Interview with G. Edward Hughes, August 22, 2014

Interview Summary

Hughes, founding president and CEO of Gateway Community and Technical College, discussed his childhood in Gettysburg, Pa. (including memories of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his family); his education and early career path as a psychologist; his ascension as president of Hazard Community College in 1985 as one of the youngest college presidents in the nation; the closure of Lees Junior College and its merger with Hazard; his opposition, as an employee of UK, to higher education reforms; conversations with Gov. Paul Patton and others about the reform efforts; the contentious community debates over the measure; the effect of HB1?s passage at the ground level; the creation of the new community and technical college system and the initial wary relationship between the community college and technical colleges; the interim presidencies of Jim Ramsay and Jeff Hockaday; the hiring of Dr. Michael McCall as permanent president and McCall?s early community-based efforts to unify the system; the consolidation of the community and technical colleges; the creation of the Northern Kentucky Community College District (eventually Gateway Community and Technical College); and his assessment of McCall?s presidency and legacy.

Interview Keyword

CEO consolidation Gateway Community and Technical College Gettysburg, PA Gov. Paul Patton Hazard Community College Higher Education Reform House Bill 1 James Ramsey Jeff Hockaday Michael McCall Northern Kentucky Community College District psychologist

Interview LC Subject

Education Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969

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