Rogers, Bobby 1998-07-07

Bobby Rogers reminisces over his career as a court reporter. He talks about local lawyers and judges with whom he worked for over the years.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Bobby Rogers

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: July 07, 1998

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Fred Allison

Length: 1 hour 45 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Court Reporting, equipment, stenograph, shorthand, skill, importance of court players, Difference between trials then and now, 1974 case in Muleshoe, Texas, Types of trials reported for, Judges, help to court reporters, Davidson, story, Jurors, Johnny Splawn, Counties reported for, conservative, Bobby Rogers, Born: Kirkland, Texas (September 4, 1933), family farmed Johnson grass, brother, George Born in 1919, Died in 1967 of a heart attack, Education, Kirkland, Texas (again), Roy Furr, founder of Furr’s Cafeteria (chain restaurant), Plainview, Texas, Education (again), East Mound, 2 teachers, one-room school, each grade level had a separate row, Plainview, Texas (again), attended high school, played tennis, Don Dean, Jimmy Dean, Television, 1st set in 1955, Lubbock, Texas, had one of the first television stations (KDUB), W. D. "Dub" Rogers, Court reporting (again), school, Mrs. Roy J. Lippert, opinions, only school until 1960 in the Southern U.S.A., Plainview, Texas (again), Bobby Rogers, part owner (1965-1975), more than 200 students graduated from school, History of the court reporter, Equipment (again).

Tape 1, Side 2: Equipment (continued), dialects, cassettes (tape), video cassettes, Court Reporters (again), future, stressful, Difficult cases, medical malpractice, atmospheric corporations, case in Littlefield, Texas, Court reporting (again), benefits, "Jack-of-all-trades", meet people, Types of trials reported for (again), federal, Judge Hal Woodward, Roy Wilken (court reporter), county court, Jurors (again), Lawyers, Sam Aldridge, John Aldridge, Jim Milam, George Dupree, Charlie Crenshaw, J. O. Smith, types of lawyers, Jan Fouts, Joe Nagy, Workman’s compensation laws, lawyers took bad cases, broke insurance companies, settlements, workman’s compensation commission, Court reporting (again), learning, speed, test.

Tape 2, Side 1: Judge Bills, story, Changing records, Jim Norman, mentor, characteristics, story, Making mistakes, Lawyers, Representing the guilty, Traveling to courts with judges, living near the judge, Alabama, most court reporters from Plainview, Texas, Judge Bills (again), Judge Pat Boone, Jr., Judge Tom Clinton, Official court reporter, Freelance court reporter, clients, job description, expenses/travel, Lawyers (again), Court Reporter Firm, begun by Bobby Rogers, Don Harley, workman’s compensation laws, Quantity of lawyers, Christmas parties, Lubbock Bar Association (again), unique, characteristics, Young lawyers, Personal thoughts.

Tape 2, Side 2: Judge Tom Clinton (again) story, Advice for potential court reporters, thoughts, future of court reporters, stenograph experience, wages, Women court reporters, no wage discrimination, hiring discrimination, appearances, Judges (again), (Ends after 15 minutes).

Range Dates: 1933-1998

Bulk Dates: 1960-1998

Access Information

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