleges--Faculty. College athletes College sports--Corrupt practices Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977 University of Kentucky--Basketball College sports--Coaching College teaching. Football. African Americans--Segregation Integration University of Kentucky--Football

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.