Interview with Lewis W. Cochran, June 13, 1985

Interview Summary

Lewis W. "Bud" Cochran begins this interview by discussing the movement towards a Bachelor of General Studies degree at the University of Kentucky. He recalls the program was student-initiated and pushed primarily by the same group involved in student activism in the late 1960s. He credits Herb Drennon, who was Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, with preserving the academic integrity of this program. Cochran recalls his greatest disappointment was the absence of the best faculty members on the University Senate and Senate Council "to provide academic leadership." He remembers the budgeting policy issue of selective admission as a particularly troublesome matter to work through. He talks about the period of 1980-1981, where cut-backs and retrenchment took place and describes how and where the cuts were made, especially the reduction of faculty positions. Cochran recalls the Penn Central investment controversy back in the early 1970s, where UK joined a class action lawsuit against the Goldman-Sachs brokerage house after the company went bankrupt. He remembers that the university operated in good faith during that period. He discusses at length the subject of long-term investment strategy. Cochran talks about UK's Law School, the division of the law faculty over its choice of a new dean in 1971, and the two schools of philosophy that caused this, the "Michigan" school and the "Yale" school. He remembers George Hardy was finally appointed. He notes that the College of Law is the most autonomous, does not go through the regular area committee evaluation, and has the least interaction with the rest of the campus. He discusses the overall curriculum of the Law School and the development of a continuing education program. Cochran remembers when Governor Wendell H. Ford was Chairman of the Board in 1972, and the concern that it was becoming a partisan group, all Democrats. He notes that this factor did not affect decisions made by the Board, since it was rarely evenly divided. He mentions the Sunshine Law in regard to open Board meetings. He talks about the four Board appointments made in August of 1972, Zirl A. Palmer, the first black Trustee, Garvis Kincaid, and Jacob Graves. He recalls that Albert Clay became Chairman after Ford stepped down and Bill Sturgill was Vice-Chairman. He mentions other Board members from 1974-1975, including John Crockett, Frank Ramsey, Jr., and Homer Wendell Ramsey. He mentions UK's 3-2 program in engineering with Kentucky State University, and the search for more black students to attend the graduate schools.

Interview Keyword

Bud Cochran University of Kentucky administration University of Kentucky faculty members 1970s University of Kentucky Senate Lexington (Ky.) Higher education politics

Interview LC Subject

Cochran, Lewis W. "Bud," 1915-1996 Cochran, Lewis W. "Bud," 1915-1996--Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History Universities and colleges--Faculty Universities and colleges--Administration College administrators Education--Kentucky

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Interview Usage

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