Interview with Ronald R. Cyrus, February 4, 2004
Project: Kentucky Legislature Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Cyrus (House 1976-1986, 98th district; Democrat) describes his early years in Russell County and his family's religious and political views. He also talks about his military service and its influence. Cyrus discusses his first campaign and involvement in local political races. As a legislator for over two decades, he discusses the personalities and leadership of Kentucky Governors Julian Carroll, Wendell Ford, John Y. Brown, Martha Layne Collins, Wallace Wilkinson, Brereton Jones, and Paul Patton. Cyrus also shares his memories of House leadership, including Bill Kenton, Bobby Richardson, and Don Blandford. He points out the difficulties of a legislator's time, pay, and committee work. Cyrus also describes monumental moments in the Kentucky legislature, including health care reform, Toyota, KERA, and BOPTROT. He recounts several memories of his contemporaries, including Terry McBrayer, Helen Garrett, and Albert Robinson, to name but a few. Cyrus also shares personal memories of his son's notoriety as an internationally known music star.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview LC Subject
Blandford, Donald J. Boyd County (Ky.) Capital punishment--Kentucky Chandler, Ben, 1959- Cyrus, Billy Ray, 1961- Cyrus, Ronald Ray, 1935-2006 Cyrus, Ronald Ray, 1935-2006--Interviews Freedom of information--Kentucky Garrett, Helen Marie Rickman, 1929-2006 Greenup County (Ky.) Health care reform--Kentucky Kenton, William G. Kentucky. Education Reform Act (1990) Kentucky. Governor (1971-1974 : Ford) Kentucky. Governor (1974-1979 : Carroll) Kentucky. Governor (1979-1983 : Brown) Kentucky. Governor (1983-1987 : Collins) Kentucky. Governor (1987-1991 : Wilkinson) Kentucky. Governor (1991-1995 : Jones) Kentucky. Governor (1995-2003 : Patton) Legislators--Kentucky--Interviews Lowman, Harry King, 1913-1977 May, Woody, 1929- McBrayer, W. Terry, 1937- Open and closed shop--Law and legislation--United States Right to labor--Kentucky Robinson, Albert, 1938- Workers' compensationInterview 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.Restriction
Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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.
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Cyrus, Ronald R. Interview by Eric Moyen. 04 Feb. 2004. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Cyrus, R.R. (2004, February 04). Interview by E. Moyen. Kentucky Legislature Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Cyrus, Ronald R., interview by Eric Moyen. February 04, 2004, Kentucky Legislature Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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