Waddington, Johnny 1980-01-04

Johnny Waddington discusses his family background and the various jobs he has held over the years in the oil fields and the trucking industry.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Johnny Waddington

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: January 04, 1980

Location: Woodrow, Texas

Interviewer: Richard Mason

Length: 3 hours 10 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Born: Bosque County, Texas (1905), Family background, England to United States (1940), Stone masonry, McKinney, Texas, Eli Waddington, father, John Waddington, grandfather, Texas and Pacific Railroad employee, Murdered (1881), Eli Waddington, Farming, Bosque County, Parker County, Texas, Cotton, Buck Barry, Indian fighter, Occupation, Douglas and Orr Company, Thurber, Texas, Coal mining, Surrounding towns, Italian population.

Tape 1, Side 2: Entertainment, Movies, Sports, Model T Ford, Mine strikes, Oil field worker, Wildcatting, Mexico, Travel, Bumper gates, "Old Gray Mare" Band, Borger, Texas, Phillips Petroleum Company, Sour gas, Cow Holler Pasture, Oil well, Rosa Tinnin, wife, Harley Sadler’s tent show, Beauty operator, Hair styles, Oil fields, Wooden rigs, Equipment, Steam power, Methods, Anecdotes, Drilling.

Tape 2, Side 1: Oil business, Attractions, John Watkins, uncle, Mercantile store, Drillers’ stories, Wages, Jobs held, Tool dresser, Drilling procedure, Nitroglycerin, "Skidding a rig", Accidents, First rotary rig, Olney, Texas, Mr. Lacy, Cable rig vs. rotary rig, Professional competition, Mud problems, Geologists.

Tape 2, Side 2: Work uniform, Pranks, El Paso, Texas, Del Norte Hotel, Trucking industry, Eggs, Communication, Telegraph, Livestock (1934), Trailers, Competition with railroads, Bill Hobbs.

Tape 3, Side 1: Bonnie and Clyde, Police patrol, Labor conditions, Progress, Childhood, Radios, Farming, Conservatism, Texas Tech University, Contribution to growth of agriculture, Southwest Airlines, Space travel, Changes, Model T Fords, Oil rig fire, Causes, Drilling equipment, Safety mechanisms.

Tape 3, Side 2: Oil drilling, Accidents, Capping procedure, Oil uses, Oil field anecdotes, "Fresno", Construction, John Waddington, grandfather, Squatter, Land dispute, Murder, Suspects, Magnolia Petroleum Company, Childhood jobs, Trucking business, Armour Company, Load limits, Texas, New Mexico, Seasonal changes, Mules, Clovis, New Mexico, Cannon Air Force Base.

Tape 4, Side 1: Cannon Air Force Base (continued), Sandstorms, Problems, Solutions, Trucking contract, Farming (1944), Machinery, Combines, Harvest, Cattle business, Arkansas.

Tape 4, Side 2: Blank

Range Dates: 1840-1944

Bulk Dates: 1905-1944

Access Information

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