Kerley FINAL

Regional Oral History Office University of California The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California Robert Kerley VICE CHANCELLOR OF ADMINISTRATION, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, 1970-1982 Interviews conducted by Germaine LaBerge in 2002 Copyright © 2012 by The Regents of the University of California ii Since 1954 the Regional Oral History Office has been interviewing leading participants in or well-placed witnesses to major events in the development of Northern California, the West, and the nation. Oral History is a method of collecting historical information through tape-recorded interviews between a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of preserving substantive additions to the historical record. The tape recording is transcribed, lightly edited for continuity and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewee. The corrected manuscript is bound with photographs and illustrative materials and placed in The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, and in other research collections for scholarly use. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account, offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is reflective, partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ********************************* All uses of this manuscript are covered by a legal agreement between The Regents of the University of California and Robert F. Kerley dated June 25, 2004. The manuscript is thereby made available for research purposes. All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved to The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. Excerpts up to 1000 words from this interview may be quoted for publication without seeking permission as long as the use is non-commercial and properly cited. Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to The Bancroft Library, Head of Public Services, Mail Code 6000, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000, and should follow instructions available online at http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/ROHO/collections/cite.html It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Robert F. Kerley, “Vice Chancellor of Administration, University of California, 1970-1982” conducted by Germaine LaBerge 2002, Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2012. iii Vice Chancellor Administration Robert F. Kerley 1970-1982 iv v World War II: U.S. Armey Major Robert F. Kerley vi vii Betty’s (Elizabeth Strehl) and Bob’s wedding at the Chancellor’s Residence and Garden, April 19, 1975 30th wedding anniversary with the Kerley family viii ix This oral history was completed with generous support from Pappas Consulting Group Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Aguirre Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Barber Mr. William W. Bowman Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence K. Brehm Ms. Nora M. Brusuelas, J.D. Mr. Bert A. Carter, Jr. Mr. Theodore Chenoweth Mr. Thomas S. Clifton Mr. James M. Corley Mr. John F. Cummins Mr. and Mrs. Alan T. Fong Mr. Start K. Gardiner and Ms. Mary F. Burns Mr. Roger Hardy Ms. Rosemarie Hardy Ms. Connie Kravas Dr. Luela J. Lilly Mrs. Colette M. Murray Mr. and Mrs. Randall O. Parent Ms. Joan E. Parker Mr. Jay L. Paxton Mr. Bruce Quan, Jr. Mr. Michael Reid Smith x Ms. Katherine A. Strehl Mr. and Mrs. John Sugiyama Mr. Joseph Vasquez Mrs. Dorothy Walker xi Table of Contents—ROBERT KERLEY Interview History xiii Interview #1, May 15, 2002 1 Family background and childhood—Catholic elementary schools, Oakland—Willard Jr. High School, Berkeley—Interests in reading and sports—Father, mother, and stepfather—Mother’s work—High school, Huntington Park—Early responsibilities for stepfather’s health—Turning down college scholarships—Brothers Jack and Gordon— Self-knowledge and insight at early age—Influence of Doris Stuart—Reflections on religion. Interview #2, May 23, 2002 26 Work at American Can Company, McKesson-Robbins—World War II: U.S. Army, Officers’ Candidate School—Replacement Depot Control Officer, Fort Ord—Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Salvador Dali take soldiers out on the town—Italian front: Sicily—Hepatitis B from yellow fever shot—Re-meeting Dr. Ralph Angeluci in Kentucky—Fifth Army wine cellar—Russians and Americans in Vienna—Getting the troops home, 1945. Interview #3, May 29, 2002 47 More on World War II in Verona—Buton cognac—Ships in convoy, Le Havre to NYC— Courtship and marriage to Margery Stenson, 1946—Move to Akron, Ohio—Birth of Kathleen—Attending UC Berkeley on G.I. Bill, 1948-1951—Lab assistant/cowboy for Veterinary Sciences Department—Thoughts on peace. Interview #4, June 20, 2002 62 Strain-19 vaccine and brucela abortis—Registrar’s office accounting work—Graduation at Edwards Stadium, 1951—Business manager at Naval Supply Center—Loyalty oath— Camaraderie and teamwork in the 1950s on the campuses—Assistant business manager, UCB, under Chancellor Clark Kerr—Federal research dollars with Nello Pace, Melvin Calvin, Wendell Stanley, and Glenn Seaborg—Working with and learning from Jim Corley and Bob Underhill—More on Bob Underhill and Jim Corley—Need for decentralization—UC’s office in Washington, D.C.—Various issues: Alamogordo test site and labor relations issues—Travel back and forth—Frank Kidner and Tom Cunningham—University’s relationships in Sacramento—Governor Reagan and Clark Kerr. Interview #5, June 25, 2002 90 Resignation letter and recommendations to Chancellor Seaborg—Reflections on the Free Speech Movement—Federal government relations—Contrasting Chancellors Mrak, xii Revelle, and Murphy—Exposure to other job offers—Meeting Betty—Children: Bill, Renie, Barbara and Kathleen—Clark Kerr in Washington—Building up the faculty at University of Kentucky—Community college system, Kentucky—Raising pay scale, obtaining benefits for UK employees—Cultural Center and Henry Mancini—Urban renewal in downtown Lexington—Significant friendship with Milton Eisenhower—Vice presidency of Johns Hopkins—Student demonstrations re: Cambodia, 1970—Talk over hamburgers—Financial state of Johns Hopkins, 1970. Interview #6, July 3, 2002 116 Leaving Johns Hopkins—Vice Chancellor, University of California Berkeley—Building Zellerbach Hall—Students Reg Fee Committee—Evaluation of services, including police and health units—Outreach to disabled students—Center for Independent Living—Laura Brehm’s work with student services and accessibility—Student interns—Cooperation between Alumni Association and Chancellor’s Office—Intercollegiate athletics and NCAA violations—More on athletics, men’s and women’s—Dave Maggard, Luella Lilly, and Mike White—Labor union strike—1970s—Betty and Bob’s Wedding at the Chancellor’s house—More on the wedding—Stroke in Boston, 1975, and TLC at home. Interview #7, August 9, 2002 142 Fostering the academic programs and research—Athletics—Origin of Bear Backers— Student involvement in Reg Fee Committee and recreational sports—Building RSF— Equity for women in athletics and management opportunities—Elmo Morgan, Laura Brehm, and seismic safety conditions—More on disability access—Higher education national policy scene—Setting up UC Berkeley Foundation—Fundraising is Asking— Working with deans as vice chancellor for development—Passion. Interview #8, August 20, 2002 163 Mike Heyman’s inauguration as chancellor—Consultation in higher education— Teaching new presidents to be presidents—Energy consultation—University of Denver— Hastings College of the Law—CFO at Hastings—University of Alaska, San Diego State, Virginia Commonwealth—Other college consultations—Alceste Pappas and Roger Hardy—John F. Kennedy Board of Trustees—Alta Bates and Cowell Hospitals— Teaching administrators in higher education—Student internship program. [End of Interview] xiii Interview History When he greeted me at the door of his Rossmoor home, Bob Kerley immediately melted my heart. He was the spitting image of my dad with that shock of pure white hair and the map of Ireland on his face. It didn’t take long for us to sit down at the kitchen table and “establish rapport.” I became a member (on the spot) of the Bob Kerley fan club, the group that spearheaded this oral history both figuratively and monetarily. Many thanks to Brad Barber and Laura Brehm for suggesting and making this project possible. Why Bob Kerley? The Regional Oral History Office (ROHO) has for fifty years been recording and collecting interviews on the history of the University of California. An “old Blue,” Bob Kerley served this campus well in many capacities—from student jobs as lab assistant/cowboy for the Veterinary Sciences Department to assistant business manager for the campus under Chancellors Clark Kerr and Glenn Seaborg (1951-1964) to Vice Chancellor-Administration under Chancellors Bowker and Heyman (1970-1980). One of his innovations was the employment of student interns—one of their responsibilities was to take him to lunch once a week for discussion. These students, now middle-aged, have remained Bob’s friends, and credit their time under his guidance as influential in their own careers. Bob’s final gift to the university was appropriately in the campus development office. As Vice Chancellor-Development and President of the UC Berkeley Foundation (1980-1981), he established procedures for fundraising and raised the standards for fund stewardship. In the process, he opened up the communications between the Chancellor’s Office and the Alumni Association. There was an interlude between UC positions. In the 1960s, Bob and his family moved East, while he served as Vice President at the University of Kentucky, and then at Johns Hopkins University, managing their business affairs. And since his retirement from UC, he has run his own consulting firm, Robert Kerley and Associates. His vita is included in this volume. Eight interviews were recorded from May to August 2002. Bob and his dear wife Betty would greet me warmly at the door—Betty most often would do her errands while Bob and I “talked.” A great raconteur, he spoke easily and candidly, the stories sprinkled with both laughter and tears. After we had met two times, Bob sent this note: “I got two large boxes of KLEENEX.

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