Interview with Rutland "Slim" Melton, September 2, 2023
Project: Benham (Kentucky) Credit Union Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Melton (b.1948) chronicles his life in Lynch, KY and working at USSteel (Camps 3 and 5), “Lynch Public Colored School,” role of basketball and sports, Ed Miracle coach, classmate Bruce Hern (son of Robert and Pauline Hern), national and school integration 1964-65, employment at Fischer Body/Chevrolet-NYC, Vietnam and psychological adjustment upon return, working underground, shuttle car operation, personal perspective of treatment of miners with and without United Mine Workers Union, mine safety, mine rescue teams, Scotia Mine Explosions, comparison Benham (International Harvester and Progressive Union) and Lynch (USSteel), Lynch housing for black and white miners, comparison of black and white pay scales and preferences given in allocation of jobs, pre-Integration busing and theater attendance in Lynch, Benham and Cumberland, social, family and community life.Interview Accession
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Lynch, Kentucky coal miner US Steel Company Lynch School and Big Store Script Sports and Integration Southeast Community College NYC Vietnam War pre and post United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International Harvester Progressive Union underground mining bidding on jobs shuttle car operator mining hazards and safety concerns Scotia Mines pay scales and benefits family and social life busing and theater attendance Lynch company houses Greater Mt. Sinai Baptist Church friendship and community lifeInterview 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.Restriction
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, 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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Melton, Rutland Interview by Jo Hern Curris. 02 Sep. 2023. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Melton, R. (2023, September 02). Interview by J. H. Curris. Benham (Kentucky) Credit Union Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Melton, Rutland, interview by Jo Hern Curris. September 02, 2023, Benham (Kentucky) Credit Union Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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