Shield, Mr and Mrs Elgean 1973

From SWC Oral History Collection
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Elgean Shield, a businessman and rancher, discusses his life and dealings in Texas, his military career and role in the oil business. His wife then discusses the Shield Ranch operation and her family. Note: Tapes 1 and 2 are unclear in some places due to background noise.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Mr. and Mrs. Elgean Shield

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: July 26, August 16, and October 8, 1973

Location: Santa Anna, Texas

Interviewer: Fred Carpenter

Length: 4 hours 35 minutes


Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Gives background information, Born: September 14, 1901, Parents remembered, Father owned general store, Talks about Shield Ranch, Beginnings of fence war recalled, Santa Anna, Texas described, Comments on bankers’ conventions, Schooling discussed.

Tape 1, Side 2: Schooling experiences (continued), Became geological surveyor, Oil stratifications mapped, Own office set up in finance, Comments on military career, Marriage mentioned, Real estate dealings catalogued.

Tape 2, Side 1: Discussion of his marriage (continued), Depression discussed, Military career resumed, Comments on court martial.

Tape 2, Side 2: Continues to talk about his military career, Volunteered for paratroopers, Became general staff officer, Problems in Army recounted.

Tape 3, Side 1: Military career (continued), Explains problems with large amount of money won betting, Played poker with Colonel at new base to get acquainted, Describes "no limit" game, Presidential Citation for World War II actions received, Comments on General Douglas MacArthur’s activities.

Tape 3, Side 2: Military strategy discussed, Expounds on MacArthur’s faults, His priorities in war stated, Recounts differences between Russia and China, Notes great leaders.

Tape 4, Side 1: Stories about military career recounted, Gives summary of career, Service assignment in China remembered, Tells about his sickness, Comments on political situation in China, Anecdotes about China told.

Tape 4, Side 2: Continues anecdotes about China, Return to United States recalled, Talks about oil business.

Tape 5, Side 1: Remembers entry into oil business, Recounts geology work, Fry Oil Pool located, Bought mineral rights on land, Ranching business entered, Started drilling for oil after World War II, Maps described.

Tape 5, Side 2: Blank

Tape 6, Side 1: Mrs. Shield gives family background, Born in Columbus, Georgia in 1908, Plantation living recounted, Her husband and children talked about, Discusses supervision of ranch work during World War II, Construction of ranch house described, Recalls growth of ranch.

Tape 6, Side 2: Blank

Range Dates: 1901-1973

Bulk Dates: 1940s


Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:



Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.