Oral History Interview with Bob Thurmond

Partial Transcript: The interviewer introduces the interview, and asks Thurmond about the birth order of his siblings.

Segment Synopsis: Thurmond states the birth order of his siblings, their ages, and whether or not they are living or deceased.



The interviewer and interviewee briefly discuss Bellarmine University, where Thurmond attended college.



Thurmond talks about his early childhood. He discusses the race relations in his neighborhood, at his elementary school, and in other social areas of Hopkinsville. He briefly describes a fire-bombing incident that occurred at his family's home, and crosses being burned in the front lawn.

Keywords: Bellarmine University; Hopkinsville (Ky.); Russellville (Ky.); Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School

Partial Transcript: "So you said that your high school and your junior high school were socially segregated, could you talk about what that means?"

Segment Synopsis: Thurmond discusses the social segregation of his junior high and high school. He also discusses his experience during his high school years. He discusses athletics at the high school, and the racial tensions that afflicted the sports scene.



Thurmond tells a few stories about his older brother terrorizing him and his younger brother David.



He goes on to tell an anecdote from his Catholic grade school about a disobedient young 1st grader, and the discipline that ensued from the nuns who ran the school.

Keywords: Hopkinsville High School; Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School

Partial Transcript: Thurmond discusses his father and his civic involvement.

Segment Synopsis: Thurmond discusses his father's concrete products business, his civic and political involvement, and his contributions to improving the infrastructure of Western Kentucky.

Subjects: Kennedy, Robert; National Precast Concrete Association

Partial Transcript: "What was the parenting style of your father and your mother?"

Segment Synopsis: Thurmond states that his father was often away on business, which meant most of the parenting came from his mother. He states that his father gave his children the freedom to pursue whatever studies or career paths they wanted. He states that his mother was the peace-maker in the house.



Thurmond briefly discusses his mother's struggles with raising her eight children. He then goes on to discuss the hired help of the Thurmonds. One of the maid's names was Dora Jordan.

Subjects: Family life; Family life--Anecdotes.; Parenting

Partial Transcript: Thurmond discusses his father's Blue Lake Block Company.

Segment Synopsis: Hal Hart Thurmond owned a concrete products company that was based out of a rock quarry situated on Blue Lake - therefore the name, Blue Lake Block Company. Bob Thurmond describes the original Russellville Concrete Products business founded by Brents Thurmond; what became of that company when the Thurmonds moved away from Russellville; and the transition and operation of the new company in Hopkinsville run by Hal Hart Thurmond.



Thurmond describes his grandparents on both his father's and his mother's side of the family.



He discusses he and his siblings' fascination with large equipment and factories because of their time spent at their father's block company. He tells a few stories of the children wreaking havoc at the block plant.



Thurmond describes the circumstances surrounding his father's illness and death.

Keywords: Blue Lake Block Company; Russellville Concrete Products

Partial Transcript: "She had an interesting role - their involvement in civil rights and social justice was very much a team thing."

Segment Synopsis: Thurmond discusses his parents' involvement in social justice.



He states that his mother was a bit traditional when it came to raising her daughters.



He talks about the various ways his parents exposed their children to individuals of different faiths, socio-economic status, as well as races and ethnicities.



Thurmond discusses what it was like to grow up as a member of the only Catholic parish in Hopkinsville. He goes on to describe what the parish of Saints Peter and Paul was like during his family's time as parishioners. He discusses his mother's qualms with some of the priests who served.



Thurmond discusses his mother's women's rights activism in her church, community, and in her own home.

Keywords: Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Subjects: Catholicism; Civil Rights; Priesthood; Women's Rights

Partial Transcript: "Where do you think your parents found their commitment to equality, to social justice, to activism?"

Segment Synopsis: Thurmond states that in the 1950s and 1960s, many social justice activists were Catholic. He states that the attraction of activism for his father came through his appreciation for certain prominent Catholic individuals like the Kennedy family.



Thurmond discusses his own involvement in peace and anti-war movements during the Vietnam war while he was in college. He speaks about his brother Bill Thurmond's experience in the military and Bill's tours in Vietnam. He goes on to discuss Bill Thurmond's development of Multiple sclerosis, and his untimely death in a house fire in the 1990s. He describes Bill's struggles with the office of Veteran's Affairs for help and assistance with his disability.

Subjects: Multiple sclerosis; Veterans--American--1980-2000.; Vietnam War

Partial Transcript: "Social justice was the core value."

Segment Synopsis: Thurmond discusses the transition to the lottery system for the U.S. military draft. He states his views on conscription. Thurmond sent a letter to the U.S. government refusing to serve even if his number got called in the draft. He relates his concern with the possibility of being arrested for this letter that refused to register for the draft as it was a felony at the time.

Subjects: Conscription, Military; Draft (Military service).; Vietnam War

Partial Transcript: "If we could draw those two people out of the grave, and place them in this current milieu, I would really like to know where my parents would see climate change in the social justice paradigm."

Segment Synopsis: Thurmond discusses his opinions on climate change and how he believes ignoring it and contributing to the pollution is the newest manifestation of racism.