Oral History Interview with Russell Garth

Russell Garth

I get Meals on Wheels for four days a week. And so--

Glen Taul

Is that when they come by? Do you?

Russell Garth

I eat at about (??) six. No, they've--already brought it. They bring it between 11,

Glen Taul

So, they bring you two meals?

Russell Garth

Oh, they'll just buy one meal.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

I don't eat at lunch. I just put it in the refrigerator.

Glen Taul

Yeah, my mother does the same thing.

Russell Garth

And have the evening meal--have the evening meal. I eat hardly anything during lunch or breakfast. And so I have my main meal at night.

Glen Taul

Okay. My mother does the same thing.

Russell Garth

Where she live now?

Glen Taul

Elizabethtown.

Russell Garth

Elizabethtown?

Glen Taul

Yeah--

Russell Garth

Now, she's (??). Has she always been living in Elizabethtown?

Glen Taul

Now.

Russell Garth

I was gonna say, she will remember the Bells there who went to Georgetown, Doctor, Doctor?

Glen Taul

What church do they belong to?

Russell Garth

I don't know. I can't answer that. I imagine Baptist. I'm guessing Baptist cause he and Louis (??) came (??) Bell, this would be--that would be his name.

Glen Taul

Right.

Russell Garth

And my fraternity brother was the only one that had an automobile in Georgetown. And I've forgotten how many would pile in his car in order to go up to that little house that we used--our fraternity house back up--it was some distance from Georgetown.

Glen Taul

Oh

Russell Garth

It was--some distance from the college itself.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

And I could show you where it is on the--a map but, I can't tell you exactly the street. It's--it's a wide street that--

Glen Taul

Goes to Lexington? Was it--

Russell Garth

Yeah, I think it was--the one that went to Lexington, yes.

Glen Taul

Goes to Lexington. Yeah, I know where you're talking about.

Russell Garth

Well, anyway, George Ranchel (??) had the car. He was in our fraternity and we'd pile in there just to get a ride back--and went up a hill. The house went up on hill. And George, became a dentist and he's located in Elizabethtown.

Glen Taul

Oh.

Russell Garth

He married an Elizabethtown girl.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And, and he later, I think, became an alcoholic.

Glen Taul

Oh.

Russell Garth

And he--died at a fairly early age, I think. But, his name was George Ransdell (??)

Glen Taul

George Ransdell.

Russell Garth

He was one of my fraternity brother--the only one that I remember having a car on the campus, as a student. [laughter] But---

Glen Taul

That's before they had rules governing cars on--students having cars.

Russell Garth

I guess well, I don't know how he gets--he could just afford one, I guess, what it amounted to, but he's the only one I remember. And we'd alll snitch a ride with him [laughter] Going back and forth out to the (??) house. That's a long way out there.

Glen Taul

It is, it sounds like it.

Russell Garth

--It seemed longer now that it what--it then. Well of course, here to Lexington, I--we had to get up go--and be down at the tables (??) you know. We did whatever was easy for us, and then you'd take books and all and you pretty much stayed there.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

You wouldn't really go back to that fraternity house until after dawn. That's what it boiled down to you. You just had to take enough books for your classes, and notebooks to study. And then of course, you'd go back up there--because it was too far away to go back and forth.

Glen Taul

Yeah. Yeah. Did you ever take a class under Dr. Thompson.

Russell Garth

Yeah. Religion.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

A Bible. --I think they called it the Bible, they didn't call it religion.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

I think it was--

Glen Taul

Was that a required course.

Russell Garth

I believe it was. I think it was.

Glen Taul

Did you like that class?

Russell Garth

I liked it. All right. Yeah. I'm guess I never got too enthusiastic.. But--But I was religiously inclined when I went to Georgetown because I became president of the, of the religious association there of the students. And so evidently, I was a little bit more interested in the Bible and religion than a lot of students were.

Glen Taul

The Baptist Student Union?

Russell Garth

That's it. Yeah. But what was--it was a college group, of, I guess was it Baptist.

Glen Taul

Now where you Baptist when you went to Georgetown?

Russell Garth

Oh, yes, yes.

Glen Taul

Okay. And you became--and you left the Baptist Church after you left Georgetown?

Russell Garth

Well--when I married my wife.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

She was a member of the Christian Church.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And so, I became a member of the Christian Church.

Glen Taul

Ah, okay. Okay. Well, that happens a lot.

Russell Garth

Yeah--I would--if I had a way (??) I'd tell her to join the Baptist Church.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

That--at that point probably, she was a little bit more dedicated maybe to her church than I was to the Baptist. Although--I did attend Walnut Baptist--Walnut Street Baptist Church--it was a very prominent church here in town. I attended it while I was single, before I married.

Glen Taul

Oh, you did?

Russell Garth

Yeah.

Glen Taul

Oh, okay.

Russell Garth

It was right close to where I lived. A lot of teachers--when they came to Louisville and lived in this--down in the central part of town, out around Oak Street. All of us were down in there.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And that's where Walnut Street Baptist Church was--a lot of teachers, I think went there.

Glen Taul

Okay. Do you ever remember professor named Leland Meyer?

Russell Garth

Oh, sure. I never have a class of him though, but I think he taught history didn't he?

Glen Taul

Yes, he did, and political science. So you had Stanley Pierce (??) for chemistry?

Russell Garth

I did not have him, no.

Glen Taul

Oh, you didn't have him.

Russell Garth

I had.

Glen Taul

Let's see, there was another chemistry professor.

Russell Garth

I didn't have (??) to teach.

Glen Taul

Okay. Who was that other chemistry professor?

Russell Garth

Well, that's a good question.

Glen Taul

I was looking for him here.

Russell Garth

Wait a minute, I think he was younger than Pierce.

Glen Taul

A Moseley?

Russell Garth

No.

Glen Taul

A.G. (??) Moseley.

Russell Garth

No, No. I don't remember him, seems to me I ought to remember. Because you have by the first or second year then, you know. And if you're not taking more classes in chemistry, it's been like a couple of years since you had him, you know?

Glen Taul

Yeah. Yeah.

Russell Garth

And it's a possibility, he wouldn't still be there in 1930.

Glen Taul

Well, that is a possibility.

Russell Garth

Yeah. They come and go, you know.

Glen Taul

Oh, sure. Yeah, you don't--who did you have for English? Was it W.B. Jones?

Russell Garth

A young fella, sort of just starting out teaching.

Glen Taul

Oh, is that right. Well, set's go over here.

Russell Garth

So, I had Luther Dennis for Spanish. Luther Dennis for Spanish [clears throat].

Glen Taul

Luther Dennis, yeah.

Russell Garth

Seems to me I had a young fellow, he [clears throat] he hadn't been to Georgetown very long.

Glen Taul

William Newbold (??)

Russell Garth

[coughs] No, I knew Mr. New--let's see, did I have him?

Glen Taul

He'd been in Georgetown since 1926.

Russell Garth

I knew Newbold, I must have had him.

Glen Taul

Well, then here is Robert Price.

Russell Garth

Now wait a minute, he moved to Berea, Kentucky later, see.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

I think Yeah.

Glen Taul

Now, here's Robert Price Ewing

Russell Garth

That doesn't sound familiar.

Glen Taul

--He came to Georgetown 1928. So he was there two years.

Russell Garth

You think?

Glen Taul

Yes.

Russell Garth

Gosh, I ought to remember better than I do, but I don't.

Glen Taul

Well, sometimes--I don't remember all my teachers, either. Your--now, did you ever come across Rena Calhoun?

Russell Garth

Oh, yeah. She ate at that table up there--to pay her wage (??) on.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

Yeah. She she ate at the table with the head of the lunch room. They were all older people.

Glen Taul

Oh.

Russell Garth

Much older people.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

I think--I think the woman in charge of that was named McFerrin (??), I believe.

Glen Taul

Oh, really?

Russell Garth

--I think she was in charge of the--lunch room. I'm guessing at that name now. But anyway, I didn't wait that table at all. I--.

Glen Taul

But you never had Ms. Calhoun for any classes? You don't know.

Russell Garth

No, no. I don't know why--I don't know.

Glen Taul

She was a speech teacher.

Russell Garth

She was a speech teacher, yeah, I knew that.

Glen Taul

She was a speech teacher. And you never did take any any--and you had Mr. Dennis for Spanish.

Russell Garth

Spanish.

Glen Taul

Interesting.

Russell Garth

And I took physics oh, I took Willie Hill Nash (??) for--.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

--For physics. And then, I got to know him that way and then of course, when I became senior manager of the football team, you know, I got to know Willie Hill pretty good coach. Cause, he was my boss, you might say--he was the athletic director.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And--I really thought--had to report to him. You know, I got all the money from him, to go on these trips. You know, he gave me cash.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

Yeah--I've got--I carried lot of cash in my pocket, those days.

Glen Taul

Goodness gracious. Well, that's great.

Russell Garth

Yeah, I went and told people. I learned---I learned as much--a job as a manager of the football team, in many respects, than I did in class. I had more responsibility. Now, see, three or four managers, under me, the underclassmen managers. Well, now, they did all the dirty work and all I did was sort of supervise, you know.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

They threw out the towels and they gave the uniforms and whatever managers did the dirty work. The other three managers did that, you know.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

You'd usually have a freshman manager and a sophomore and junior then a senior. And I was the junior manager under Bob Doyle (??).

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Bob--Bob Doyle was the senior manager when I was a junior and I just moved up, when I became a senior, to be senior manager.

Glen Taul

Now, how many football coaches did they have while you were there?

Russell Garth

Two--Hobarter (??) was they head coach. And then they'd always had one for the freshmen. And when I was a senior, Hobarter had gone then, I believe, and a fellow named Dylan was there.

Glen Taul

Yeah, Chester Dylan.

Russell Garth

And then, he got his assistant from over in West Virginia. A little short, stocky fellow. --He had a brother that had graduated Georgetown. A pretty good football player. Began with an F, I think. Who was the other football, wait a minute, what was that little fellow's name? He came West Virginia, I know.

Glen Taul

Let's see. Let's see. I need to get over here to the sports. Here we go. I like these annuals back then. Let's see, there's, there's Suddith (??) was the freshman coach.

Russell Garth

Oh, yes. Suddith. Yeah, he married my closest girlfriend in college, she and I studied math together. He married Dorothy Offutt. Dorothea. She spelled her, D-o-r-o-t-h-e-a.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Offutt. and she's the only one I've contacted with her. She's in a nursing home. Now, I talked to her on the telephone, not too long ago.

Glen Taul

Now what was Mr. Dylan like.

Russell Garth

Well, I've got--got to know him fine. He was more of my mind than that Hobarter?

Glen Taul

He was.

Russell Garth

Hobarter. Yeah, he wouldn't get excited as Hobarter would. Wouldn't yell at the players as much.

Glen Taul

Oh, Hobarter would yell at the players quite a bit.

Russell Garth

I think so. I--I would say that. Yes.

Glen Taul

Was their techniques for coaching different?

Russell Garth

I would say so, one more mild-mannered than the other one. And I played under--Dylan in basketball, you know.

Glen Taul

So, he coached basketball?

Russell Garth

He coached basketball too.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

He went from football right into basketball. I played under him, but I was fortunate to get to--get to play under him. I under Hobarter, I don't think I would have ever played.

Glen Taul

Okay. Oh, is that right?

Russell Garth

I don't believe--I would have.

Glen Taul

Now, who was Ensy (??) Offutt?

Russell Garth

Ensy, you see here, you know, he was the captain of our basketball team.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Yeah. He was a great friend of mine.

Glen Taul

Okay. And you weren't on the track team?

Russell Garth

Oh, goodness. No.

Glen Taul

But you were on the tennis team. Did you play a lot of tennis?

Russell Garth

Yeah--played tennis.

Glen Taul

Well, it says--.

Russell Garth

--I think I was runner-up in the finals, we had a tournament. A left-handed fellow named Ruthenberg (??) beat me. I remember. Now, shep Jones, he's one of the most prominent people that went to Georgetown College. You know, he became a Rhodes Scholar. He was my best friend in college, I guess.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And he was on the tennis team too. And of course, we remained friends until he died about, August a year ago, I believe.

Glen Taul

Oh, okay.

Russell Garth

In fact, he would come to the reunion. The last reunion I went, and he was there. He had trouble with his car coming from North Carolina, so it was in the garage and after the ceremony--at the house, the president's. Was this a reunion? Yeah.

Glen Taul

Was it the fiftieth reunion or something?

Russell Garth

No, it wasn't a reunion. I guess it was. And then we went to the president's house, I believe, after the ceremony or something like that. Well, this was at the president's. Well, I took it back to the garage and he could hardly get--get in my car. I remember he wouldn't ride in the front seat with me, he said, "I can't get in there." So, he was that crippled. And I helped him in the backseat. I took him down to--to the garage and to get his car.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

That was the last time I saw Shep, I believe.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

But,

Glen Taul

Now, you were on the Honor's Council system committee, too.

Russell Garth

--I don't think I ever served.

Glen Taul

Oh, you don't think so.

Russell Garth

Does it say that?

Glen Taul

Yeah, Robert Meyer was the chairman and there's you and Don Cawthorne and Bill Green and Virgil Lewis. Edith Adams.

Russell Garth

Well, I knew all those people, of course.

Glen Taul

Calista Palmerine (??), Bernard Caldwell, Mankunhiff (??), were all on that committee.

Russell Garth

Pretty big committee.

Glen Taul

Pretty big committee, yeah.

Russell Garth

I can't think we ever did anything.

Glen Taul

Oh, you don't think you did anything?

Russell Garth

I don't remember anything.

Glen Taul

Didn't try anybody and kick them out of the college.

Russell Garth

I don't know. I don't remember anything.

Glen Taul

Well, that's interesting. Georgetown sort of trying to reinstitute the honor system.

Russell Garth

Oh, is that right?

Glen Taul

Yeah. Right now, amongst students.

Russell Garth

I really don't remember doing anything. But, I won't I didn't you--can't expect me remember everything that happened--

Glen Taul

Oh, no.

Russell Garth

1930.

Glen Taul

Oh, sure. Sure. Was it well, going back to the fire, was it pretty chaotic around that time, when they were fighting the fire? You said you remembered some people going up into the third floor to--?

Russell Garth

Some of the professors.

Glen Taul

Some of the professors.

Russell Garth

Went up to the third floor, before it got to the third floor, and there were certain things they were trying to save. And I understand, you see, I don't--I'm not sure I actually saw them throw it out the window, but the word was that they had thrown things out the window.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

Exactly what, I don't know.

Glen Taul

Now, where was the library in the building?

Russell Garth

Right to the left of the main entrance.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Oh, wait a minute, the library.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

That's where the auditorium was.

Glen Taul

The chapel--.

Russell Garth

I think the library was to the right.

Glen Taul

To the right.

Russell Garth

To the right as you went in, that's right.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And the auditorium was to the left.

Glen Taul

Okay. And then the--where was the old gym?

Russell Garth

I thought--it seems to me it--a back--back of the hall, you went through a hall.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Then, you went to the old gym.

Glen Taul

Was it--.

Russell Garth

Best that I can remember.

Glen Taul

--Was it sort of in the back of the auditorium?

Russell Garth

I would say it was more back of the auditorium and maybe the library too but--

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

It seems to be--it ran sort of back of both them, back there.

Glen Taul

Okay. Well, that's interesting.

Russell Garth

Now, I didn't go in that old gym much. I'm--having--not a very good memory of it, really. [laughter]

Glen Taul

Well, I think it's probably out of use basically, then.

Russell Garth

Of course I was here--it was. And I was--went to the old gym over there all the time. And it was farily close to Pawling Hall you know.

Glen Taul

Right. Yeah, that's, that's definitely right. Did you--now what was it like studying in the library? Was there--and what kind of rules did you have to follow?

Russell Garth

Well of course, you were supposed to be quieted down. Some people did do a little talking, you know.

Glen Taul

Here comes your mail.

Russell Garth

That's alright. He just drops it on the floor. Primarily quiet, I would say. That's why you went to study. That's where I went to study, since my fraternity house was so far away, you know.

Glen Taul

Right.

Russell Garth

And it was the perfect place for me to study.

Glen Taul

So like, you probably stayed there during the day. --When you weren't waiting tables.

Russell Garth

Well, I had to--go set up the tables. And [clears throat] when I really had to rush was when I set up the table for the evening meal. Harry (??) and I played basketball, you know. And the coach wouldn't let us till close to six o'clock. So that means we really had to take a quick shower, and rush over there and set the table. Now as luck would have it, some of the other waiters would set up the table for you. They knew we were going to be late, you know?

Glen Taul

Oh! Yeah.

Russell Garth

And no, somehow knowing that the coaches would not let us out, ahead of the rest of the squad.

Glen Taul

Oh, they wouldn't.

Russell Garth

We needed to get to--get out ahead of you know. Harry and I did.

Glen Taul

Yeah. Well, I can see that--so when did they serve meals?

Russell Garth

Supposedly at six o'clock, it seems to me, but it could--it could have been a little later than that. Because I don't see how we could have gotten out of practice, when we did, and get over there to set up the table, but we did a lot of times.

Glen Taul

In basketball season, when did you start usually start practice?

Russell Garth

Oh, about October?

Glen Taul

Okay, well, what time of the day?

Russell Garth

Oh, I would say about maybe 3:30.

Glen Taul

3:30?

Russell Garth

Yeah.

Glen Taul

And then it'd go?

Russell Garth

It'd go to supposedly 5:30, but you see, they'd hold us on. And that would throw us late, yet--getting over to the dining hall, you know. And sometimes, they would set it up--the other waiters, they know we would be late. If we hadn't gotten there by 10 of 6 to set up the place, then somebody just pitched in, you know?

Glen Taul

Yeah. Well, what about football practice? What time of the day?

Russell Garth

Well, late in the afternoon, the same way. I had the same problem.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

Then but I would--well, let's see when I was junior manager, I guess--well I could do--as manager, I could leave. For example, as a junior manager was somebody--is Bob Doyle. He was my fraternity brother, so I could just say "Bob, I've got to go."

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

And I'd go. Now the senior manager, well, I was in charge, so I could go when I wanted to. Leave somebody else in charge there. Because I was late, so the practice--the football players were tired anyway then [laughter]--they were ready to quit. And darkness too came on early--in the--sometimes during fall. That's before we had daylight saving, I think, before we had daylight saving.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Sometimes the darkness would--would make football practice a little shorter.

Glen Taul

Now how far away did you all usually go for games, either in basketball or football? The road trips.

Russell Garth

--Football, they went up in Ohio. What was the name of that school? Up in Springfield, Ohio, I believe.

Glen Taul

Oh, I can't remember.

Russell Garth

--I'm trying to think foot--footballm we didn't travel too far, but we were mostly--mostly up at Ohio.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Basketball, we just went--went to the schools in Kentucky.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

We went down to Western and that's the only the time I got headlines in the [Louisville] Courier Journal.

Glen Taul

Oh really?

Russell Garth

I got copies of that, yeah.

Glen Taul

Oh my goodness.

Russell Garth

You don't want to see them, I guess.

Glen Taul

Why, sure! You want me to help you?

Russell Garth

No.

Glen Taul

So you got your--this is on the--.

Russell Garth

This is--and we went to Western, Georgetown, I guess, is the only team that ever beat Western four times in the same year. We beat them four time that year.

Glen Taul

So, you played an opponent more times than once?

Russell Garth

Well--.

Glen Taul

This is for basketball though?

Russell Garth

Basketball. Yeah.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

Basketball, football, only once though.

Glen Taul

Okay. Oh, I'll be [reading from newspaper headline]: "Rice and Garth score in last two minutes to tip toppers, 19-18." That's a low score.

Russell Garth

--What year is that?

Glen Taul

That's January 16th, 1930.

Russell Garth

Well, that's the one we has the 15th. We beat them two nights down there in the Bowling Green--that's the only team that--ever--that ever--.

Glen Taul

I'll be darn. This is January 15th.

Russell Garth

Yeah.

Glen Taul

That's the day before?

Russell Garth

Yeah--that's--when they took this picture and I wasn't there.

Glen Taul

Oh, that.

Russell Garth

You wanna see it?

Glen Taul

I have seen those kind, but let me see that one. Oh, that Oh.

Russell Garth

That's the whole student body--except the basketball team.

Glen Taul

Except the basketball team.

Russell Garth

Right.

Glen Taul

I'll be darn.

Russell Garth

We were in Bowling Green.

Glen Taul

And this is in front of the old chapel?

Russell Garth

Sure is. That was taken the 15th and the 16th when--we went to Bowling Green?

Glen Taul

Is that right? So we got a whole block of students that's not even represented in there.

Russell Garth

Not many, just the basketball team.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

But ten--or twelve went down there. I don't think--I don't think God called me to--made that trip. I think I can--pick out his (??) you know, maybe. --I don't believe Don made that--trip to Bowling Green, so he's got a picture in there.

Glen Taul

Yeah, this a nice picture.

Russell Garth

I think Don did a good job of taking all that many students, didn't he?

Glen Taul

Yeah that's a very good picture. [Reads from photo] Russell Garth, on trip.

Russell Garth

Oh--here, this is a better write-up. You got the--it's the same thing though, Rice and Garth.

Glen Taul

Yeah, yeah. Yeah well that's the only and this is in the second section of the Courier Journal or this is in the sports section of course.

Russell Garth

Yeah, I went down to the library and got that.

Glen Taul

January 16th, 1930.

Russell Garth

Right.

Glen Taul

?Very nice. And they were called the Hilltoppers back then

Russell Garth

Right, yeah. Under Ed Diddle (??) too. Everybody was bragging about Ed Diddle so much, but they say a thing about how I beat them four times. [laughter] Here--here's the bit about my fraternity. Here's the pictures. That's the day I took my father (??) I'm not in the picture.

Glen Taul

You're not [laughs] You're missing all the opportunities?

Russell Garth

I'm missing all the pictures, exactly right.

Glen Taul

This is your fraternity.

Russell Garth

Right.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Here is the list of names of all them.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

That's where they are, somebody sent me this list.

Glen Taul

That's where they ended up after school?

Russell Garth

That's exactly right yeah, yeah.

Glen Taul

Wow, that's a nice picture.

Russell Garth

Yeah it--.

Glen Taul

And in good condition.

Russell Garth

Too bad I had to miss it, but I did.

Glen Taul

Okay. Yeah.

Russell Garth

See, that's--J.P. Morgan (??). They were one of my close friends--they were friends. Well, that's Shep Jones. That's [clears throat] George Randall, the one I was telling you about, that had the automobile?

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Became a dentist.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

This guy became a doctor in Louisville, he died--about last year. And of course, I roomed with this 4c, I believe, that first year we ended at the new house.

Glen Taul

He's a handsome looking fellow.

Russell Garth

Jack Rogers, he's a--he's a funeral director in Frankfort, he was. This guy became a politician Wilhoit, some of his relatives are a big shot now, in the state. Wilhoit. Is he? They've got a big job.

Glen Taul

Oh, he's probably--he's probably the head of the [Kentucky Department of Education] Education Department.

Russell Garth

Yeah, I wonder--I wonder if he's the son of this boy.

Glen Taul

Well, he could.

Russell Garth

Well, you don't want to hear all--?

Glen Taul

Rupert Wilhoit from Grayson, Kentucky.

Russell Garth

Yeah.

Glen Taul

Well, the Wilhoit that's the head of the--Kentucky Education Department is a graduate of Georgetown College.

Russell Garth

Is he?

Glen Taul

Yes.

Russell Garth

Well.

Glen Taul

He sure is. That would be interesting to know.

Russell Garth

Yeah, I'd like to know if he's a--he's a relative of---.

Glen Taul

Of Rupert?

Russell Garth

Of--this Wilhoit, yeah.

Glen Taul

Well, that's interesting. And that Rupert Wilhoit became big in politics.

Russell Garth

Yeah--one of them is now. Yeah, yeah. --Well, I think it's all I got.

Glen Taul

That's--.

Russell Garth

There's nothing to show you. [chuckles]

Glen Taul

Well, that's that's pretty interesting. I don't think I'll ever get my name in the headlines of the Courier Journal.

Russell Garth

I haven't looked at this in a long, long time, that's for sure. Well then, well that's I what I wanted to show you.

Glen Taul

Very good. Now, that's interesting, that you got--but there was a low scoring game, wasn't it? 19-18.

Russell Garth

Yeah. [laughs] Yeah, really low scoring. Yeah.

Glen Taul

Why is that?

Russell Garth

Well one they put--that's just the way basketball was played in those days.

Glen Taul

Now, was it played then differently than it is today?

Russell Garth

--Well you had to jump the ball after every goal. You had to take it back to center and jump it. Well, that takes time, you know.

Glen Taul

Right. Now were the baskets still two points apiece?

Russell Garth

Yeah, but we didn't have a three-point shot though then.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Oh no no.

Glen Taul

So you didn't have--nobody ever had a foul shot?

Russell Garth

Yeah sure.

Glen Taul

Oh, they did.

Russell Garth

Oh, yeah.

Glen Taul

So--you had still a two-point, the shot the regular two-point shot. And then, any foul shots were one point?

Russell Garth

Right. Right.

Glen Taul

Okay. But you didn't--and you didn't have the three point?

Russell Garth

And we were fortunate and we won that SIAA tournament twice. That's the Kentucky schools, about maybe close to ten. Western and Eastern and Berea, Wesleyan, Transylvania, Louisville was in it. And we went up there twice. So we got to go to Jackson--Jackson, Mississippi twice.

Glen Taul

Oh, you did?

Russell Garth

To play in the--in the South. SIAA, they called it. Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And so, we were fortunate enough to win in Kentucky here twice. And we get to go to Jackson, Mississippi for the--for the Southern.

Glen Taul

Oh, okay.

Russell Garth

We got beat down there, I think the first game, both of them, but at least we had a nice trip. In two years. --And if you'll look at the scores--you'll see probably the scores of it--what happened. --Mississippi--I think Mississippi College beat them--beat us, I think down in Jackson.

Glen Taul

Yeah. Oh, in 1930, they did.

Russell Garth

That's what I'm talking about.

Glen Taul

Yeah. It says Georgetown was eliminated by Mississippi College in the first round by a margin of ten points.

Russell Garth

That's it, they beat us pretty baadly. Yeah. Well, we had a nice trip though.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

Yeah.

Glen Taul

Well, it looks like you--.

Russell Garth

--And we made the longest bus trip I guess, happened during my sophomore year. I guess the longest bus trip that's ever been made by Georgetown College, or maybe by any school, maybe. We played about a---six or seven teams. The first team I think we played, after leaving Georgetown was Chattanooga. I think we played Chattanooga, we got to go all the way to Chattanooga. Then we got in the bus, we had to bus fixed up so you could lie down in the in the back. So-- at least four people could--could stretch out but back in the back. Back to where the bus was fixed. And then the next place, we went to Auburn, Alabama. Let's see Chattanooga, wait, that doesn't sound right.

Glen Taul

Now, is this for a regular season?

Russell Garth

Just the regular Season. --Sort of early in the season.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Well, I'll say Aubrun and then all the way over night, sometimes we rode all night. Heading over to Mississippi College --

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And then we came back and played the University of Alabama.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And then we stopped in--in Nashville and we played a YMCA team, I believe.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

Well, we did that before we stopped in Louisville. Louisville was the last one we played, on the way home. And Louisville, I think we played down at the--it's woman's college?

Glen Taul

A woman's college?

Russell Garth

Oh, it begins with an S. Right in Louisville.

Glen Taul

Oh, in Louisville?

Russell Garth

Yeah.

Glen Taul

St. Catherine.

Russell Garth

That's it. Not St Cat---no--Spalding.

Glen Taul

Spalding. Okay.

Russell Garth

I think we've stayed in the--.

Glen Taul

Spalding.

Russell Garth

Spalding gym, I believe.

Glen Taul

Okay. You played in the--

Russell Garth

That was a long bus trip.

Glen Taul

Boy, it sounds like a tour.

Russell Garth

Is was--I've forgotten how many--how many miles.

Glen Taul

That is a long bus trip.

Russell Garth

--We traveled so long. (??)

Glen Taul

Over narrow dirt roads, I imagine.

Russell Garth

Right, I remember that red clay at Auburn, Alabama. I remember red clay down there and then we drove to--I told you, Mississippi College and back to Alabama, University of Alabama. Then, I believe the University of Louisville. Oh, we played the Nashville YMCA team, I believe.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And then Louisville.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And then back home.

Glen Taul

You ever remember playing Centre College?

Russell Garth

Yeah--oh yeah. But--.

Glen Taul

Well.

Russell Garth

I'm just trying to think what the Centre--was in that organization or not.

Glen Taul

Well, it has in the annual here that you all played Centre College.

Russell Garth

Oh, I know we played Centre.

Glen Taul

You don't know if they were in the SIAA?

Russell Garth

No, I don't. you got me too. And now I'm not so sure that they were in that group. All the rest of the schools were. But, I'm not sure they were. They felt they were a little better. I think they still do, you know? [laughter] That--they think they're a little better than the rest of the schools. [laughter] My son's a--you don't want to hear this?

Glen Taul

What--what about your son?

Russell Garth

You can cut out anything that you don't wanna.

Glen Taul

Oh, sure.

Russell Garth

Okay. Well, he's the vice president [clears throat] of the Council for Independent Colleges. They have 400 or 500 colleges.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

And of course, Georgetown is a member of that. In fact, Dr. Couch I think, he may be on the board of that. My son just gave him a map, and he just had it framed. So if you'll go in his office, you will see that Kentucky map. My son just gave him that. Now, and well--anyway--that and I know, oh, Centre's not in that or Transylvania either. They got Berea, he gave Berea College president a map. He--they saw a map in my son's office in Washington and they liked the map and my son--got each one of them a map. [laughter] They're out of credit--of course, now that he's just lucky to have--he found some in my basement down here, really.

Glen Taul

Oh, okay. Oh, is that was it was?

Russell Garth

The last time he was home, he got two of those maps and he said, "I'm gonna send one to the president Berea and send one to the president of Georgetown." They both seemed interested in having one, and so, he them and I understand from him that they both have got framed now.

Glen Taul

I'll be darn.

Russell Garth

Okay, well, but Centre is not in that group, Transylvania's not in the group, but most of the other schools in Kentucky are, and of course, not the state schools.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

But--Wesleyan's in it, Bellarmine's in it. And Georgetown, I--don't know whether Cumberland, Pikeville are in it or not? I really don't know. I don't know.

Glen Taul

Eastern?

Russell Garth

But there are about 400 or 500 all over the United States.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

So--he's the vice president of that group and stuff.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Well, so much for that. I was getting around the fact that Centre doesn't--Transylvania, they don't belong, you know. [laughter] I think the president of Transylvania too, is a--is a graduate of Hazard High School, while I was there.

Glen Taul

Is that right? Okay. Very good.

Russell Garth

And when he became president of Transylvania, I wrote him a congratulatory note and [clears throat]. Yeah, and I went to the funeral home--when his mother passed away, there were three of them. And all Iof them went to (??). The other two state in Michigan and now he's president of Transylvania--been president of Transylvania for several years. writing And his--there were two boys and a girl and she used to write me sort of a history of her family, every Christmas. And-- but she doesn't do it now, but she did for a few years.

Glen Taul

Okay. My goodness. What else do you remember about being at Georgetown?

Russell Garth

Well, I don't think you ought--I don't think this good idea to--to repeat this. People aren't gonna appreciate this, I don't believe. You wanna hear it? Can you cut it out?

Glen Taul

Sure.

Russell Garth

[clears throat] I didn't start going with a--with a girl until the last part of my senior year. I guess I figured I was going graduate, so I didn't really have time and fooling with athletics, you know.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

And waiting tables and all. And I didn't go to the KA [Kappa Alpha] And I started going with [clears throat] Mildred Ellis, she was from Somerset. And she was head of the women's group over in Rucker Hall. In other words, she was in charge of that organization, over there, whatever they had. Well, it so happenes that--we didn't take advantage of this. But we had the privilege of staying out later than the other couples, if we wanted to.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

For example, yeah, the other couple, we'll say, they had to be in at 467:00Well, since Mildred was the ahead of the thing. [clears throat] We--I don't think--we didn't take advantage of it. But we could have. She just said, "you know that we can stay out a littler longer if it--if you want to," but we didn't. Well, it wouldn't been right. It--since she had the privilege of doing it, if she wanted to--.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

-But it wasn't--it wouldn't have been right. So, we didn't do it. But and I [clears throat] I don't think that she ever married. While we were down in Florida, well, yeah we used to go to Florida for about--fifteen years. January, February, and March. And that's after I retired.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And I ran into Mildred. She and her sister came out of church, at the same time we did. I think that it was in Naples, Florida. We stayed in Sarasota most of the time, but the last three weeks in March, we'd usually go to Naples. Because the people we shared an apartment with, they had friends who had an apartment in Naples.

Glen Taul

I see.

Russell Garth

And so we'd usually go down there the latter part of March. And they were coming out of church, she and her sister were coming out of church, and that's the last time I've seen her. And I understand she's in a nursing home, here in Louisville.

Glen Taul

Oh, she is?

Russell Garth

She had a brother in--she had a brother in Louisville, I believe. And I'm sure that's the reason she's here, probably, unless her sister might have married. I don't think either one of them ever married.

Glen Taul

--Did she live all of her life in Florida?

Russell Garth

I don't know--I'm assuming she lived in Somerset till she moved to Louisville.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

I'm assuming that, now.

Glen Taul

Yeah. Yeah.

Russell Garth

And they probably went down in Florida just like we did, in the wintertime. Because--she and her sister were there Sunday, anyway.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

I don't--and we didn't go in detail, I was with my wife.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

And I did--I was glad to her and she seemed to be glad to see me. And that's the only time we've seen each other since we graduated.

Glen Taul

I'll be darn.

Russell Garth

And we we didn't correspond, we didn't contact each other. You go your own separate way, you know? And I think she taught in Somerset, the rest of the time. I mean, until she retired.

Glen Taul

And did you start sort of seeing her at the first--in the first semester of your senior year?

Russell Garth

No--no--no. The last part. Last part--

Glen Taul

Last part.

Russell Garth

--Last part of the senior year. Baseball and tennis didn't take up as much time as basketball--you know?

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

So, it was definitely after basketball season.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

And that finished up in March. So, you might say, I started to see her maybe, after March.

Glen Taul

Now--that was a short time, wasn't it?

Russell Garth

It really was a short time.

Glen Taul

Now, do you remember, what May Day was? May Day activities?

Russell Garth

Oh, they had some activities there, but I don't know.

Glen Taul

You never did participate in?

Russell Garth

Oh, no, no, didn't participate in anything.

Glen Taul

Okay. They had--there's one little ritual they had connected with May Day, and I haven't figured out what it is, they call it the doll dance. And

Russell Garth

--I have no idea.

Glen Taul

You have no idea what it is?

Russell Garth

No, I have no idea.

Glen Taul

Interesting. They've got pictures of it, and it's kind of odd looking. But it--.

Russell Garth

I just wonder if I ever went.

Glen Taul

You may not have

Russell Garth

I don't believe I did [clears throat]. That's baseball, tennis, you know.

Glen Taul

Right, now did you all travel very much for baseball?

Russell Garth

No, never did. We didn't play too many games in baseball.

Glen Taul

So, you really had a short season?

Russell Garth

Well, of course you didn't have any income. In other words, you really didn't have much money to--to support a--a baseball team. It's all basketball and football--.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

--Just like it is now in most of these schools, you know.

Glen Taul

Right.

Russell Garth

And tennis, you could almost support yourself. We did go play--so--play tennis though. And I'm just wondering about the automobile. Chances are, we they chipped in and paid for the automobile or the athletic department could--could spend that much for an automobile you know.

Glen Taul

Like renting it?

Russell Garth

--We played--Berea, we played Eastern. We never played Western we'd play Centre, in tennis. We played Berea, though back and forth. And Eastern the same way. Centre I think the same way. We didn't play Western in tennis, I don't believe no. Well, we didn't have a lot of tennis scheduled either, come to think about it.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

But.

Glen Taul

Well, I guess it was just limited because of the transportation.

Russell Garth

That--.

Glen Taul

Problem.

Russell Garth

--That was a problem. Yeah.

Glen Taul

Yeah. And you did have--.

Russell Garth

--I didn't enjoy playing Berea, the guy that--eventually became a dentist. The fellow I've always played against, he became a dentist here in Louisville?

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

Yeah. Um-hmm.

Glen Taul

So did y'all play after you got out of school? Tennis together?

Russell Garth

Oh, no, no, no. You get out of school, you do well with it, and you get a job, you know. And that's--all my time was devoted to Mason High School. Except in the summer, I went to Columbia University.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

[Clears throat] One night on the way up to New York, I spent the night in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with J.P. Morgan. I saw his picture on that. And he had an early death too--a really early death. And I noticed--I had--a notice of his death too up there. And I spent the night in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with him. He was with Bethlehem Steel.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

Yeah.

Glen Taul

Interesting.

Russell Garth

And Myers--Bob Meyers, who was captain of our basketball, no was he captain or is he Offutt? Well--one of them.

Glen Taul

I think it was--

Russell Garth

--Bob played what they called back guard, he ran out and came across the center of the floor. He did what--he played what call a back guard. But anyway, he was with Bethlehem Steel too then. And we stopped by Buffalo, New York. My wife and two sons, and took a trip through to New York in 1959, I believe it was. And I stopped there, at the (??) Tthey were on strike. And he was some official there, so he had to stay in the plant. He couldn't come out to see us even.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

Well, I talked to him on the telephone. [laughter] And Bob died fairly early too. I guess being with that Bethlem Steel was hard on both of them.

Glen Taul

It must have been.

Russell Garth

Because J.P. Morgan died real early, and Bob Meyers died, oh maybe too or three years after---. [tape cuts off]

Glen Taul

The following is an unrehearsed interview with E. Russell Garth, class of 1930. He was interviewed by Glen Edward Taul, Archivist of Georgetown College at 427 Sharon Lane in Louisville, Kentucky, Mr.Garth's home, on May 6th, 2002. The interview was made possible in part by a grant from the Kentucky Oral History Commission. Please hold on there--this is a lengthy lead in to the conversation. I came from Georgetown and I went--it was raining then, pretty heavy. And then I got on I 64, it was raining pretty heavy, all the way up. And then I went through periods of light rain and heavy rain. [tape cuts off]

Russell Garth

I--that's the way it's been here all day nearly.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

It rained for a while and then stopped.

Glen Taul

Did you have any thunderstorms?

Russell Garth

No, no, no thunderstorm, just--just rain.

Glen Taul

We were having a thunderstorm down in Georgetown.

Russell Garth

Pretty hard rain.

Glen Taul

Yeah, I understand you're from Trenton, Kentucky.

Russell Garth

That's right.

Glen Taul

Where--I forgot where Trenton is. Is that in western Kentucky?

Russell Garth

Sixty miles from Hopkinsville.

Glen Taul

Oh, okay.

Russell Garth

Six miles from the Tennessee line too, that identifies it a little more.

Glen Taul

Okay--was it--so it's in Christian County?

Russell Garth

In Todd County.

Glen Taul

Todd County. Okay.

Russell Garth

Yeah.

Glen Taul

Okay. But it's not the county seat, right?

Russell Garth

No, Elkton's the county seat.

Glen Taul

Okay. Yeah, there was a famous person that came from Elkton, Benjamin--he was a famous Republican, back in--after the Civil War. And he was a solicitor general--Bristow, Benjamin Bristow.

Russell Garth

--That's news to me.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

That's right.

Glen Taul

He was Abraham Lincoln solicitor general and he almost--he almost became a Supreme Court justice. Because he--until he got into a controversy in the Grant administration, prresident Grant's Administration. Anyway, so how come--were-- --how come you'd come to Georgetown?

Russell Garth

I suppose because my uncle went there, Norton Garth. He was there in 1905.

Glen Taul

Oh, he was?

Russell Garth

Uh-huh. He and four other fellows establish--Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Glen Taul

Oh, really?

Russell Garth

On the campus there. And I suppose that's the only--the only reason I went to Georgetown. [Clears throat] I knew he went there [clears throat]

Glen Taul

Now, did you grow up on a farm?

Russell Garth

Oh, no, no--in a small town, but I worked on farm.

Glen Taul

You worked on a farm.

Russell Garth

Quite a few summers.

Glen Taul

What did your dad do?

Russell Garth

My dad was a banker.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Until his health failed him, along about 1930.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And he did own a farm ,but he didn't actually operate it. Somebody else operated it for him.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

But he--he was a backer.

Glen Taul

Did he encourage?

Russell Garth

--We'd--we'd come to Louisville to see the state fair and the horse show and several times, riding the train up.

Glen Taul

Interesting

Russell Garth

In 1915, he drove a Buick back from Louisville. [laughter] That was one of the first cars in Trenton.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

Yes, in 1915. I remember the day he got out of the car, wearing these long coats on you know, like they used to have.

Glen Taul

Where did he buy the car?

Russell Garth

In Louisville somewhere.

Glen Taul

Oh, he bought the car in Louisville.

Russell Garth

Bought the car in Louisville, uh-huh.

Glen Taul

So, he took a train up there?

Russell Garth

Took the train to Louisville and then---.

Glen Taul

Came---.

Russell Garth

--Came back--came back with a Buick.

Glen Taul

And he drove over those dirt roads?

Russell Garth

Right. Dirt and rocky road both.

Glen Taul

Dirt and rocky roads. That must have been a long trip.

Russell Garth

Well, you know, it was yeah, you know, it was that--.

Glen Taul

--That must have been an eight hour trip.

Russell Garth

Longer than that, but I'm gonna say it was more like 15 and 20 hours.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

I'm not sure whether he stayed all night--on the way back home or not. I don't remember, really. I remember his arriving in Trenton.

Glen Taul

My goodness. So was that a big deal in Trenton, when he got that Buick?

Russell Garth

Sure was. Yeah, sure was.

Glen Taul

Now when--when you left to go to college, how many cars were in Trenton?

Russell Garth

I don't know the exact number, but I'd say a few.

Glen Taul

But, had they become more common?

Russell Garth

Yeah, sure, in '26.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

That's when I left.

Glen Taul

Yeah. Well, I thought you---.

Russell Garth

And this was 1915, when he bought that car back, you know?

Glen Taul

Yeah. That's really amazing. So, how did you get to Georgetown?

Russell Garth

Well, bus usually, sometimes I hitchhiked--.

Glen Taul

And sometimes you hitchhiked?

Russell Garth

I did a lot of hitchhiking. And sometimes, I would ride back and forth with somebody who had a car. The Hawkinson-- brother and sister, they had a car and they lived in Nashville, I think and so they would sometime bring me to Bowling Green.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

On the way home you know, and then--somebody would pick me up in Bowling Green.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

Or else I'd hitchhike from Bowling Green home. That day and time, you could hitchhike without any problems, you know.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

I got to--I got to know a lot of good truckers. [laughter]

Glen Taul

Now, that must have been an experience riding in a truck back in those days.

Russell Garth

Oh yeah, well you could---usually they had just one man on the truck those days you know. You could get in--right by him in.

Glen Taul

And they--probably they weren't even diesel trucks back then, I bet.

Russell Garth

Oh, I don't think so. No, no, no.

Glen Taul

Goodness gracious. Well, you must have not taken very much with you. Like one or two suitcases.

Russell Garth

Oh, that's about all, that's right.

Glen Taul

Because that would have--being alone, just to carry it that way.

Russell Garth

And I think I sent--my clothes home to be washed. And my mother would wash them and send them back.

Glen Taul

Is that right.

Russell Garth

Had a particular kind of bag? With the address on, all you had to do, turn the address over.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

Addressed to me one way, and I turned over and addressed it to her the other way. [laughter]

Glen Taul

Well and you mean, so they didn't have any laundry facilities at Georgetown?

Russell Garth

At least I didn't use them anyway.

Glen Taul

Yeah. Well, where did you stay when you first came to Georgetown? Pawling Hall.

Russell Garth

Right on that--right on that corner, second floor.

Glen Taul

Pawling Hall. The second floor, now in the back or in the front?

Russell Garth

In the back.

Glen Taul

In the back.

Russell Garth

Right the back in the back.

Glen Taul

And you had a roommate?

Russell Garth

Yeah, Everetts (??) English.

Glen Taul

Everetts English.

Russell Garth

And he only went one year to school.

Glen Taul

I had a roommate like that.

Russell Garth

But they--very first night I was there, I think it was about the first night. Ralph Mills came down the hall with a broom. And he--he said, "all the freshmen come to the door." And he was--waiting with a broom. And he didn't hit us hard, but he would--he was sort of hitting everybody. [laughter] That was Ralph Mills.

Glen Taul

I saw his picture in the annual.

Russell Garth

Well, then he worked for me over at Elton High School.

Glen Taul

Is that right?

Russell Garth

He sure did--taught. He went into hospital with--it just--it was supposed be a minor ailment one day--don't if he didn't die the next day.

Glen Taul

Golly!

Russell Garth

Yeah, he wasn't in the hospital more than a couple of days.

Glen Taul

Isn't that something.

Russell Garth

And he he was a good teacher--he taught math for me.

Glen Taul

Well did--so the--I thought ministerial students only stayed in Pawling Hall?

Russell Garth

Well, I wasn't a ministerial student.

Glen Taul

I knew that. And you majored in math, didn't you?

Russell Garth

And Everetts English and I roomed there the first year and that's--he only went one year.

Glen Taul

Okay. So---.

Russell Garth

And the second year, I was in a fraternity and we moved up behind Mr. Lewis's place, off of that main road down there, Broadway, I guess.

Glen Taul

Yeah.

Russell Garth

It might not have been Broadway. What--did you know where Homer Lewis and Dorothy Lewis lived?

Glen Taul

No.

Russell Garth

Well, they were--coal people, made all their money in coal. And they had this house back, of their main house.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And it had several bedrooms. And that--that was the KA house, my second year--second and third year,

Glen Taul

You were in the KA house?

Russell Garth

And that was the KA house.

Glen Taul

Oh, okay.

Russell Garth

Back then, it had several rooms. But it was a--makeshift arrangement.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And then the last year we purchased that---used to be the house of the Christian Church minister. That brick house on--the corner, you know what it is?

Glen Taul

I know where it is.

Russell Garth

Well, I put up $50 on it.

Glen Taul

Did you?

Russell Garth

--On that house.

Glen Taul

Goodness. Well, I've seen a flyer with a campaign--the campaign to raise the money to buy that house. I've got a flyer in the archives on that.

Russell Garth

Well, I only paid $50. But I managed to get that.

Glen Taul

Now, was that a requirement of the college or just the chapter wanted to do that?

Russell Garth

The chapter want--wanted to do it, I think.

Glen Taul

Wanted to do that. That-- thata long campaign to buy that house?

Russell Garth

It seems to me, it lasted a year. While we were up in that other small house. You know, I think the campaign was going on. We wanted a place closer to the campus.

Glen Taul

Okay.

Russell Garth

And so, I don't know how long the campaign lasted, but I'm assuming it lasted the preceding year, anyway, before we got in.

Glen Taul

Okay. But y'all were able to move into the house--

Russell Garth

We moved in --

Glen Taul

-About a year after the campaign started.

Russell Garth

I would say--I would say yeah.

Glen Taul

Yeah. Goodness gracious. How many did--how many people stayed in the house?

Russell Garth

Well, I'd say a dozen.

Glen Taul

How many members, and you all had more members in the fraternity.

Russell Garth

Yes--we had more members than that. Maybe more than that, let's see, I roomed with a Forsee--one of the Forsee boys, F-o-r-s-e-e-. I frankly don't--don't know.

Glen Taul 1:

I think--I've got a picture of the annual in here and I think you've got--.

Russell Garth 1:

Well, Harry Lassey (??) and I would get up in the morning and both waited tables and so we'd go from the house up to--to wait tables,I remember.

Glen Taul 1:

Where's--where did you wait tables?

Russell Garth 1:

--At the dormitory, right across the street.

Glen Taul 1:

Rucker.

Russell Garth 1:

Rucker, I couldn't think of the name, Rucker Hall.

Glen Taul 1:

Yeah.

Russell Garth 1:

Yeah, I did that all--and then of course we needed a dishwasher to help out--I'd help them out washes dishes after I waited tables. [clears throat]

Glen Taul 1:

Was that part of your scholarship money or?

Russell Garth 1:

That--every way I had it--make, at least I got the meal, anyway, that's all I got.

Glen Taul 1:

That's basically what your pay was, is getting the meals?

Russell Garth 1:

Yeah, that was a big item yeah.

Glen Taul 1:

Goodness. did they have scholarships back in those days?

Russell Garth 1:

Oh, no, no, no.

Glen Taul 1:

Okay, so basically--.

Russell Garth 1:

We--they had some just as poor as colored people would have been. [laughter]

Glen Taul 1:

Well, did your--I guess did--your father paid some of the bills too?

Russell Garth 1:

I don't--believe--I don't believe he did. He might have the first year, but he ran into financial difficulty.

Glen Taul 1:

Yeah.

Russell Garth 1:

Over the years and his health got bad and so I pretty much made it--made it on my own I was, after the freshman year.

Glen Taul 1:

Okay. Okay. Well, what was it like living in Pawling Hall?

Russell Garth 1:

Well, it wasn't bad at all?

Glen Taul 1:

Was it like a?

Russell Garth 1:

Well they--had bunk beds in there, I remember. Everetts English, I believe, was on the top bucket and I enjoyed the lower bunk

Glen Taul 1:

So, there was only two to a room?

Russell Garth 1:

Two to a room, that's right.

Glen Taul 1:

Okay. Did you all have a desk?

Russell Garth 1:

A desk?

Glen Taul 1:

Yes.

Russell Garth 1:

Well, we had some place to study I'm assuming we had a desk. yeah.

Glen Taul 1:

Yeah.

Russell Garth 1:

The room was big enough--for something other than a bunk bed, you know?

Glen Taul 1:

And of course, you had electricity in there?

Russell Garth 1:

As far as I know--as far I remember, I don't remember.

Glen Taul 1:

Okay.

Russell Garth 1:

That

Glen Taul 1:

Probably--they probably use steam heat by that time, to heat your rooms.

Russell Garth 1:

Well, we didn't have anything else in there to heat the room, of course.

Glen Taul 1:

That--the back part of that is the oldest part of the building. It was built in the 1840s?

Russell Garth 1:

Is that right?

Glen Taul 1:

Um-hmm.

Russell Garth 1:

Well, I don't--very definitely the room we stayed in. Of course--.

Glen Taul 1:

Now, you were talking about Ralph Mills coming down the hall swinging his broom, was there any other shenanigans that went on?

Russell Garth 1:

No--that's that's about all of that. That was sort of an initiation fee.

Glen Taul 1:

Was it?

Russell Garth 1:

It wasn't a fee, it was called an initiation that one night, that's all.

Glen Taul 1:

Well, did--you all had a housemother, didn't you?

Russell Garth 1:

I think we had a counselor. I'm not sure if it was a man or woman? Oh, I believe it was--I believe it was Luke Dennis. He taught--he taught Spanish I believe he lived there in one of the rooms.

Glen Taul 1:

Okay.

Russell Garth 1:

See--I'm thinking, I haven't thought about this in years now so I'm not sure I'm correct about everything--but I believe Luke Dennis was the--was the man sort of in charge.

Glen Taul 1:

Okay. And you took your meals over in Rucker?

Russell Garth 1:

That's right took, eating in Rucker Hall.

Glen Taul 1:

Okay, was that a pretty big room and--was on like on the first floor of Rucker?

Russell Garth 1:

Yeah. Oh, yeah, first floor.

Glen Taul 1:

Okay.

Russell Garth 1:

There was one door off to the main doors up to the right and then this was a door to the left--.

Glen Taul 1:

Okay.

Russell Garth 1:

--Of Rucker Hall, that's where we went into the dining room.

Glen Taul 1:

Okay.

Russell Garth 1:

I waited one--on one table of fraternity--sorority girls. And then I had one one table of--what we call the young faculty.

Glen Taul 1:

Okay.

Russell Garth 1:

And the person in charge of the lunch room was an elderly woman. And she was at the table up in front of the cafeteria. A roundtable where--I'm trying to think of his first name, was Bale--Bale--a fellow--Bale, from Elizabethtown, waited on that table.

Glen Taul 1:

Okay.

Russell Garth 1:

He became a doctor.

Glen Taul 1:

Oh, he did?

Russell Garth 1:

Yeah.