Interview with Gary Garriott, March 17, 2021
Project: Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Gary Garriott served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador, from 1969 to 1973, in the Rural Electrification Program. Stamp collecting and ham radio hobbies got him interested in other countries. President Kennedy’s talks of Peace Corps inspired Gary, at age 13, to a goal of volunteering which he maintained through his studies at Valparaiso University. Spanish language and cultural training took place in Big Timber, Montana; Taos, New Mexico; and Santa Domingo, Ecuador. Gary’s assignment was in Gualaquiza, with Instituto Ecuatoriano de Electrificación (INECEL), expanding and maintaining electrical generation and distribution. Other projects included setting up a local radio station and a telephone system. Garriott received assistance for his projects from Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) and USAID. He later worked for VITA and had a program on Voice of America. Garriott extended his service, completing four years of service. The interview discusses Garriott’s motivation for volunteering, training, projects, life in his community, post-Peace Corps career, and continuing connections with friends in Ecuador and the Peace Corps community.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Keyword
Ecuador (Country of service) 1969-1973 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Rural Electrification Peace Corps (U.S.)--1960-1970 Peace Corps (U.S.)--1970-1980 Vietnam War draft Spanish (Language) Language training Cultural training Valparaiso University Big Timber (Mont.) Taos (N.M.) Santa Domingo (Ecuador) Gualaquiza (Ecuador) Instituto Ecuatoriano de Electrificacion (INECEL) Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) Voice of America Extended serviceInterview LC Subject
Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador Ecuador Acculturation Communication and culture Culture Culture shock Intercultural communication Interpersonal communication and culture Interpersonal relations Interpersonal relations and culture Language and culture Language and languages Lifestyles Manners and customs Voluntarism VolunteersInterview Rights
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Garriott, Gary Interview by Julius Sztuk. 17 Mar. 2021. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Garriott, G. (2021, March 17). Interview by J. Sztuk. Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Garriott, Gary, interview by Julius Sztuk. March 17, 2021, Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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