Interview with Erven Williams, April 18, 2016

Interview Summary

Erven Williams, a former employee of the TVA, begins the interview by detailing how he was hired at the TVA. Williams's career in the TVA is summarized, including the various positions that he held. The interviewee describes his role in the Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife Development office. Williams's work in Tributary Area Development is also mentioned. Subsequently, Williams discusses his administrative work in the Minority Economic Development realm of the TVA. Williams then talks of his responsibilities in dam safety, both in budgeting and as a Project Manager. Cooperation between federal agencies to create federal regulations on dam safety is examined. Williams' role as a teacher in the Quality Program of employee training is also mentioned. The interviewee's time spent working on the warning systems in TVA dam safety is explored. To conclude the interview, Williams reveals his most fond memories of working at the TVA and shares his opinion of the importance of community involvement for the TVA in current times (2016 at the time of the interview).

Interview Keyword

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife Development Tributary Area Development (OTAD) Minority Economic Development Quality Program Warning systems Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc. (BVI)

Interview LC Subject

Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Dams Dam safety Safety Minorities Business Federal government Cooperation Training Teaching Employees Economists Budget

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 only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.