Quilliam, William Reed 1973, 1998

Dr. Reed Quilliam, a former Texas state representative, discusses his life as an attorney and a professor at the Texas Tech University School of Law, along with his involvement in Texas politics.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: William Reed Quilliam

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: December 3 and 13, 1973; July 14, 1998

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Jeff Townsend and Gene B. Preuss

Length: 4 hours 50 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Gives background, Born: 1929, in Beaumont, Texas, Schooling recounted, Comments on interest in politics, College career discussed, Spent time in Navy, Moved to Lubbock remembered, Taught a year at Tech, Returned to law, Ran for state representative, Texas politics described.

Tape 1, Side 2: Experiences in state legislature recalled, Discusses state revenue, Speakership of house considered, Notes his voting records, Governors compared.

Tape 2, Side 1: Talks about lobbyists, Techniques noted, Remembers social pressure, Texas State Teachers Association recalled, Role of Mexican-Americans considered, Comments on law school appropriations for Texas Tech, Tells about Ben Barnes as Speaker of the House.

Tape 2, Side 2: Blank

Tape 3, Side 1: Talks about law school at Texas Tech, Problems in obtaining funds noted, Comments on amendments to appropriations bills, Pledge card system explained, Continues about law school, Speaker affiliation described, Recalls major pieces of legislation concerning Lubbock, Medical school for Texas Tech recommended, Obtained state school for mentally retarded, Name-change issue for Texas Tech remembered, Recommendation for systems in higher education discussed.

Tape 3, Side 2: Systems bill stalled, Lists reasons for leaving state politics, 1973 reform session recounted, Reflects on Sharpstown scandal, Political career summarized, Need for regional authority considered.

Tape 4, Side 1: Continues discussion about regional authority, Texas constitution considered, Explains reasons for teaching at Texas Tech, Went back to graduate school in law, Teaching courses talked about, "Last Tango in Paris" incident described, Tells about 1967 congressional session, Faculty compensation discussed, Chaired Highways and Roads Committee, Problems in financing public education noted.

Tape 4, Side 2: Blank

Tape 5, Side 1: William Reed Quilliam, Jr., Born: January 21, 1929, in Beaumont, Texas, Parents: Father—William Reed Quilliam, Sr., Mother—Gladys Harned Qulliam, Head of music at Lamar University, William Reed Quilliam Sr. (again), Geologist, During Depression, went back to school to become a lawyer, Hebbronville, Texas, Attended school, grades 1-8, Texas was on an eleven-grade system at the time, Joe Nagy, Beaumont, Texas (again), Education, Hebbronville, Texas (again), Water supply, William R. Quilliam Sr. began the Hebbronville, Utilities Inc. along with the Yeager (?) family, Owned it from 1934 to 1963, Parr family of Duval County, Texas, Stories, Hebbronville, Texas classmates, Beaumont, Texas (again), Detroit Tigers farm team, the Beaumont Exploiter (farm-based team), Career ambitions, Become a sports writer, Lawyer, University of Texas School of Law, Involvement, After school, applied for active duty, Naval reserves, Myrna, wife, Story of their meeting, Korean Conflict, Patrolled waters, Lubbock, Texas, Wages for lawyers, $300-350 a month, Taught business law at Texas Tech University, $477 a month, $100 a month grading correspondence courses.

Tape 5, Side 2: Teaching at Texas Tech (again) in 1955, Children, Corrine (?), b. Feb. 1954, Catherine, b. Oct. 1955, William Reed III, b. July 1961, Lubbock, Texas (again), Weather, Dust storms, Teaching at Texas Tech (again), Law practice, With Marion Key and Warlick Carr, General practice, Trust officer at American State Bank, Real Estate Practice, House Representative in Texas Legislature, Took Waggoner Carr’s seat, Always interested in politics, 1961-1969, Issues—sales tax, Kennedy assassination, House Representative (again), Passed the medical school planning bill for Texas Tech (1965), Ultimately passed in 1969, Getting the Texas Tech University School of Law funded.

Tape 6, Side 1: 1965 legislative session (continued), Preston Smith, Opinions, Remarks on representing Lubbock in the House, Have to decide whether to vote your district or your conscience, Ralph Yarborough, Opinions, Politics, Opinion, Price Daniel, Opinion, John B. Connally, Opinions, Jim Walters, Associates who ran law firm while Quilliam was gone for legislative sessions, Jim Walters (again), Formed partnership, General practice, Richard B. "Dick" Amandes, Dean of the Texas Tech University School of Law, Quilliam becoming a faculty member, Offered Quilliam a position, Going back to school, Harvard, January 1968-January 1969, Lexington, Massachusetts, Work hard during the week and sight-see weekends, Texas Tech University School of Law (again), Taught 1969-1995, Opposition and support of building the school, Lubbock Bar Association, Quantity of lawyers, Benefits, Cheap labor from students, Access of the law library, Students, Age differences, Thoughts on teaching.

Tape 6, Side 2: Minorities in law school, Women, Huge increase in law students, African-Americans, Women (again), Texas Tech University School of Law’s effect on the Lubbock community, Benefits (again), Cheap labor from students (again), Access to library, Speakers, Public perception of lawyers, Too much litigation, Competition, Expenses, Areas of teaching, Advice to potential lawyers, Must be willing to work, Like the law, Future of the legal profession, Greater emphasis on mediation and arbitration.

Range Dates: 1929-1998

Bulk Dates: 1961-1995

Access Information

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