Kenny Sailors and Anne Brande
Former NBA player Kenny Sailors is credited with pioneering the modern jump shot. Growing up on a farm in Wyoming, he played basketball with his older brother, which required him to find a new way to shoot the ball. (Until then, shots were taken with two hands from chest level while the player stood on the ground.)
Kenny went on to become a three-time all-American at the University of Wyoming and later played a few years of professional basketball. He was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Kenny, who never explicitly claimed credit for inventing the jump shot, told StoryCorps he likes Ray Meyers (DePaul University’s famed coach) explanation of his place in history best, “Sailors might not have been the first player to jump in the air and shoot the ball, but he developed the shot that is being used today.”
Kenny came to StoryCorps with his friend, Anne Brande, in July 2008, to talk about his early life and the lasting fame the jump shot has brought him. (Kenny Sailors passed away on January 30, 2016 at the age of 95.)
Originally aired October 24, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Christopher Fraser and Victoria Fraser
When Christopher Fraser was 10 years old, he was left him with his grandparents who then raised him. At StoryCorps he talks with his grandmother, Victoria Fraser, about the adjustments he had to make to a new home, and how grateful he is for the many things she has done for him.
Originally aired October 17, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Joe Spano Jr. and Joe Spano Sr.
Brooklyn born Joe Spano and his son Joe Jr. talk about their family owned Italian restaurant in Abeline, Texas, which serves dishes Joe Sr. grew up watching his mother and grandmother prepare.
Originally aired August 22, 2008 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Tom Kurthy and Robert Madden
Tom Kurthy (left) tells his friend Robert Madden about coming out to his parents. While his father was “very cool” about it, his mother initially took much longer to accept the news, blaming herself for his homosexuality.
Originally aired August 1, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Tom Domingue and Dotty Domingue
Tom Domingue talks about growing up with polio and the different approaches to his condition taken by his mother and stepfather. While his mother doted over him, his stepfather had a tougher style.
Originally aired July 25, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Cheng Wang, Kay Wang and Chen Wang
Kay Wang had a reputation for being strong-willed—a reputation she earned as a child.
When this interview was recorded, Kay was 87 years old, and reluctantly answered questions from her son, Cheng, and granddaughter, Chen.
Just weeks after their conversation, Kay Wang died of cancer.
StoryCorps asked Cheng and Chen to come back into the studio and record a tribute to Kay—and we’ve turned that into an animated short, “No More Questions!”
Originally aired July 18, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Mark Sullivan
Mark Sullivan remembers summers working on tobacco farms in Connecticut during the late 1950s, and the lessons learned from doing this backbreaking work.
Originally aired July 11, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Jaime Breed and James Lacy
James Lacy tells his daughter Jamie Breed about his father, Jim, who ran a general store in Comanche County, Texas, that prospered until the Great Depression hit and he was no longer able to pay his creditors.
Originally aired July 4, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Ray Martinez
Ray Martinez remembers growing up in an orphanage until he was adopted at 5 years old. In the orphanage nothing belonged to him—not a toy nor a coat—but his new parents gave him a blue stocking cap and a little toy stuffed dog and after they passed away he discovered they always held on to those first things he ever owned.
Originally aired June 20, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Tim Russert and James T. Molloy
Tim Russert interviews fellow Buffalo-native, James T. Molloy, retired doorkeeper of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Originally aired June 18, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.