Interview with Jim Jorgensen, March 8, 2024

Interview Summary

Jim Jorgensen served as an Agriculture Volunteer in Kenya from 1964-1966. His was the first Peace Corps group to arrive in Kenya. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in education, Jim attended PC training at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee where the focus was on learning Swahili; technical training; physical fitness; and Kenyan politics, history and culture. Jim was assigned to the town of Turbo on the far Western side of Kenya near the Ugandan border; and served as a Land Settlement Agricultural Advisor to Kenyans with newly received parcels of land. Jim has been active with a scholarship for young Kenyans to attend university in the US and has been a teacher, principal, and Athletics Director for the California school system.

Interview Keyword

Jim Jorgensen 1964-1966 Kenya Agriculture Seattle University BA Education Kenya 1 Army ROTC Vietnam President Kennedy Assassination Ranch Farm Teacher Walnuts 4H University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Language training Agricultural training Swahili Physical fitness training History, Culture Nairobi Kenya Institute of Administration Turbo, Kenya Land Settlement Assistant Agricultural Advisor to a Scheme Land and supply distribution Issued loans Bribery Cattle dip Eldoret, Kenya Mombasa East African Railway Dar es Salaam Ethiopia Sudan Salaam Malawi Zambia Victoria Falls Johannesburg Cape Town Catholic Scholarship PC Instructor and Logistics Coordinator at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Deselection Selma, Alabama Tuskegee, AL Maxwell Airforce Base

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