Difference between revisions of "LaFont, Harold M 1998-06-23"
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| − | + | Harold LaFont reminisces about his experience as the district attorney of the 64th judicial district. | |
==General Interview Information== | ==General Interview Information== | ||
| − | '''Interviewee Name:''' | + | '''Interviewee Name:''' Harold M. LaFont |
| − | '''Additional Parties Recorded:''' | + | '''Additional Parties Recorded:''' None |
| − | '''Date:''' | + | '''Date:''' June 23, 1998 |
| − | '''Location:''' | + | '''Location:''' Plainview, Texas |
| − | '''Interviewer:''' | + | '''Interviewer:''' Gene B. Preuss |
| − | '''Length:''' | + | '''Length:''' 45 minutes |
==Abstract== | ==Abstract== | ||
| − | '''Tape 1, Side 1:''' | + | '''Tape 1, Side 1:''' Harold La Font, |
| − | + | Born: July 1, 1907, in Conran, Missouri, | |
| + | Parents: L. E. F. and Clara LaFont, | ||
| + | Father: County Judge in New Maverick County, Missouri, | ||
| + | Southeast Missouri State College, | ||
| + | Missouri University, | ||
| + | Catron, Missouri, | ||
| + | Taught a year of school, | ||
| + | 90 students in a one-room school, | ||
| + | Sawmill town, | ||
| + | Steve Blackman, friend, | ||
| + | Jobs held during high school and college, | ||
| + | Steve Blackman (again), | ||
| + | Washington, D. C., | ||
| + | George Washington University, | ||
| + | Job, | ||
| + | Attend law school and teach at the same time, | ||
| + | Woodward School for Boys (early 1930s), | ||
| + | Taught school, 3 years, | ||
| + | Assistant principal, 3rd year, | ||
| + | Elected to be principal, but LaFont declined, | ||
| + | Completion of Law School, | ||
| + | Came to Texas (1930s), | ||
| + | LaFont’s sister lived in Texas, | ||
| + | Depression era, | ||
| + | Plainview, Texas, | ||
| + | Began law practice in Plainview, | ||
| + | Paton Randolph, partner, | ||
| + | County Judge, Hale County (1932), | ||
| + | Opponents, | ||
| + | Salary, $250 per month, | ||
| + | Served four, two-year terms, | ||
| + | Democrat, | ||
| + | Republican Party, | ||
| + | Nonexistent in West Texas (1932), | ||
| + | Depression (again), | ||
| + | President Herbert Hoover, | ||
| + | Opinions, | ||
| + | President Franklin D. Roosevelt, | ||
| + | Plainview, Texas (again), | ||
| + | Salary cut, | ||
| + | Bank closing, | ||
| + | Albert Hinge, | ||
| + | Helped bank go back into business after 2 years, | ||
| + | District Attorney, 64th Judicial District, | ||
| + | Included 6 counties, | ||
| + | Opinions, | ||
| + | Cases, | ||
| + | Littlefield, Texas [rustle noises during this part of interview], | ||
| + | Dr. Hunt is shot by Dr. Newsom of Cameron, Texas, | ||
| + | Later, Dr. Hunt and his wife are murdered, | ||
| + | (1943), | ||
| + | Dr. Newsom prosecuted in Hale County, | ||
| + | Problems with bribes in Pardon Board. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
| − | '''Tape 1, Side 2:''' | + | '''Tape 1, Side 2:''' Hunt and Newsom case (continued), |
| − | + | Olton, Texas, | |
| + | Jim Thomas, | ||
| + | Bootlegger and prisoner, | ||
| + | Other cases, | ||
| + | State Legislature, | ||
| + | State representative for 2 terms (1948), | ||
| + | Ran for Senate and was defeated (1952), | ||
| + | Gilmer Adkins Law, | ||
| + | Opposed, | ||
| + | Consolidation of schools, | ||
| + | Description of law, | ||
| + | Law practice (1950s), | ||
| + | Civil cases, | ||
| + | Allan Shivers, Texas governor, | ||
| + | Opinion, | ||
| + | [They’re looking at photos on wall], | ||
| + | Marshall (Formby?), | ||
| + | Restrictions (?), | ||
| + | Hunt and Newsom case (again). | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
| − | '''Range Dates:''' | + | '''Range Dates:''' 1907-1998 |
| − | '''Bulk Dates:''' | + | '''Bulk Dates:''' 1940-1952 |
Revision as of 17:57, 4 May 2015
Harold LaFont reminisces about his experience as the district attorney of the 64th judicial district.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Harold M. LaFont
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: June 23, 1998
Location: Plainview, Texas
Interviewer: Gene B. Preuss
Length: 45 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Harold La Font,
Born: July 1, 1907, in Conran, Missouri,
Parents: L. E. F. and Clara LaFont,
Father: County Judge in New Maverick County, Missouri,
Southeast Missouri State College,
Missouri University,
Catron, Missouri,
Taught a year of school,
90 students in a one-room school,
Sawmill town,
Steve Blackman, friend,
Jobs held during high school and college,
Steve Blackman (again),
Washington, D. C.,
George Washington University,
Job,
Attend law school and teach at the same time,
Woodward School for Boys (early 1930s),
Taught school, 3 years,
Assistant principal, 3rd year,
Elected to be principal, but LaFont declined,
Completion of Law School,
Came to Texas (1930s),
LaFont’s sister lived in Texas,
Depression era,
Plainview, Texas,
Began law practice in Plainview,
Paton Randolph, partner,
County Judge, Hale County (1932),
Opponents,
Salary, $250 per month,
Served four, two-year terms,
Democrat,
Republican Party,
Nonexistent in West Texas (1932),
Depression (again),
President Herbert Hoover,
Opinions,
President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
Plainview, Texas (again),
Salary cut,
Bank closing,
Albert Hinge,
Helped bank go back into business after 2 years,
District Attorney, 64th Judicial District,
Included 6 counties,
Opinions,
Cases,
Littlefield, Texas [rustle noises during this part of interview],
Dr. Hunt is shot by Dr. Newsom of Cameron, Texas,
Later, Dr. Hunt and his wife are murdered,
(1943),
Dr. Newsom prosecuted in Hale County,
Problems with bribes in Pardon Board.
Tape 1, Side 2: Hunt and Newsom case (continued),
Olton, Texas,
Jim Thomas,
Bootlegger and prisoner,
Other cases,
State Legislature,
State representative for 2 terms (1948),
Ran for Senate and was defeated (1952),
Gilmer Adkins Law,
Opposed,
Consolidation of schools,
Description of law,
Law practice (1950s),
Civil cases,
Allan Shivers, Texas governor,
Opinion,
[They’re looking at photos on wall],
Marshall (Formby?),
Restrictions (?),
Hunt and Newsom case (again).
Range Dates: 1907-1998
Bulk Dates: 1940-1952
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.
