Bevers, Judge John Denzil 1998-06-12
Lubbock, Texas attorney John Bevers talks about growing up in West Texas, his involvement with the army in World War II and his law career.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Judge John Denzil Bevers
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: June 12, 1998
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Gene Preuss
Length: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1:
Bevers, Judge John Denzil,
Born in Wellington, Texas on August 15, 1923,
Parents,
Father John,
Cotton ginner,
Mother Cody,
Law secretary,
Better Business Bureau,
F.O. Masten,
Influences to go into law,
Wellington, Texas lawyers,
Friends in the United States Army,
Brothers,
Douglas,
Navy,
Milk route,
Korean War,
Dan,
Car dealer,
Mixed drinks at the local drug store at the age of 14,
Lubbock, Texas,
Texas Tech University,
Worked at dry cleaners,
Had to quit school,
Worked at an oil patch in Northern New Mexico – Southern Colorado,
World War II,
Drafted into the army, 1943,
Jeep driver with reckon platoon,
Training,
Tank outfit,
Eligible for Army Specialized Training program,
University of Kentucky,
Engineering,
Joined Air Corp,
Basic training,
Sent back to ground forces,
Colorado,
Joined 71st light infantry,
Pack mules,
Fort Benning,
Southern France,
Joined Patton’s 3rd army,
Met Russians in Austria,
Started training for war in the Pacific after defeating Germans,
War ended in the Pacific,
Stationed in the Alps,
Discharged on April 10, 1946,
Bevers, John Denzil (again),
Worked on drilling rig in Northern New Mexico – Southern Colorado,
Enrolled again at Texas Tech University,
GI Bill,
Jobs,
Anecdote,
Decision to go to law school,
Worked in oil patch after graduation,
Elected County Attorney, Wellington, Texas, 1952,
Passed bar exam,
Finished Law school,
University of Texas School of Law,
Influential people,
Dean Green,
Wellington, Texas (again),
County attorney,
Types of cases,
Rape case,
Quit after two years,
Lubbock, Texas (again),
Began working with Bob Huff,
Personal injury,
Workman’s compensation,
Opinions,
Visited Houston, Texas,
Offered job, but declined it,
Reasons for not moving to Houston, Texas,
Amarillo, Texas, 1957,
State Farm Insurance,
Claims adjuster,
Lubbock, Texas (again) 1958,
Started a law firm with Bill Davis and Forest Bowers,
Law,
Difference from other communities,
Wellington, Texas,
Small town practicing,
Working with Bill Davis,
General practice,
Law,
Advertising,
Changes in practicing,
Child support
Tape 2:
Law (continued),
Lawyer fees and clients,
Stories,
Lawyers – Lubbock, Texas,
Milam, Jim,
McWorter, Owen,
Story about running for state legislature,
Judicial District Bar Association for Collingsworth, County,
President of Lubbock Bar Association,
Texas State Bar Association,
Role,
Opinions of mandatory involvement,
Politics,
Involvement,
Campaign manager for Marshall Farmer for governor,
Recollections,
Hill, John,
Hance, Kent,
Democrat,
Parties,
Changes in Texas’ political party preference,
Legal profession,
Changes during career,
Felony cases,
Procedures,
Clients welfare,
Divorce case fees,
Greed,
Image of profession,
Story,
Griffin, Tom
Range Dates: 1923-1998
Bulk Dates: 1943-1988
Access Information
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Transcript:
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