Interview with William Fishback, September 15, 1977

Interview Summary

William Fishback is a 1932 graduate of the University of Kentucky. He states that he attended UK because it was a school that he could afford. He remembers that while he attended UK he lived with his aunt in Versailles and hitch hiked to class. Fishback originally majored in engineering, because, he states, it was the thing to do at the time. He describes his difficult schedule and mentions that he failed chemistry and physics and changed his major to commerce during his sophomore year. He remembers some difficult professors like Dr. Kopius, his physics professor and Dr. Knight, who did not like engineering students. He also describes Dr. Best of the psychology department, who was deaf, but could read lips.

Fishback also discusses the impact of the Great Depression on the university and remembers that there were a number of students who had no money at all. He would do odd jobs in the afternoons to make some money. He remembers the large role of athletics on campus and scalping his tickets to athletic events to make extra money. Fishback remembers the difficulty he had finding a job after graduation. He eventually secured employment baling paper for Woolworth's, but within five years he was a store manager. After World War II, he took an engineering job with the Union Bag and Paper Company in Savannah, Georgia.

Interview LC Subject

Fishback, William Fishback, William--Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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.