Richard McKee is an Adjunct Instructor of Music Education at Kennesaw State University and teaches Music For Early And Middle Grades. McKee discusses teaching music in various school districts, including those in Rome and Acworth, Georgia. He also…
Richard Holbrooke interviewed by Richard Rusk and Thomas Schoenbaum. Topics include the Vietnam War, the U.S. Foreign Relations Administration, U.S. diplomatic and consular service, the U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Presidents. Richard Holbrooke…
Richard Holbrooke interviewed by Richard Rusk and Thomas Schoenbaum. Richard Holbrooke explores U.S. policy in Vietnam and in particular the decisions that led to such long-term U.S. involvement. Holbrooke discusses Johnson's March 31, 1968, speech…
Richard Rusk interviews Richard Holbrooke. Topics include the Vietnam War and U.S. foreign relations from 1963-74.Richard Holbrooke served in Vietnam (1963-1966), was a member of White House staff (1966-1967), and was part of the Paris peace talks on…
Richard Rusk and Thomas Schoenbaum interview Richard Holbrooke. Topics include the U.S. Department of State, the Vietnam War, and U.S. Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon.Richard Holbrooke served in Vietnam (1963-1966), was a member of White House…
Richard Geary Rusk interviews Richard Holbrooke about the Philippines. Topics include economic conditions, U.S. interests and policies in the region, the history of the Philippines, Japanese occupation and the period of 1946-1986, and the 1986…
Richard Guthman discusses his work on the Atlanta City Council and the major developments in the city since the 1970s. Guthman was elected to the council in 1973, representing District 8. Prior to this he chaired the Police Commission and the Fulton…
Content Warning: This interview contains racial slurs.Richard Dunn was born in 1952 in Washington, D.C., and was raised by his mother and grandmother. Dunn first came to Athens to pursue a television internship in the summer of 1971, but transferred…
Reid Walker Harris was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1964 and served for six years. During this time he worked on achieving the independence of the legislature, and was the principal author of several laws concerning conservation…
John Reginald "Reg" Murphy attended Mercer University in Macon, and worked for the Macon Telegraph. In 1955 he opened the Atlanta bureau of the Macon Telegraph. He was chosen to be a Neiman Fellow at Harvard in 1959, and in 1961 went to work for the…
Ray Moore (b. 1922) was an Atlanta TV newsman for twenty-three years. In 1951, he joined WSB Radio and then WSB-TV the following year. Moore resigned as news director of WSB, in 1969, and joined WAGA-TV (Channel 5) until he retired from broadcasting…
Ray Holland is an attorney who served in the Georgia House from 1989-2003. In this interview Holland discusses his education at the University of Georgia and his introduction to politics through the YMCA Youth Assembly. He discusses his early…
Randy Watkins was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. He is the current Director of Sales and Operations of More than Blinds as well as an umpire and an officiator of various different sports. In this interview, Watkins talks about the racial divide…
Reed discusses his childhood and describes how he became involved in politics. Reed discusses meeting Pat Robertson in 1989 and being coaxed into writing a memo explaining how to organize evangelical voters. Reed explains that the memo earned him the…
Ralph Reed is founder and chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition. He was senior advisor to the Bush-Cheney campaigns in both 2000 and 2004, and chairman of the Southeast Region for BC04. As chairman of the Georgia Republican Party he led the GOP…
Quaison Payne was born in 1965 in Athens, Georgia. He attended Fowler Drive Elementary, Lyons Middle School, and Cedar Shoals High School before going to Georgia Tech and earning a degree in civil engineering. Upon returning to Athens, Payne began…
Powell A. Moore began his career in politics in 1966, when Senator Richard B. Russell appointed him as his press secretary. After Russell’s death, Moore went to work in the Justice Department as deputy director of Public Information under President…
Pierre Howard was elected to the Georgia Senate as a Democrat in 1972. He continued to be reelected until 1988. In 1974, Governor George Busbee appointed him assistant floor leader of the senate, a position he held for eight years. Howard proposed…
Phyllis Juliette Quick Stewart was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina but has spent the majority of her adult life in Georgia. She was a life-long educator, beginning as an elementary school teacher and retiring as elementary school…
Phillip Pollock was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1923. Pollock was drafted into the Army in 1943, where he began his infantry combat career in the European Theater of World War II. Upon his return home, Pollock earned both an undergraduate and…
Philip Young Choi was born in Los Angeles, California but grew up in Costa Rica. He is a Captain of the United States Army, and enrolled at the University of Georgia. In his interview, Choi explains how and why he joined the Army, as well as his…
Phil Wise served as a member of the White House staff of President Jimmy Carter. In this interview, he briefly talks about his childhood, his early relationship with Carter, and his increased involvement in Carter’s administrations, first in managing…
Phil Wilson is a music teacher at Ogletree Elementary School in Auburn, Alabama. Wilson discusses his early teaching experiences, the rewards and challenges of teaching, and his teaching approach. He also discusses professional development and…
Peter Fancher grew up in New Jersey and moved to Athens, Georgia in 1975, where he attended the University of Georgia. Fancher performed as the guitarist in Club Gaga, and has additionally worked as the audio engineer at Elixer Recording and Intense…
Music promoters, Alex Cooley and Peter Conlon, along with Presidential aid, Tom Beard, talk about the development of the music scene in Atlanta. Cooley and Conlon talk about the several concerts and festivals they arranged over the years. And the…
Peter Louis Banks worked as a congressional intern for U.S. Representative John James Flynt, Jr., from Georgia during law school. After graduating from law school, he worked as an attorney for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He was elected to the…
A Conversation with Pete Wheeler is a discussion, with Dr. William Stueck and Dr. James Cobb, of Wheeler's long career as Georgia's Commissioner of Veterans Services. Wheeler discusses his early life, attending Emory at Oxford and the University of…
Peter Alvanos grew up playing the drums and guitar in Charleston, South Carolina. He went to college in Charleston and played drums in the band, Lines Thicken. After his pursuit of acting in New York, Alvanos moved to Athens, Georgia where he toured…
Peggy Norman was born in 1945 in Jackson County, Georgia, and has lived in Athens for over 50 years. She grew up visiting places like Hot Corner and the Bottom, before moving to Athens and starting her career in home healthcare. In this interview,…
Pearl Hall was born in Rocksprings Homes in Athens and has lived a life dedicated to serving the public. She attended West Broad Street School, Burney-Harris High School, and was a part of the first class to formally integrate into Clarke Central. In…
Paul Trudeau grew up in Providence, Rhode Island. He later came to Athens in 1988. Paul was interested in drumming growing up and played in a band called Basix as a kid. Upon moving to Athens, Trudeau recorded and toured with the band Hetch Hetchy.…
Born and raised in Georgia, Patrick Testa attended the University of Georgia for his undergraduate degree where he studied International Relations. During his time as an undergraduate, he decided he wanted to join the Marine Corps after graduation…
Patrick Ferguson grew up in Columbus, Georgia, where he was exposed to a number of punk rock bands. When Ferguson moved to Athens, Georgia to attend UGA, he played in a variety of bands including Five-Eight, Southern Bitch, and Teenage Math Lab. In…
Patricia Werner was a member of the Ecological Society of America as well as a professor at Michigan State University. In this interview, she talks about her research regarding disturbances on tree populations in the tropics of Darwin, Australia. She…
Patricia Clifton was born and raised in Miami, Florida, moved frequently during her early adulthood, and moved permanently to Athens in 1976. In this interview, Clifton shares about her experiences working for Clarke County Public Schools and as the…
Patricia Barron was born in 1954 and raised in Atlanta. She attended Mercer University and Georgetown Law. In this interview, Barron recalls her journey to law school, mentioning that she knew from young she would be a lawyer. Additionally, she talks…
Pat Shields grew up in Athens, Georgia, as his father was the recreational director of the city. Shields, as a teenager, grew up playing folk music and has worked at many cultural institutions in areas including Keyser, Virginia and Australia.…
Oscar Persons talks about his first interests in Republican politics in the 1960s, recalling in particular Barry Goldwater’s presidential run in 1964 and Bo Callaway’s 1966 gubernatorial run. Persons then describes how the Republican Party grew in…
Orie Loucks was a member of the Ecological Society of America’s Applied Ecology and Certification Committees. He won the George Mercer Award in 1964 and was a professor at the University of Wisconsin and Miami University in Ohio. In this interview,…
Odella Thompson was born in Athens, Georgia in 1942. She attended West Broad School, Reese Street School, and graduated from Athens High and Industrial School. She received a degree in English from Oakwood College. In this interview, Thompson…
Norman Underwood discusses the political careers of Georgia Governors Carl Sanders, Jimmy Carter, and George Busbee, as well as the major campaigns and issues that characterize the political atmosphere of late twentieth century Georgia. Some topics…
Noe Ramirez se nació en Morelia, México y actualmente vive en Athens, Georgia donde trabaja como cocinero y desarrollador del menú para el restaurante Taqueria la Parrilla. Él habla sobre sus primeras experiencias cocinando, experimentando con…
Bielle grew up in Roswell, Georgia. He learned how to play the guitar and bass as an adolescent and came to Athens in 1979 where he later played bass and sang with the heavy-metal band Hayride. After the breakup of Hayride in the mid-1990s, Bielle…
Nicholas Sesing grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for his undergraduate degree. He notes that there were a variety of factors that influenced him to join the Marine Corps after his graduation and shares…
Richard Rusk interviews Nicholas Katzenbach about the Vietnam War.Nicholas Katzenbach served as U.S. attorney general (1965-1966) and under secretary of state (1966-1969).This interview is a continuation of Rusk AAA.
Richard Geary Rusk interviews Nicholas Katzenbach about his working relationship with Dean Rusk during the administrations of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Katzenbach speaks of Rusk's relationship with both presidents, Attorney General Robert…
Young discusses his early life in Cedartown, Georgia and his experiences at UGA in the early 1960s, particularly as a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He talks about his career as a newspaper editor and publisher for newspapers around the state…
Ned Young discusses his activity with the Jaycees, a civic organization, in Georgia and nationally, as well as his career of campaign management. Young worked for Ellis Arnall’s 1966 gubernatorial campaign, Lester Maddox’s campaign for governor,…
Neal Lester is a professor of English at the University of Arizona focusing on African-American literature and theater. He discusses growing up in the South, his increasing awareness of race with age, and his views regarding white allyship,…
Pastor Nawanna Lewis Miller is Founding Chair and Leading Director of the Institute for Christian Discipleship, Inc. in Marietta, Georgia. She is a graduate of H.M. Turner High School in Atlanta, Georgia and one of the early African American…
In an addendum to an earlier interview, Thomason discusses the work of Virginia Gunn to prevent beach renourishment at St. Simons Island. She describes Gunns’ work as County Commissioner and as president of Save the Beaches.
Born in New York, Nancy Thomason is the proprietor of Beachview Books on St. Simons Island. Thomason first opened a bookstore on the island in 1976. Since moving to the Georgia coast, Thomason has been involved with various grassroots efforts to…
Nancy Smith discusses her experience as director of Sandy Creek Park. She weighs in on recreational parks versus resource-based parks, and reflects on Sandy Creek Park's spillway and maintenance. She also comments on issues regarding the park such as…
Nancy Schaefer served as a Republican senator for Georgia's 50th district from 2004 to 2008. She presided over Family Concerns, Inc., a conservative religious group. In this interview, Schaefer discusses her early years in Clayton, Georgia, and her…
Senator Nan Orrock was elected by Atlanta voters to the Georgia Senate in 2006, after serving ten terms in the House of Representatives, where she was the first woman elected as House majority whip. She also served as the Governor’s Floor Leader, a…
Myra Rhoden is the Band Director and Fine Arts Department Chairperson at Fayette County High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. Dr. Rhoden discusses her career path, her proudest moments, and her approaches to teaching and mentorship. She also…
Content Warning: This interview includes references to sexual assault.MyKeisha Ross grew up and attended school in Athens, though her family has its roots in Ohio. Raised by a single mother, Ross had to look after herself and got her first job in the…
Montu Miller talks about growing up in a culture of hip hop, his early involvement in the Athens hip hop scene, and while in college founding the group Dreaded Mindz which hosted weekly poetry and rap events in his apartment. Miller discusses the…
Miriam Hernandez grew up in Athens, Georgia and currently works at her uncle’s restaurant, Tlaloc El Mexicano. In this interview, she talks about her family, her stepfather’s deportation, working from an early age, and becoming a young mother. She…
Milton Raven was born in Plains, Georgia in 1931 though he grew up in Archery, Georgia as the youngest of five brothers. In this interview, Raven describes his upbringing, college education, work in the Army and his career as a teacher and principal.…
Milton Jones served in the United States Army Reserves from 1954-1962, retiring as a Sergeant 1st class. A Democrat, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1963 and served until 1970. In 1974, Governor Jimmy Carter appointed him to…
Millard Grimes worked as an editor for The Red and Black, and graduated from UGA with a degree in journalism in 1951. He returned to the Columbus Ledger as associate news editor, and in 1955 the newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize for documenting…
Content Warning: This interview contains racial slurs.Mildred White was born in 1947 in the Rabbit Eye community of Athens near the current Oconee Heights area. In this interview, she discusses growing up in a rural community, her education, and the…
Mike Ellis was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1952, and grew up in Webb, Mississippi. Ellis has been in the field of agricultural sales and services for 35 years and has farmed occasionally throughout his career. Ellis has worked at many companies…
Mike Bowers formerly served as Georgia's Attorney General (1981-1997) and made an unsuccessful run for governor in 1998. In this interview Bowers discusses his relationships with former Attorney General Arthur Bolton and George Busbee. He addresses…
Michael Lachowski, born in Norfolk, Virginia, moved to Athens, Georgia after enrolling at the University of Georgia as an art major. He was the bass player for the Athens band Pylon. In his interview, Lachowski discusses his time at UGA, forming…
Having served as a Representative in Georgia State House, the director of DFACS, chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, and Georgia Commissioner, Michael "Mike" Thurmond discusses his early life in Athens, his education, his experience…
Michael Middlebrooks was born in Athens, Georgia in 1956 and lived there for the majority of his life. He attended the University of Georgia and later worked for Georgia Power for 40 years. In this interview, Middlebrooks recalls his upbringing, the…
Melvin Stroud was born and raised in Athens and has worked in the city for decades. Stroud attended Union Baptist Institute and Athens High and Industrial before furthering his education at Fort Valley State University. In this interview, Stroud…
Melissa Link moved to Athens, Georgia in 1993 where she attended the University of Georgia as a graduate student of art history. She has served in various positions in media, community organizations, and government throughout Athens. Currently, she…
Megan Endicott is the general music teacher at Dolvin Elementary School in Johns Creek, Georgia. Endicott discusses the rewards of teaching music as students make discoveries, as well as the challenges of working with difficult administrators. She…
McGeorge Bundy discusses Dean Rusk's working relationship with Lyndon Johnson and Robert McNamara. He focuses on Johnson and Rusk's conversations on U.S. policy during the Vietnam War.McGeorge Bundy served as special assistant to the president for…
Richard Rusk interviews McGeorge Bundy. Bundy discusses his long relationship with Dean Rusk, both as a colleague and friend. He describes Rusk's working relationship with Kennedy and Johnson. When discussing the Kennedy administration, Bundy focuses…
McCracken Poston gained his first political experience as a law student campaigning for Buddy Darden’s run for Congress. In 1988 he ran a successful campaign for the Georgia House of Representatives, where he stayed until 1996. He then made a bid for…
Joseph Maxwell Cleland first became interested in politics during his Washington Semester Program. In 1965, he was asked by Senator Richard B. Russell to become a congressional intern. Cleland then joined the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. He was…
Matthew McRae was born in McRae-Helena, Georgia and attended Twin City Elementary and High Schools. After attending Fort Valley State University and dentistry school he, along with his wife Barbara, started McRae Family Dental in Athens, which now…
Matthew Towery was an unofficial page for Governor Lester Maddox, and continued in an official capacity during Maddox’s term as lieutenant governor. He became a speech writer in Mattingly’s successful run for senate in 1980. In 1989 with the…
Mary Inez McKinney was born in May 1939 in Athens. She attended West Broad Street Elementary School, Reese Street Middle School, and Athens High and Industrial School. In this Interview, she discusses her experience growing up in Athens and getting…
Mary McGowan is a music teacher at Adamson Middle School in Rex, Georgia. McGowan discusses her career path, her teaching style, why some choose to leave the profession, and shares some of her proudest moments.
Mary Margaret Oliver served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1987-1992, and the Georgia Senate from 1993-1998. When Oliver was elected to the senate, she was appointed to chair the Judiciary Committee during her freshman term, and was the…
Mary Mackey was born in 1956 outside Tutwiler, Mississippi. Her father was a farm worker, and she grew up chopping cotton. Mackey works as the Quilting Program Coordinator at the Tutwiler Community Education Center. In this interview, she describes…
Mary Land is a Professor of Music at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia. Land discusses why she became a teacher, why she moved from teaching middle school to teaching music education in college, and what factors lead some teachers to…
Mary Frances Early is a music teacher in Georgia and was the first African American to graduate from the University of Georgia. Early discusses her path to teaching, her early teaching experiences, why she stayed in the profession for so long, and…
Early discusses growing up in Atlanta and the influence her parents had on her pursuing music education professionally. She talks about attending Clark College and teaching music in Atlanta Public Schools before deciding to pursue a master’s degree…
Mary W. Beazley was bonh on November 8, 1929 in Athens, Georgia. She attended the Georgia State College for Women and the University of Georgia. Beazley worked as a staffer for Gov. Vandiver, Lt. Gov. Geer, Gov. Maddox, Gov. Carter, Lt. Gov Miller,…
In this interview Mary Anne Summers discusses her experiences working with a variety of Georgia politicians and public figures throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Summers became a secretary for Richard Ashford during the Vandiver administration.…
Thomas Schoenbaum interviews Martin Hillenbrand about Berlin, the Berlin Wall, and the Soviet Union.Martin Hillenbrand served as U.S. diplomat and ambassador (1939-1976) and director of the Atlantic Institute for International Affairs (1977-1982).
Richard Rusk interviews Martin Hillenbrand about U.S. Foreign Policy, including the downfall of German Chancellor Ludwig Erhard after his meeting with Lyndon Johnson in 1966.Martin Hillenbrand served as U.S. diplomat and ambassador (1939-1976) and…
Martha (Marti) Plemmons Fullerton was born on January 13, 1942, in Murphy, N.C. She attending Young Harris College and Florida State University. Fullerton held various positions in the Bowdoin Commission from 1963 to 1999. She also served on the…
Martha Zoller discusses her early life, including her father's life and family history. She discusses her mother's opinion of integration, her family's attitude toward African Americans, and a walkout staged by the black students of Columbia High…
Zoller discusses her childhood in Columbus, Georgia. She recalls the desegregation of Columbus High School. Zoller reflects on attending the University of Georgia and subsequently working for Rich's (an Atlanta-based department store that later…
Mark Cooper Smith came to Athens, Georgia to attend graduate school in 1982 from Cartersville, Georgia. Smith performed with the Squalls as the band’s drummer shortly upon his arrival. After leaving the Squalls, Smith played with the band 28 Days,…
Burkhalter talks about his early life and how he became politically active. Burkhalter then discusses returning to north Fulton County to work in the real estate business and explains why he ran for the Georgia House of Representatives in 1992 and…
Marjorie Holland was the Director of the Ecological Society of America’s Public Affairs Office for six years, and is currently a professor in the biology department at the University of Mississippi. In this interview, she discusses her work during…
Marjorie Green Turner is the youngest daughter of Donarell R. Green Jr., a notable doctor for Black women in Athens, Georgia. Marjorie and her sister were some of the first Black children to integrate local public schools. In this interview she…
This interview was recorded remotely. Maritza Soto Keen is an associate director and senior public service faculty at the Fanning Institute at the University of Georgia. Keen has also spent many years leading the Latin American Association as the…
Marion Stroud was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. He attended Union Baptist Institute and Athens High and Industrial School before receiving a football scholarship to Allen University. While in college, Stroud served in the U.S. Air Force in…
Marie Dobbs Barnes married Roy Barnes in 1970. In 1974, Roy ran a successful campaign for the Georgia State Senate; Marie was active in this and subsequent campaigns, while also raising their three children. Marie became an active advocate for early…
Maria Munoz was a Senior Airman in the United States Air Force from 2009 - 2013. In this interview she describes her MOS (military occupational specialty), her deployments to Afghanistan and South Korea. She discusses her transition to civilian life…
UGA Political Science Professor Dr. Ieda Siqueira Wiarda interviews Margaret Bennett about her life in the diplomatic corps and as the wife of Foreign Service Officer and U. S. Ambassador William Tapley Bennett, Jr. Bennett discusses her experiences…
Margaret Holliman is a conservative Georgian who has been active in many political campaigns and organizations. She worked on the campaigns of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. Holliman has also attended several Republican National Conventions and…
Margaret Davis was a professor at the University of Michigan, Yale, and the University of Minnesota, and she served as President of the Ecological Society of America from 1987 to 1988. In this interview, she talks about the role of women in science…
Marcy Simmons is a music integrationist at Beecher Hills and West Manor Elementary Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. Simmons discusses her career path, the highs and lows of her work, and her approach to motivating students.
Marcus Garrison served in the United States Navy from 2010-2016. He discusses his occupation as an intelligence analyst and the job training that he underwent. Garrison describes his deployments to Syria and Germany, noting the work he did with…
Marcel Mincey was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1970. In this interview, Mincey talks about his family, detailing the life of his mother in Detroit, the unique success of his uncle, and his aunt Christine “Pat” Crowder Hooks. He also details some of…
Mandy Gunter is a music specialist at Burnette Elementary School in Suwanee, Georgia. Gunter discusses the diversity of the school, why she became a teacher, and what keeps teachers in the profession as well as what factors lead some teachers to…
Mamie Fike moved to Athens to attend the University of Georgia on a music scholarship. She played violin in numerous bands including Long Low Rumble, WET, Jackpot City, Toast, Hetch Hetchy, and the Athens Symphony Orchestra. She currently works as a…
Mattingly begins by discussing his early life in Indiana during the Great Depression and World War II. He then talks about his service in the United States Air Force and why he decided to move permanently to Georgia afterward. Mattingly then covers…
Mack Mattingly was born in Anderson, Indiana on January 7, 1931 and had a career in both business and politics in Georgia for many decades. In 1980 he became the first Republican from Georgia to serve in the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction. In this…
Lynda Stipe, sister to Michael Stipe of R.E.M., moved to Athens, Georgia in 1980 as a high school senior. A year later, she attended the University of Georgia as a sculpture major, during which she formed the band Oh-OK. Stipe worked as the band’s…
Lydia Thompson is a naturalist and artist. She was born in Natchez, MS, and moved to the Georgia coast in 1985. Thompson currently lives on St. Simons Island is a columnist for the Jekyll Golden Islander. Thompson's primary focus is on the…
Lydia Burden is a published author born in Athens, Georgia in 1969. She spent the majority of her childhood living in Oconee County before briefly joining the military. At 21, she was discharged due to kidney failure and eventually began writing…
Luther Harris is a music teacher at Buford Middle School in Buford, Georgia. Harris discusses the demographics of the school, his workload, and his path to teaching. He also talks about rewards and challenges of teaching and recalls proud and…
Luis Narimatsu was born in the Panama Canal Zone. He began losing his vision in college as a symptom of glaucoma. After his diagnosis, Narimatsu eventually found work in the 94th Signal Company as a telephone operator. Afterward, Naritmatsu moved to…
Lucius Battle discusses his long relationship with Dean Rusk both as a colleague and friend. He talks about U.S. foreign policy from World War II through the Vietnam War. He gives his views on Rusk and former Secretaries of State Dean Acheson and…
Love Maddox was born in Griffin, Georgia and served as one of the first African American policemen during the integration of the Griffin community police force. Throughout his career, Maddox also served in the city of Atlanta. In this interview,…
Louise McBee was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives from Athens-Clarke County in 1991. McBee served on and chaired several committees, including the Appropriations Committee, the Retirement Committee, the World Congress Center Overview…
UGA History Professor Dr. Kathleen Clark interviews Lorena Weeks about her life and her discrimination case against Southern Bell in the 1960s. Lorena Weeks recalls how she started working at Southern Bell Telephone Company. She discusses her early…
Lora Smothers, though not born and raised in Athens, felt compelled to do something about the Black education crisis in the community. Her own experiences in school, college, and graduate school made it clear to her that Black education was becoming…
Smothers relates her own educational experiences in traditional schools to her experience at the Freedom to Grow Unschool, an alternative school outside of Athens, Georgia. She discusses the "unschooling" philosophy, how it's applied at Freedom to…
Lonnie King was born in Arlington, Georgia. He was raised in Atlanta and served in the U.S. Navy. He left the Navy in 1957, returned to Atlanta, and earned his degree from Morehouse College. In 1960 he was present at the founding of the Student…
Lizette Busquets served as a intelligence analyst in the United States Army during the Cold War. She discusses her identity as a Puerto Rican woman in the military, her early training, and a deployment to West Germany. Busquets addresses public…
Robert Lindsay Thomas is a U.S. Representative from Georgia. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-eighth and to the four succeeding Congresses (1983-1993). Thomas discusses his involvement with agriculture, his experience in Washington, D.C.…
Linda Stephens was born and raised in Siloam, Georgia before moving to Athens. Stephens has served the Athens community through her work as a registered nurse, public housing community leadership roles, and her current position as an Ambassador for…
Linda Fuller Degelmann was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1941. While in her thirties, Degelmann moved to Americus, Georgia with her husband Millard Fuller and their three children. While in Americus, Degelmann lived on Koinonia Farms before she…
Linda Fuller Degelmann co-founded Habitat for Humanity International with her husband Millard Fuller. Through her work at Habitat for Humanity she has helped create initiatives such as the Carter Work Projects, Women’s Builds, and mental health care…
Linda Davis was born and raised in the Brooklyn Community of Athens, Georgia. She is president of the Bethlehem Cemetery Society and has been honored by The Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation. In this interview, Davis details her experience growing up…
Lillie P. Stewart was born in Athens in 1946 to a family of nine children, herself being the second youngest. She attended East Athens Elementary School and Athens High and Industrial before dropping out, later acquiring her GED. In this interview,…
Lili Robert se nació en Guadalajara, México y se mudó a Athens, Georgia en 1996, donde trabaja actualmente como gerente en el restaurante Taquería La Parrilla. Entre otras cosas, ella discute su trabajo en el restaurante, su filosofía acerca ser un…
Lewis Massey helped Joe Frank Harris campaign for governor. In 1990, he went to work with Pierre Howard’s campaign for lieutenant governor. Howard was elected, and Massey was appointed Chief of Staff. In 1994, he successfully managed Howard's…
Leroy Reginald Johnson was born in Atlanta, Georgia on July 28, 1928. He attended Morehouse College, worked in the Fulton County Solicitor-General’s office, and served as a Georgia senator from 1963-1975, becoming the first black legislator in the…
Lemuel LaRoche, also known as a Life The Griot, is a poet, community activist, and founder of the Athens non-profit, Chess and Community. He grew up in New York, and moved to Georgia where he attended Gordon College and later transferred to the…
Lawrence Bliss was the president of the Ecological Society of America from 1982-1983. He was a professor at Bowling Green State University from 1956-1957, at the University of Illinois from 1957-1968, at the University of Alberta from 1968-1978, and…
Fancher came to Athens in 1978 as a University of Georgia student majoring in journalism. Fancher has worked as an artist and has hosted art shows around Athens. Fancher was also the guitarist for the band, El Caminos. In this interview, Fancher…
Lauren "Bubba" McDonald grew up in Commerce, Georgia, and served as a commissioner in Jackson County before being elected to the state House in 1971, where he worked on the Industry Committee and the Appropriations Committee. He was later appointed…
Laura Stanley is a band director at Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia. Stanley discusses why she became a teacher, the rewards and challenges of teaching, and hopeful moments. She also talks about motivating her students and mentorship.
Laughlin McDonald has been director of the Atlanta-based Voting Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union since 1972. Prior to that he was in private practice and taught at the University of North Carolina Law School. He has represented…
LaTasha Sheats was born and raised in Athens in 1979. She attended Clarke Central High School and Albany State University for two years, eventually receiving an accounting degree at Athens Technical College. In this interview, Sheats discusses her…
Laura Montanari is a music teacher at Growing Up Green Middle School in Long Island City, New York. Montanari describes her path to teaching, her proud moments and challenging moments, and mentoring.
Larry Walter was born in Athens, Georgia, five minutes before his twin brother in 1958. Walter worked several jobs throughout his life, notably in broadcasting for the University of Georgia and Georgia Public Broadcasting, and in factories in Athens.…
Walker discusses his background and childhood, and talks about running for the Georgia House at Sam Nunn’s behest in 1972, winning as a Democrat. He tells of his first few terms in the legislature and his leadership role in the House. Walker…
Larry Walker discusses his long career in the Georgia House of Representatives, which began in 1972, including his role as house majority leader and as a member of Speaker Tom Murphy’s inner circle. Walker served in the house for 32 years and was…
Larry Gresham, Jr., aka LG, grew up in Athens, Georgia, and fell in love with music very young, when he sang in the church choir and was influenced by his father's music tastes. He started writing his own songs around 1996. Gresham recalls trying to…
Larry Green was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. He attended West Broad street School, Lying Junior High, Burney Harris High School, and Clarke Central High School before furthering his education at Albany Technical School and DeVry University. In…
Larry Caldwell grew up in Springhill, Georgia during the era of segregation. He served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and when he returned, attended Griffin Technical Institute before he attained employment at General Motors. In this…
Larrolyn Patterson Parms-Ford is a music teacher at Harlem Village Academy East Elementary in New York, New York. Parms-Ford discusses her experience as a new teacher, working with K-3 students, the challenges of teaching vs. student teaching, and…
Lamar Robinson was born in 1941 in Athens, Georgia. He received his education in the Clarke County School District and graduated from Athens Technical College. Throughout this interview, Robinson focuses on Athens, talking about Hot Corner,…
LaKeisha Gantt was born in Athens in 1978, where she attended elementary through high school. In her undergraduate years, Gantt knew that she wanted to help people, but wasn’t sure how; through graduate school and upon completing her Ph.D in…
Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson was First Lady to President Johnson. In her interview, she discusses the relationship between Lyndon B. Johnson and Senator Richard B. Russell, through work and in their personal lives. She shares conflicts in their…
Krissi Davis is an orchestra director at Grady High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Davis discusses the demographics of the school, why she became a teacher, and why some teachers quit. She also describes her motivations and pride in seeing students…
Thurman talks about his experience growing up as black kid in Panoramic City, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. He talks about riding VMX dirt bikes with his older brother. Thurman talks about his process of becoming race conscious while…
Killick Hinds was born in 1972 and spent the first three years of his life in Japan before returning to New Jersey with his mother. Hinds went to college in Maine and moved to Athens in 1995. He performs Appalachian Trance Metal Music and manages a…
Kevin Sweeney grew up in Marietta, Georgia. After high school, Sweeney moved to Athens, Georgia where he formed his first band, Window Pane. Sweeney later played guitar in other bands such as A-Ditch and Hayride, and toured with Sunshine Fix. In this…
Kevin Hays is a music teacher at South Hart Elementary School in Hartwell, Georgia. Hays discusses why he became a music teacher, why some teachers quit, and proud moments. He also describes his influences and how he motivates his students with pop…
Kevin Corban was born in 1961 in Tunica County, Mississippi. He attended Mississippi State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and a master’s degree in crop pest management. He worked as a cotton scout for over twenty years…
Kenneth W. Thompson interviewed by Richard Rusk. Topics include the Vietnam War, Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, U.S. foreign relations, and the Rockefeller Foundation.Kenneth W. Thompson served as Vice President of the Rockefeller Foundation…
Kenneth W. Thompson discusses his long relationship with Dean Rusk as a friend and colleague at the Rockefeller Foundation. He discusses Rusk's practice of surrounding himself with the best and brightest people and his ability with young people.…
Kenda Suzette Fuller-Woodard was born in 1959, and grew up in the community of Fairmont, Georgia. In this interview, Fuller-Woodard discusses living in Griffin, Georgia during the 1960s and 70s. Fuller-Woodard touches on a variety of subjects…
During college at Fitchburg State University, Ken Starratt gained an interest in the variety of music of the 1970s. Starratt came to Athens in the mid-1970s where he became involved in the Athens music scene. Starratt played the guitar in many bands…
Ken Richardson was born in Athens, Georgia and grew up in the Nelly B neighborhood on the eastside of Athens. He wrote his first rap while in middle school and later adopted the performance name Duddy Ken, through which he wrote and produced music…
Ken Dious was born and raised in Athens, Georgia, where he attended the University of Georgia and earned a law degree. After spending some time doing civil rights litigation with the NAACP, Dious returned to Athens to establish his own law firm. In…
Kenneth Dious was born in Athens, Georgia and attended Athens-Clarke County public schools. After graduating from high school, he attended Savannah State College and later transferred to the University of Georgia. At UGA he earned a degree in…
Kelly Noonan came to Athens, Georgia during the early 1980’s, where she performed as a guitarist in the band, A Few Good Men. Noonan has performed in many other bands including Billy James and Jackpot City. Noonan currently works as a dog groomer at…
Kelly Mraz is a music teacher at Head Elementary School in Lilburn, Georgia. Mraz discusses her career path, her experiences in the classroom, and the importance of working for a school system that values music education. She also discusses the…
Kelly Hollingsworth is a music specialist at Cary Woods Elementary School in Auburn, Alabama. Hollingsworth discusses her path to teaching, the curriculum, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She also recalls funny moments and talks about how…
Keith W. Mason was born in Snellville, Georgia, on September 20, 1960. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and University of Georgia School of Law. Mason, a Democrat, began his career in politics working for Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller…
Keith Mason volunteered for Jimmy Carter and worked for Zell Miller in Miller’s 1974 run for lieutenant governor. He continued to work for Miller, establishing himself as an advisor during Miller’s gubernatorial race in 1990, and becoming Governor…
Katie Williams is a choral director at Oconee County High School in Watkinsville, Georgia. Williams discusses her path to teaching, her music education, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She also describes her teaching style, learning from…
Katie Rogers is the Associate Band Director at Duluth High School in Duluth, Georgia. Rogers discusses her path to teaching and highlights specific moments of pride, challenge, and humor. She also discusses her teaching style, her role as both a…
Kathy Kirbo moved to Athens and attended the University of Georgia where she graduated with a degree in psychology. She has been part of numerous bands including Greenhouse and Jackpot City. She currently works as the executive director for the Reef…
Kathy Blee Ashe was first elected to the Georgia General Assembly House of Representatives in June of 1991. As a member of the Georgia House of Representatives for House District 56, Ashe served on the Education, Children and Youth, Higher Education,…
Katherine McCarter has been the Executive Director of the Ecological Society of America (ESA) since 1997. In this interview, she explains how she became the Executive Director and what she has done during her time at ESA. McCarter describes the…
Kate Dahlstrand is from Tennessee. She is a PhD student at UGA and served in the Army and the National Guard from October 1998 to October 2008 as a field medic. In this interview, Dahlstrand explains why she joined the Army and tells her experiences…
