Morehead, Lucian 1998-08-18
Lucian Morehead discusses his life on the South Plains and his work as an attorney in Plainview, Texas.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Lucian Morehead
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: August 18, 1998
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Gene B. Preuss
Length: 1 hour 45 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Lucian Morehead,
Born: June 24, 1911, in Plainview, Texas,
Parents: Father—Edward John Morehead,
Mother—Ethel Mae Daily Morehead,
Daily grandparents,
Built first 3-story building on the Plains (a hotel),
Edward and Ethel Morehead (again),
Cloverlake Dairy Farm (went from one cow to 150),
Depression Era,
Albert and H. W. Garrett,
Dairy farm,
Interest in law,
Education,
Graduated from Plainview High in 1926,
Wayland Baptist University (2 years),
Baylor University—graduated in 1930,
University of Texas (1932-1935),
Tom and Jim Milam,
Law School requirements (1930s),
Only needed high school degree,
University of Texas Law School,
165 at the beginning, 60 finished on time (Lucian’s freshman class),
300-400 students,
10 or 12 professors,
No air-conditioning,
Plainview, Texas,
Mead Griffin,
First employer in 1935,
Law practice,
Wages-$50 a month,
Lived with parents,
After six months, received a raise to $60 a month,
Became Mead Griffin’s law partner in 1937,
U. S. military,
Would not take Lucian because his eyesight was bad,
He was married, with a baby,
News about World War II,
Informative,
Radio,
Law practice (again),
Job descriptions,
Cases,
Tried several,
Moody Case—Spring of 1938 or 1939.
Tape 1, Side 2: Moody Case (continued),
Defense attorney,
Acquitted, self defense,
Cases (again),
Bill Queen case,
Killed son-in-law, over abusing Bill’s daughter,
Defense for Bill Queen,
Spouse abuse in the 1930s and 1940s,
Law practice (again),
Former law partner,
Now has a single practice,
Jim Milam (again),
Opinions,
Friendship,
Audrey Ferris (wife),
Born, 1913,
Father worked for Charles Goodnight,
Floydada, Texas,
Met at the University of Texas in 1934,
Married in 1937,
Taught in Plainveiw, Texas,
Wages $200 to $250 a month,
Children,
Son: John, a lawyer (has a daughter and a son),
Daughter: Lucinda, a teacher (has a daughter and two grandchildren),
Depression Era in Plainview,
Banks closed twice,
Money was tight,
People left homes to look for work,
Bartering with milk from dairy farm,
Siblings,
Two sisters, one brother,
Dust Bowl—description.
Tape 2, Side 1: Dust Bowl (continued),
John T. Boyd (again),
Opinions,
National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws,
Wrote an article, "How to Life and Die with Texas Probate",
Political Involvement,
Candidates endorsed,
Chairman of the Hale County Democratic Party, 1940,
Independent,
Allan Shivers,
Price Daniel,
Opinions,
Legal fees, in 1935,
Deeds, $1 or $2,
Sale contracts for land, $5,
Change in legal profession,
Technology,
Malpractice insurance (for attorneys),
Texas Tech University Law School,
Opinions,
Legal fees (again),
Public perceptions of lawyers,
Now more concerned with money (overhead).
Tape 2, Side 2: Public perceptions of lawyers (continued),
Advertising,
Trials,
Opinion of lawyers,
Advice for people who want to be lawyers,
John Morehead,
Possible interviews,
Gene Owen,
Tom Hamilton,
Randy Tone (?),
Afterthoughts.
Range Dates: 1911-1998
Bulk Dates: 1935-1998
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.
