Witherspoon, James W 1974, 1975, 1984
James Witherspoon, Hereford attorney, sugar beet producer and early stockholder in the Hereford feedlot, reviews the origin, growth and development of the feedlot. He also discusses environmental controversy associated with it, along with his family history, legal career and the organization of the Texas Sugar Beet Growers Association.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: James W. Witherspoon
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: January 8, 1974; October 23, 1975; November 8, 1984
Location: Hereford, Texas
Interviewer: Jeff Townsend, Fred Carpenter, and Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Abstract
January 8, 1974. Tape 1, Side 1: Family background, early life,
Early feedlot of 1950s recalled,
Paul Engler and origin of Hereford feedlots examined,
Beet sugar plant cited,
Growth of feedlot related,
Financing of feedlot discussed,
Stability of feedlots claimed,
Pro Chem-co public corporation cited,
Small Business Administration loan discussed,
Reasons for location of feedlot given,
Out-of-state help in establishing feedlot noted,
Discussion of drug use in feedlot,
Mention of environmental problems,
Role of nutrition in feedlot growth mentioned,
Rising costs cited,
Hereford newspaper’s position on environmental controversy,
Speculation on reasons for feedlot location in Hereford,
Attitude toward Hereford community, economy given.
Tape 1, Side 2: blank
October 23, 1975. Tape 2, Side 1: Parents came to South Plains (1907),
Homestead located,
Parents’ move from Florida to Oklahoma,
Land rush,
Contract to build Texas State Capitol,
Land reserved for capitol,
James Witherspoon born (1906),
Hereford as trading center,
Education,
Law schools at the University of Texas (Austin) and University of Oklahoma,
District Attorney of 69th District,
District Judge,
Hereford Bar members,
Relatives practicing law,
Spectators in courts,
Hereford (1930s),
Drought,
Population,
Depression,
Hereford, town of windmills,
Crop payment contract plan,
Government agricultural programs.
Tape 2, Side 2: not abstracted
November 8, 1974. Tape 3, Side 1: Texas Sugar Beet Growers Association,
Sugar beet production area (1959),
Texas Sugar Beet Growers Association (continued),
Production,
Lack of factory,
Factory/refinery,
Sugar Act (1934),
Attempts to change (1959),
Opposition,
Grassroots campaigns,
Organization of sugar beet associations,
Lobbying,
Sugar Act (1962),
Awarding of factory,
Hereford, Texas,
Holly Sugar Company (1964),
Sugar cane refinery,
Texas Valley,
Sugar,
Nutritional values,
Production levels,
Holly Sugar Company (again).
Tape 3, Side 2: Experimental station,
Bushland, Texas.
Range Dates: 1906-1984
Bulk Dates: 1930-1962
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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