Munn, Melvin 1981

Melvin Munn discusses his past life and his work with the Life Line program in Dallas, its start, continuance and reasons for its closing. Tape 4 is a radio recording of an interview with Munn on Channel 28.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Melvin Munn

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: October 21 and November 19, 1981

Location: Dallas, Texas

Interviewer: David Murrah and Richard Mason

Length: 3 hours, 10 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Background, Born in Ellis County, Texas, Parents, Father, Daniel P. Munn, Mother, Aggie Muerhead, Parents were farmers (sharecroppers), Education, Public school, Finished high school (1931), Work history, Farm, Grocery clerk, Pay, To East Texas, First Director of Religious Education in the First, Methodist Church of Longview, Health problems, Due to climate of East Texas, To Dallas, Texas (1936), Worked at Republic National Bank, World War II, Turned down due to spinal arthritis, KRLD Radio (1945), Job interview, Blue Cross/Blue Shield (1951-1959), Public relations and advertising, To Pampa, Texas, Reasons, Activities, Church, To Washington, D. C., Public Relations Consultant, Worked for Congressmen, Activities performed, Moved back to Dallas (c. 1967), Reasons for success, Conditions, Depression, Affects, School, Teachers made learning fun, Ability to speak and announce, Worked on voice when young, Speaker at his Baccalaureate, Affect on him, Career ambitions, Liked writing, Senior paper, Book published, In Life Line Days, Republic National Bank, Depression, Reduced salaries, Munn (again), Duties, Positions.

Tape 1, Side 2: Positions (continued), KRLD Radio, Positions, To Life Line (1965), Origins of Life Line, Started (November 10, 1958), Wayne Poucher commentator, Attempts to get Munn to work for them, Conversation with H. L. Hunt, Assurance of Munn’s autonomy, Hunt’s association with Life Line, H. L. Hunt (again), HLH Products, Advertising, Thefts, Sell out, Cancelled stations carrying Life Line, Life Line off the air (April 1, 1975), Life Line broadcast, Production procedures, Transition from master tape concept to long play records, Kennedy assassination, Effects on conservatism, Non-profit organization, Changes, Sponsor, Stations.

Tape 2, Side 1: H. L. Hunt’s relation with Life Line, Life Line (again), Organizational growth, Personnel, Munn’s duties, Writer, Publications, Newspaper, Keith Kathan, editor, Personality, Differences between broadcast and newspaper, Audience, Stations carrying Life Line, Non-partisan, Not affiliated with a particular church, Religious nature, Involvement with SEARCH on Mt. Ararat, From Washington to Dallas, Reasons, Washington largely concerned with government, Munn (again), College campus appearances, Reception, Sponsors, Kent State College.

Tape 2, Side 2: Blank

Tape 3, Side 1: Reading of the Sermon on the Mount.

Tape 3, Side 2: The Indispensable Man, Tell Me Now, What I Live For, Psalm 1, Psalm 23, Readings from John, I Love You, A Bride’s Prayer, The Prayer of a Husband, American for Me, The Bridge Builder, The Touch of the Master’s Hand, L’envoi by Rudyard Kipling.

Tape 4, Side 1: Morning Magazine, Melvin Munn, Famous for voice on Life Line, Overview of Lubbock School board meeting, Financing of new schools, Economic news, National House Bill for defense spending, B-1 Bomber Program, Other major and minor programs, Stocks, Southwest Airlines expansion request, Commercials, Weather, Commercials, Life Line Broadcast, Crime, People’s attitudes, Introduction, How Life Line got started, Lady in Florida started idea, Wayne Poucher—Church of Christ minister, They joined and opened an office in Washington, Started with 20 radio stations, November 8, 1958—first one, Munn joined in 1965, H. L. Hunt—major sponsor, Munn was commentator and president, Work, 15 minutes a day, 7 days a week, Getting subjects, Theme—be self-sufficient, U. S. Public debt, Dedication to Southwest Collection, Number of programs, Commercials, Reasons for discontinuing program, Hunt Food Industry sold (1970), Cost of operation (1975-1976), Done their part—broadness of scope now, Munn’s current work, Speaking, Writing, President, Munn Company, Incorporated, Small family corporation, Map vending machines, Executive Secretary for Association of American, Dentists, Sermon on the Mount, Performs from memory, Audience, 1951 Kiwannis, Reading aloud at parks, Commercials, Retirement, IRA—Individual Retirement Account, Effects everyone who works, Why we need it, Immediate tax benefits, Retirement fixed income, Tape ends.

Tape 4, Side 2: Blank

Range Dates: 1930-1981

Bulk Dates: 1965-1981

Access Information

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Transcript:

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