Posey, Walter 1956-07-24
Walter S. Posey, pioneer Lubbock banker, discusses his personal background and early South Plains history. Among other things, he narrates the story of his kidnapping by escaped convicts in 1933 and offers his observations on the cattle business. Some accomplishments and civic services are also listed.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Walter Posey
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: July 24, 1956
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Seymour V. Connor
Length: 2 hours 30 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Discusses family tree,
Describes earliest memory,
Tells of his parents’ meeting and life in Callahan County,
Details trip west to Floyd County in 1890,
Crossing the Brazos River,
Fences on the Plains,
"Bonus" buying,
Discusses dugouts,
Relates his selling buffalo bones during 1893 drought,
Nobles Brothers Grocery in Amarillo mentioned,
Father bought Floydada general store,
Developing it into a bank,
Instruction on how to drive 2,500 Merino sheep to Liberal, Kansas,
Partner on JA Ranch,
Mexican sheepmen (Pastores) on the Plains.
Tape 1, Side 2: Blank
Tape 2, Side 1: Notes trying to join cavalry in Big Spring "to imitate" Bonaparte,
Discussion of chronology with date revisions,
Surveys first decade of banking,
J. B. Posey, father, owned several area banks with Lewis T. Lester,
Lubbock State Bank history (1908-1915),
Credits Lubbock’s financial stability to cooperation,
1921 Panic noted,
Depression and New Deal commented on,
Typifies Lubbock’s cattlemen founders,
Gives example of 1907 Panic and Bill Reed,
Loyalty for squareshooters,
Discusses J. Evetts Haley’s campaign,
Notes Plainview’s weakness,
Details the Santa Fe Railroad extension through Lubbock,
Names roles of C. W. Post, N. G. Abernathy, Julian Bassett.
Tape 2, Side 2: Comments on technology—adding machines and cars,
First auto in Lubbock belonged to Phelps White, LFD,
Ranch,
Defines California britches,
Establishment of Texas Technological College,
Summarizes life as uneventful work for his bank and Lubbock,
First wife died of a brain tumor (1931),
Begins narration of the time when he was kidnapped by jail escapees (1933).
Tape 3, Side 1: Continues narration of kidnapping incident,
Comments on news reporters,
Relates fate of prisoners,
Discusses the cattle business,
Fed cattle near Lubbock with Jeff Lindsay as partner(1910),
Cattlemen’s going broke every 15 to 20 years,
Cattlemen never making money on cattle,
Reviews father’s ranching career, mentioning the Kokernot Ranch,
Says that he buys mineral rights as hobby,
Discusses his personal housing,
Relates the differences between raising cattle and cotton,
Organization of Lubbock’s first gin (1905).
Tape 3, Side 2: Offers philosophy of life,
Lists proudest accomplishments,
Saved Mackenzie Park from a hog raiser,
City park system, Lubbock Country Club,
Names public service roles,
City positions,
School Board secretary,
First Methodist Church, Lubbock,
Texas Tech scholarships.
Range Dates: 1890-1956
Bulk Dates: 1890-1956
Access Information
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Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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