Shahan, James T 1975-12-10

"Happy" Shahan, prominent area rancher, starts off with his interest in sports, his education, occupations and interest in city government. He discusses the building of Alamo Village and his involvement with movies and famous singers before concluding with his philosophy and career in ranching.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: James T. Shahan

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: December 10, 1975

Location: Brackettville, Texas

Interviewer: Fred Carpenter

Length: 2 hours 35 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Grandfather Shahan, From Tennessee, Settled in Whitehouse, Texas, Grocery store, Post office, Children, 1930s Depression, Employment cleaning chicken houses, Basketball team, Whitehouse High School, Tri-state championship, Tyler Junior College, All-state in basketball, Baylor University, Car wreck, Job cutting wood, Basketball team, Tyler Junior College, Coaches’ influences, Baylor University, Marriage (1939), Children, Employment with oil company, Work on pipeline, Loading ships, Track team, Baylor University, Southwest Conference Meet.

Tape 1, Side 2: Checkers, Death of father-in-law, Employment with Humble Oil Company, Work on wife’s family ranch, Wife inherits 10,000 acres, Livestock, Leasing land, Birth of second daughter, Trapping and hunting for pelts, Building livestock herd, Building store, Registered Angus business, Elected to city council, Mayor’s position, Making movies, Use of Fort Clark.

Tape 2, Side 1: Trip to Hollywood, California, Filming movies, Arrowhead, Last Command, Resignation as mayor, Trip to Canada, Building Alamo Village, Drought (1950-1955), Land purchased in East Texas, Alamo re-creation (1957), Sells land in East Texas, Picking cotton during 1930s Depression, First ranch, Lampshade business, Protein, vitamin, mineral business, Birth of son.

Tape 2, Side 2: Anecdote about John Nance Garner, Ghost story, Singing contest, Boxing champion, "Songbird of East Texas", Interest in drums, Singing career, Helping underprivileged children, Famous song recorded, Saddie Peron, Johnny Rodriguez, Manager.

Tape 3, Side 1: Making of a "star", Johnny Rodriguez, Musical tones, Development of talent, Help given to entertainers, Tourism at Alamo Village, Movies made in area, Future movies, Building movie sets, Tourist trade, Promotion, Cattle business, Longhorns, Leasing to movies.

Tape 3, Side 2: Cattle business (continued), Longhorns (continued), Breeding, Faults, Cattle herds, Sheep and goat herds, Belief in God, Philosophy of life, Bicentennial celebrations, Reenactment of the Battle of the Alamo, Scrapbooks, Robbery, Daughter’s accident, Son’s accident, Support of wife.

Range Dates: 1930s-1975

Bulk Dates: 1930s-1975

Access Information

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