Sanford Roach (Finding Aid)

Sanford Roach

1916 -

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Food: Chicken

Favorite Time of Year: Football and Basketball season

Favorite Vacation Spot: Hawaii

Interview Length: 123 minutes

Interview Date(s): December 10, 2002

Interview Location(s): Lexington, Kentucky

Abstract

Educator and coach Sanford Roach outlines his family history, describing both his mother's and father's sides of the family tree, and their backgrounds. Roach then remembers his childhood home and neighborhood in Danville, Kentucky, where he remembers his favorite activities, and describes attending school at Bate High School, detailing his athletic and academic accomplishments. Educator and coach Sanford Roach details his days playing basketball for Bate High School in Danville, Kentucky. Roach describes the areas in which the team played, and explains how the sport has changed over the years. Roach also discusses his sports career at Kentucky State College in Frankfort, Kentucky. In addition to these topics, Roach pauses to remember another story about his parents and to reflect on the early death of his father. Educator and coach Sanford Roach discusses his high school basketball coaching career, starting with his first coaching stint at his alma mater, Bate High School in Danville, Kentucky, and his twenty-three year tenure at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Kentucky. Roach also has a lengthy discussion about basketball strategy, and digresses to talk about his experience as a Merchant Marine on the Great Lakes. Educator and coach Sanford Roach details his tenure as the basketball coach at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Kentucky, where he spent twenty-three years. Roach shares stories of traveling to different parts of Kentucky, recalls former players, and explains how he helped to mentor the young men who played for him. Roach also discusses the history of segregation in the University of Kentucky's basketball program, and gives a detailed example of racism he encountered at a Kentucky basketball game. Educator and coach Sanford Roach discusses race relations at the University of Kentucky, particularly in the basketball program, and describes how he uses his stature to help blacks in Lexington be able to attend games. Roach then considers his legacy and describes how he would like to be remembered. He also narrates photographs depicting his family and career.

40 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)