Montford, John T 1998-08-24
John T. Montford discusses his life as a Lubbock attorney and politician. He focuses his discussion on being the District Attorney.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: John T. Montford
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: August 24, 1998
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Fred Allison
Length: 1 hour
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Texas Government,
William (Bill) Clements,
Appointments—Jake Polk,
Swing vote, 1983,
Politics in the Texas Legislature,
District Attorney race (1974),
46% of the votes,
Alton Griffin (opponent),
Relationship,
Obscenity laws (community standards),
Theatre raids on controversial films,
Lubbock, Texas (1971),
United States Marines,
Military lawyer (105 cases),
Alton Griffin (again),
Theatre raids,
Montford defended theatre raids,
District Attorney race, 1974 (again),
Lost race to Alton Griffin,
Jim Milam (mentor and friend),
Opinions,
Named Outstanding Young Man of Lubbock (1973),
District Attorney race, 1974 (again),
District Attorney race, 1978,
Won with 78% of the votes,
Born: Fort Worth, Texas,
Father worked for American Airlines,
Lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a while,
Hurst, Texas,
Lived there five years,
University of Texas (Austin),
Began in 1961,
Fort Worth, Texas (again),
Money for college,
Worked as a carpenter’s helper,
Built houses,
Salary: $4 or $5 an hour,
Impressions of fellow workers,
Lubbock, Texas (again),
Economics (late 1960s, early 1970s),
Law practices,
Marion Key,
Warlick Carr,
Campbell, Jackson and Montford Firm (1973),
Ron Jackson, partner,
Pat Campbell, partner,
Partnership ended when Montford ran for District,
Attorney,
Alton Griffin (again),
Controversial films,
Texas Senate (1982),
Story,
Father (again),
Lower middle class,
Work ethic,
Fort Worth, Texas, 1949-1956 (again),
Two-bedroom, frame house,
Shared bedroom with two sisters,
Quality of home life,
Politics, natural,
Father (again),
Military lawyer (again),
Active duty (1968),
JAG,
Military training.
Tape 1, Side 2: Military training (continued),
Lubbock Bar Association,
District Attorney race, 1974 (again),
Campbell, Jackson and Montford (again),
Lawyers: advertising,
Car accident,
Broke back,
Value of life,
Alton Griffin (again),
Election and issues,
Democratic Party,
Republican Party—nonexistent,
District Attorney: 1978-1982,
Known as John T. 99,
Fourteen 99-year cases,
Violent crimes,
Death penalty,
Dirk West: Lubbock mayor,
Watch groups of violent crimes,
Violent crimes (again),
Unsolved crimes,
During term as DA solved 11 out of 20,
Kent Hance,
Good politicians,
Lyndon B. Johnson,
Dick Alexander,
Good politicians (again),
Bob Bullock,
Kent Hance (again),
Ben Barnes,
Dolph Briscoe,
Bill Hobby,
Thoughts about opportunity,
Robert Duncan,
Resigned on August 1996,
Political parties,
William (Bill) Clements: Texas Governor (again),
Bill Hobby: Lieutenant Governor (again).
Range Dates: 1971-1998
Bulk Dates: 1994-1998
Access Information
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Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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