November 15, 2023 • 15 mins
Former UK Football star and Super Bowl Champion Derrick Ramsey discusses his new book, "They Call Me Mr Secretary." Ramsery talked about his impact as an African American quarterback at Kentucky, the most rewarding job of his life serving Kentuckians, his relationship with former Raiders owner Al Davis, and the importance of education...
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Episode Transcript
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(00:01):
The name Derek Ramsey rings all acrossthe Commonwealth of Kentucky from his football playing
days at the University of Kentucky BeachBowl champions ten and one season. There's
pretty good run they had. Heplayed for the Oakland Raiders, so he's
got a Super Bowl ring from that. He also played for the New England
(00:22):
Patriots as a Super Bowl ring fromthat one as well. But his life
has evolved in so many ways sincethen. It's all chronicled in a new
book called They Call Me Mister Secretary. Derek Ramsey, Welcome back to the
show. Thank you very much,Jerry, thanks for having me brother.
I loved your book. I justit's it's an amazing I knew that you
(00:49):
enjoy something when you call Leftman messageand called me deek. That's right.
Yeah, they call you mister secretary, but they called you deep when you
were little kid. I think somebodysaid sonny boy at some point. Was
that Al Davis or John Now SunnyBoy was Governor Chandler, that's right.
And then so we we all knowyou've you've been connected with all these prominent
(01:15):
people in your life, and thenit took you a while to reflect upon
what Governor Happy Chandler told you right, yes, yes he did, Yes,
yes you did. And what GovernorChandler told me for for your listening
base, He told me that everytime I took the field as the African
(01:36):
American quarterback, I took the fieldfor every African American in the state of
Kentucky. And I remember, andI quote for Betam. I told Governor,
I said, I came here fortwo for two specific reasons. One
to get an education and second togo to the National Football League. And
(01:57):
as you would have it over theyears, once I became a secretary and
was out traveling all around the state, and I would meet these elder people
of color and I'd go to introducemyself and they would say, I know
who you are. I know exactlywho you are, and I just want
you to know that every time youtook the field, I was very very
(02:20):
proud. I mean I would hearthese kinds of comments over and over and
over again, and so it mademe reflect back to the conversation that I
had with Governor Chandler. He wasabsolutely right. You've worked for two other
governors. You just knew Happy Channel, but I mean you worked in the
Ernie Fletcher administration and also for GovernorMatt Bevan, and you give great insights.
(02:46):
This is anybody who loves Kentucky shouldbe able to read this book and
see the complexity in the fight ineach administration to try and get jobs here.
And that was an area, especiallyyou're still working on to this day.
That's that's exactly right. And also, Terry, let me say this
as well, of all the jobsI've had in my life, inclusive of
(03:10):
playing in those two Super Bowls thatI'm extremely proud of, there was no
job I enjoyed more and that wasmore rewarding to me than being Secretary of
Workforce and Education. It allowed meto go into these communities, many communities
like the one that I grew upin down in Hastings, Florida, and
(03:34):
give these folk hope talking about apprenticeship, talking about jobs, helping them get
trained up. You know, becausestill here in the state of Kentucky and
I common well, the median incomefor a family for a still under forty
five thousand. Well, when Iwas talking about the apprenticeship program around the
state of Kentucky, the average fora for a journeyman was sixty thousand dollars
(04:03):
per year, and so there's justso many incredible opportunities that are there for
our people. And you go backlooking at this pandemic what happened when it's
almost embarrassing to me, and Ithink it should be for every American that
being this when we have issues gettinginfamil for our infants in a country and
(04:29):
we're supposed to be the most dominant, biggest country in the world. How
the heck does that happen? How'sit happen? And so I say that
to say there are so many incredibleopportunities for our folk here in the Commonwealth
to earn a fair wage, becausethat's always a big conversation people are talking
about earning a fair wage. Well, when you're into the become a journeyman,
(04:54):
you will earn that. And moreso, it was just very very
fulfilling for me. It gave mean opportunity to give back to people that
had given me so much and supportedme so much throughout my years here as
a as a undergraduate. Indeed,and your story, though, is so
great that you're still out there,you're working to help people, try and
(05:15):
get them placed, and I'm justI'm just going to send people to your
book. It's called they call MeMister Secretary by Derrick Ramsey. Yeah,
now that the passages about like AlDavis, the owner of the Raiders,
you have kind of a love hatething because he's rough on you, but
he swings back and then pumps youto to reach for a higher goal in
(05:36):
life. You mentioned something about acar, and he goes, I want
you to own a seven forty seven. Yeah, And what he said was
Al had this black Catillac Broom Andwhen we would fly out for games,
I would sometimes get there at theairport at the same time that he would
(05:56):
and Terry. He would park thiscar right there, and I never want
saw anybody come just right in frontof the airport there, right right there
in the front door. I neversaw anybody come and pick up that car.
Never want. And I'd sit theresometime ten to fifteen minutes just to
wait and see. I'm like,you gotta be kidding me. Well,
anyway, I was sharing with Al. I said, in my next contract,
(06:21):
I'd like for you to give meone of those for my mind.
She'd love to have something like that. And I quote he said, kid,
I don't want you to think aboutcadillacs. I want you to think
about seven for the sevens. That'swhat you need on You don't need to
own no car, get a damnseven for the seven. But he was
(06:46):
so he was a strong figure inyour life. But your mom and dad
were so strongly rooted in to discipline, making sure you and your siblings got
education above all else. I mean, they loved the athletic part of life,
but the education was everything right welland the part that was fascinating about
this, And I'm certain that thereare many other people that have parents that
(07:11):
My mom got her ged after Igraduated from UK. My dad had a
high school diploma, and so inour home, my dad was an incredible
athlete in my hometown. My motherwas an incredible athlete in our hometown.
She was a great basketball player.As a matter of fact, that's who
taught me how to play basketball,was my mom. After school, she'd
(07:33):
come out in the backyard and helpus, help me shoot around. But
there was always this focus on education, And I tell the story in there.
We used to have to wait untilmy father got home from work,
and we'd sit to the table andwait till he got there. And so
(07:54):
when he got there, and itwas always conversation around the table about what
he expected from us and what heexpected us to deliver to this community and
to our family. And there wasthis one in that he said, I
don't want any of you kids tocomplain about anything. This is just not
(08:18):
a house where we complain. Thisis a house where we do. He
said, So you all's job isto get to the table. He said,
you get to the table, that'swhere all the stuff's cut up,
that's where it's all divided. Hesaid, if you don't get to the
table, I do not want youto complain about the scraps falling on the
(08:41):
floor. So all my life,Jerry, I've been trying to get to
the table all my life and wheredecisions are made, to be a part
of it. And then when youget to the table, you got to
figure out where the power is atat that table. And so that was
(09:03):
kind of my life, just beingpushed and pushed. And you read about
my teacher and there miss McNeill,and didn't get a chance. So I
lost my library in this past August. She was ninety seven years young,
and she was a critical poet inmy life. But there were a lot
of teachers and a lot of peoplein our community that poured not only into
(09:28):
me but all the kids that werethere. But there was also a great
expectation of kids in our community.As I mentioned in the book, there
was this one family that I wasindrself. They were the Bartley family.
Two brothers a scientist, a werescientist at NASA, Their uncle was a
(09:48):
scientist at NASA. Their youngest brothera PhD over here at UK. All
from this little small town arri ofsix one hundred and fifty people. That's
incredible. Yeah, and we hadlawyers, we had doctors, we had
pharmacies. You know, my siblings, my brother next to me, it
(10:11):
was a retired lieutenant colonel one ofthem. Then I had my oldest brothers
retired principal, my youngest brother retiredfrom now and my sister was a fifth
grade teacher for thirty five years.Yeah, You've had great mentors in your
life. But I've noticed in yourbook you keep learning from people like Jim
Holst and those guys that they talkedwith you about broadcasting. You decided to
(10:37):
go on the UK network as withoutany practice, but you learned it.
That was something else you figured youdo. You bought buildings when you played
for the Raiders, apartment buildings,and you learned. I mean, your
business sense is incredible, and justthe way it's laid out in the book
I found fascinating. Plus there's lotsof passages from your friends who talk about
who you were then and how you'veremained consistent through your whole life. Well,
(11:01):
you know, once once you geton this path. Terry and I
have been very, very fortunate.And as you mentioned, Jim Uh Jim,
I wish I had met Jim earlierin my career. I knew him
when I was at the University ofKentucky, but then it was you know,
a player and this big, big, this guy bigger than life that
(11:24):
everybody was afraid to talk to ordidn't know how to talk to, and
so he was always friendly with me. But when I moved back here and
decided to try to get into broadcasting, and I would go meet with him
and it was always interesting. Jimreminded me so much of the coaches of
(11:45):
the era that I played, youknow, really grough guys want the best
for you and just wanted to makesure that she's going to work hard,
and so Jim was Jim was thatand more to say a in that that
would be a grave injustice for forJim and my relationship. Jim has a
(12:09):
man, I mean, what afriend, what a mentor what a person
that's seen stuff that I haven't seen. And he gets a kick out of
that when he can, when hecould teach me something. But his demanding
demeanor, his demanding ways has helpedme forge forward and in a lot of
(12:31):
ways, in particular in the latterpart of my career. You've had in
particular so in the UH in politics, Yeah, you've had strong voices the
whole time. Though not Jim Host, but the UK presidents have been helpful
to you. Matt Bevan, helpfulto you, Ernie Fletcher, all these
folks, and then you learned andadvanced each time. Yes, yes,
(12:56):
you know, I've been very fortunatethat people have give them an opportunity and
they trusted in me. And ofcourse your reputation also helps. I mean
they know I'm a nonsense guy.Have always been that way. When I
was a quarterback, I was alwaysdemanded and that's why I still have the
relationships that I have with my guys. Forty some years later, because I
(13:18):
demand things. I want to bethe best. I don't want to just
show up and be a part ofit. We have to win some participating
we win, you know, wedon't just stew up and shake hands and
get the participation trophy. I don'twant it. You keep it for yourself,
all right. Well, the book'sstuff full of great stuff about your
time at UK and including time whenyou heard booze and it hurts you for
(13:41):
a long time. But all that'sfleshed out in there, and it's just
a it's a great life story.So I congratulate you on the book,
and I know there's plenty more togo for you. Derek Ramsey, the
books called, they call me mistersecretary. I got it off Amazon as
It available now everywhere in bookstores too, Amazon, Amazon, right, just
get it up for Amazon, Derek. It's great talk Deek. It's great
(14:03):
talking to you again, and thankyou very much. I can't wait.
I can't wait to tell Tony Cruzhis name is in there. He and
Dictator working radio with you. Thatis awesome. Oh man, we had
fun on that Friday Night Live.We sure did you give Tony my best?
I shall I pass it along andI think people are gonna love the
(14:24):
insights in the coach John Madden AlDavis, the whole deal of going up
to New England and playing there,and and then of course you meet your
wife, but she doesn't become yourwife for twenty years because it takes you
a long time to make it abig decision like that. Right, Well,
yeah, I process things a lotslower in sum regards. But but
(14:46):
but I think also to that interry, you know, coming up from
a humble beginning, I wanted towhen I got married to be able to
give my wife and my family allthe things that I wish my parents could
have done for us, because Isaw two parents work two jobs until my
(15:07):
youngest brother got to college. AndI just wanted to make darn show when
I got married that I was ina place financially that I could have beaten.
Actually things in mind, but youcan so, Yeah, you can
read love from your mom and dadin that book though. Wow, it
was strong, powerful stories. Yeah, thank you, Thank you very much,
(15:28):
Derek. Great talking to you.We'll see you down the road always.
Thanks Jerry. All right. DerekRamsey longtime quarterback of course at UK
and then of course he went tothe Oakland Raiders, where he played tight
end. But the story is aboutbusiness and life and motivation and leadership.
It's fantastic books called they call memister Secretary. Back in a minute on
(15:50):
news radio eight forty whas
The name Derek Ramsey rings all acrossthe Commonwealth of Kentucky from his football playing
days at the University of Kentucky BeachBowl champions ten and one season. There's
pretty good run they had. Heplayed for the Oakland Raiders, so he's
got a Super Bowl ring from that. He also played for the New England
(00:22):
Patriots as a Super Bowl ring fromthat one as well. But his life
has evolved in so many ways sincethen. It's all chronicled in a new
book called They Call Me Mister Secretary. Derek Ramsey, Welcome back to the
show. Thank you very much,Jerry, thanks for having me brother.
I loved your book. I justit's it's an amazing I knew that you
(00:49):
enjoy something when you call Leftman messageand called me deek. That's right.
Yeah, they call you mister secretary, but they called you deep when you
were little kid. I think somebodysaid sonny boy at some point. Was
that Al Davis or John Now SunnyBoy was Governor Chandler, that's right.
And then so we we all knowyou've you've been connected with all these prominent
(01:15):
people in your life, and thenit took you a while to reflect upon
what Governor Happy Chandler told you right, yes, yes he did, Yes,
yes you did. And what GovernorChandler told me for for your listening
base, He told me that everytime I took the field as the African
(01:36):
American quarterback, I took the fieldfor every African American in the state of
Kentucky. And I remember, andI quote for Betam. I told Governor,
I said, I came here fortwo for two specific reasons. One
to get an education and second togo to the National Football League. And
(01:57):
as you would have it over theyears, once I became a secretary and
was out traveling all around the state, and I would meet these elder people
of color and I'd go to introducemyself and they would say, I know
who you are. I know exactlywho you are, and I just want
you to know that every time youtook the field, I was very very
(02:20):
proud. I mean I would hearthese kinds of comments over and over and
over again, and so it mademe reflect back to the conversation that I
had with Governor Chandler. He wasabsolutely right. You've worked for two other
governors. You just knew Happy Channel, but I mean you worked in the
Ernie Fletcher administration and also for GovernorMatt Bevan, and you give great insights.
(02:46):
This is anybody who loves Kentucky shouldbe able to read this book and
see the complexity in the fight ineach administration to try and get jobs here.
And that was an area, especiallyyou're still working on to this day.
That's that's exactly right. And also, Terry, let me say this
as well, of all the jobsI've had in my life, inclusive of
(03:10):
playing in those two Super Bowls thatI'm extremely proud of, there was no
job I enjoyed more and that wasmore rewarding to me than being Secretary of
Workforce and Education. It allowed meto go into these communities, many communities
like the one that I grew upin down in Hastings, Florida, and
(03:34):
give these folk hope talking about apprenticeship, talking about jobs, helping them get
trained up. You know, becausestill here in the state of Kentucky and
I common well, the median incomefor a family for a still under forty
five thousand. Well, when Iwas talking about the apprenticeship program around the
state of Kentucky, the average fora for a journeyman was sixty thousand dollars
(04:03):
per year, and so there's justso many incredible opportunities that are there for
our people. And you go backlooking at this pandemic what happened when it's
almost embarrassing to me, and Ithink it should be for every American that
being this when we have issues gettinginfamil for our infants in a country and
(04:29):
we're supposed to be the most dominant, biggest country in the world. How
the heck does that happen? How'sit happen? And so I say that
to say there are so many incredibleopportunities for our folk here in the Commonwealth
to earn a fair wage, becausethat's always a big conversation people are talking
about earning a fair wage. Well, when you're into the become a journeyman,
(04:54):
you will earn that. And moreso, it was just very very
fulfilling for me. It gave mean opportunity to give back to people that
had given me so much and supportedme so much throughout my years here as
a as a undergraduate. Indeed,and your story, though, is so
great that you're still out there,you're working to help people, try and
(05:15):
get them placed, and I'm justI'm just going to send people to your
book. It's called they call MeMister Secretary by Derrick Ramsey. Yeah,
now that the passages about like AlDavis, the owner of the Raiders,
you have kind of a love hatething because he's rough on you, but
he swings back and then pumps youto to reach for a higher goal in
(05:36):
life. You mentioned something about acar, and he goes, I want
you to own a seven forty seven. Yeah, And what he said was
Al had this black Catillac Broom Andwhen we would fly out for games,
I would sometimes get there at theairport at the same time that he would
(05:56):
and Terry. He would park thiscar right there, and I never want
saw anybody come just right in frontof the airport there, right right there
in the front door. I neversaw anybody come and pick up that car.
Never want. And I'd sit theresometime ten to fifteen minutes just to
wait and see. I'm like,you gotta be kidding me. Well,
anyway, I was sharing with Al. I said, in my next contract,
(06:21):
I'd like for you to give meone of those for my mind.
She'd love to have something like that. And I quote he said, kid,
I don't want you to think aboutcadillacs. I want you to think
about seven for the sevens. That'swhat you need on You don't need to
own no car, get a damnseven for the seven. But he was
(06:46):
so he was a strong figure inyour life. But your mom and dad
were so strongly rooted in to discipline, making sure you and your siblings got
education above all else. I mean, they loved the athletic part of life,
but the education was everything right welland the part that was fascinating about
this, And I'm certain that thereare many other people that have parents that
(07:11):
My mom got her ged after Igraduated from UK. My dad had a
high school diploma, and so inour home, my dad was an incredible
athlete in my hometown. My motherwas an incredible athlete in our hometown.
She was a great basketball player.As a matter of fact, that's who
taught me how to play basketball,was my mom. After school, she'd
(07:33):
come out in the backyard and helpus, help me shoot around. But
there was always this focus on education, And I tell the story in there.
We used to have to wait untilmy father got home from work,
and we'd sit to the table andwait till he got there. And so
(07:54):
when he got there, and itwas always conversation around the table about what
he expected from us and what heexpected us to deliver to this community and
to our family. And there wasthis one in that he said, I
don't want any of you kids tocomplain about anything. This is just not
(08:18):
a house where we complain. Thisis a house where we do. He
said, So you all's job isto get to the table. He said,
you get to the table, that'swhere all the stuff's cut up,
that's where it's all divided. Hesaid, if you don't get to the
table, I do not want youto complain about the scraps falling on the
(08:41):
floor. So all my life,Jerry, I've been trying to get to
the table all my life and wheredecisions are made, to be a part
of it. And then when youget to the table, you got to
figure out where the power is atat that table. And so that was
(09:03):
kind of my life, just beingpushed and pushed. And you read about
my teacher and there miss McNeill,and didn't get a chance. So I
lost my library in this past August. She was ninety seven years young,
and she was a critical poet inmy life. But there were a lot
of teachers and a lot of peoplein our community that poured not only into
(09:28):
me but all the kids that werethere. But there was also a great
expectation of kids in our community.As I mentioned in the book, there
was this one family that I wasindrself. They were the Bartley family.
Two brothers a scientist, a werescientist at NASA, Their uncle was a
(09:48):
scientist at NASA. Their youngest brothera PhD over here at UK. All
from this little small town arri ofsix one hundred and fifty people. That's
incredible. Yeah, and we hadlawyers, we had doctors, we had
pharmacies. You know, my siblings, my brother next to me, it
(10:11):
was a retired lieutenant colonel one ofthem. Then I had my oldest brothers
retired principal, my youngest brother retiredfrom now and my sister was a fifth
grade teacher for thirty five years.Yeah, You've had great mentors in your
life. But I've noticed in yourbook you keep learning from people like Jim
Holst and those guys that they talkedwith you about broadcasting. You decided to
(10:37):
go on the UK network as withoutany practice, but you learned it.
That was something else you figured youdo. You bought buildings when you played
for the Raiders, apartment buildings,and you learned. I mean, your
business sense is incredible, and justthe way it's laid out in the book
I found fascinating. Plus there's lotsof passages from your friends who talk about
who you were then and how you'veremained consistent through your whole life. Well,
(11:01):
you know, once once you geton this path. Terry and I
have been very, very fortunate.And as you mentioned, Jim Uh Jim,
I wish I had met Jim earlierin my career. I knew him
when I was at the University ofKentucky, but then it was you know,
a player and this big, big, this guy bigger than life that
(11:24):
everybody was afraid to talk to ordidn't know how to talk to, and
so he was always friendly with me. But when I moved back here and
decided to try to get into broadcasting, and I would go meet with him
and it was always interesting. Jimreminded me so much of the coaches of
(11:45):
the era that I played, youknow, really grough guys want the best
for you and just wanted to makesure that she's going to work hard,
and so Jim was Jim was thatand more to say a in that that
would be a grave injustice for forJim and my relationship. Jim has a
(12:09):
man, I mean, what afriend, what a mentor what a person
that's seen stuff that I haven't seen. And he gets a kick out of
that when he can, when hecould teach me something. But his demanding
demeanor, his demanding ways has helpedme forge forward and in a lot of
(12:31):
ways, in particular in the latterpart of my career. You've had in
particular so in the UH in politics, Yeah, you've had strong voices the
whole time. Though not Jim Host, but the UK presidents have been helpful
to you. Matt Bevan, helpfulto you, Ernie Fletcher, all these
folks, and then you learned andadvanced each time. Yes, yes,
(12:56):
you know, I've been very fortunatethat people have give them an opportunity and
they trusted in me. And ofcourse your reputation also helps. I mean
they know I'm a nonsense guy.Have always been that way. When I
was a quarterback, I was alwaysdemanded and that's why I still have the
relationships that I have with my guys. Forty some years later, because I
(13:18):
demand things. I want to bethe best. I don't want to just
show up and be a part ofit. We have to win some participating
we win, you know, wedon't just stew up and shake hands and
get the participation trophy. I don'twant it. You keep it for yourself,
all right. Well, the book'sstuff full of great stuff about your
time at UK and including time whenyou heard booze and it hurts you for
(13:41):
a long time. But all that'sfleshed out in there, and it's just
a it's a great life story.So I congratulate you on the book,
and I know there's plenty more togo for you. Derek Ramsey, the
books called, they call me mistersecretary. I got it off Amazon as
It available now everywhere in bookstores too, Amazon, Amazon, right, just
get it up for Amazon, Derek. It's great talk Deek. It's great
(14:03):
talking to you again, and thankyou very much. I can't wait.
I can't wait to tell Tony Cruzhis name is in there. He and
Dictator working radio with you. Thatis awesome. Oh man, we had
fun on that Friday Night Live.We sure did you give Tony my best?
I shall I pass it along andI think people are gonna love the
(14:24):
insights in the coach John Madden AlDavis, the whole deal of going up
to New England and playing there,and and then of course you meet your
wife, but she doesn't become yourwife for twenty years because it takes you
a long time to make it abig decision like that. Right, Well,
yeah, I process things a lotslower in sum regards. But but
(14:46):
but I think also to that interry, you know, coming up from
a humble beginning, I wanted towhen I got married to be able to
give my wife and my family allthe things that I wish my parents could
have done for us, because Isaw two parents work two jobs until my
(15:07):
youngest brother got to college. AndI just wanted to make darn show when
I got married that I was ina place financially that I could have beaten.
Actually things in mind, but youcan so, Yeah, you can
read love from your mom and dadin that book though. Wow, it
was strong, powerful stories. Yeah, thank you, Thank you very much,
(15:28):
Derek. Great talking to you.We'll see you down the road always.
Thanks Jerry. All right. DerekRamsey longtime quarterback of course at UK
and then of course he went tothe Oakland Raiders, where he played tight
end. But the story is aboutbusiness and life and motivation and leadership.
It's fantastic books called they call memister Secretary. Back in a minute on
(15:50):
news radio eight forty whas
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