Carr, Warlick 1998-06-22
Warlick Carr talks about the legal profession and practicing law in Lubbock, Texas.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Warlick Carr
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: June 22, 1998
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Gene Preuss
Length: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Carr, Marvin Warlick,
Born: January 4, 1921, in Fairlie, Texas,
Parents: Father - Vincent Carr, a banker from Commerce, Texas,
Mother - Ruth Carr, from Cole Hill, Arkansas,
Fairlie, Texas (1920s),
Population: 350 people,
4 grocery stores, a drug store, a service station, a train station, 2 cotton gins,
Lubbock, Texas,
Moved from Fairlie, Texas, to Lubbock, Texas, in 1932,
Family,
2 brothers: Waggoner, a lawyer; and Robert, a pediatrician,
1 sister, Mary Virginia,
Depression Era,
Moved to Lubbock, because the Fairlie bank, closed, leaving Vincent Carr unemployed,
Mother's brother lived in Lubbock,
Father became a bookkeeper for Stubb's Seed Company,
Lubbock, Texas (again),
Views as a child,
East Texas,
Enjoyed living in a small town,
Could participate in more,
Lubbock, Texas (again),
Graduated from Lubbock High School,
Texas Tech University,
Columbia University (New York City, New York),
Attended law school (1 year),
University of Texas,
Attended law school (last 2 years),
Texas Tech University (again),
Majored in government,
Debate teams,
High school,
Texas Tech University (4 years),
Earlier career goals,
Became a Methodist preacher like his mother's father,
Columbia University (again),
Opinion: Need to go to school where you eventually plan on practicing law,
Law practice,
Formed a firm in Lubbock, Texas, with brother Waggoner after law school,
Joined Bradley and Key law firm,
After Waggoner became Court Attorney,
1947 - graduated from the University of Texas law school,
Military Service,
Joined October 1, 1942,
Air Force - intelligence office,
Only single man, so he was transferred, he moved to several bases across the country,
1946 - discharged,
Bradley and Key law firm (again),
Bradley - retirement,
Stayed with Key for 34 years (1949-1989),
Law practice (again),
Lubbock, Texas (again),
Good place to be after World War II,
State Bar Association,
Principle contribution: being a member of the State Board of Law Examiners (20 years and 4 months),
Duties: check characters of law applicants, prepare, give and grade the bar exams,
Appointed by the supreme court for 2 year terms,
Chairman of the board for 6 years,
Billy Sol Estes litigation,
Law Practice (again),
Savings and Loans,
Differences in Judges,
Know Lubbock, Texas, judges best,
Local Lawyers,
Shaking hands is still good business,
Judges - Lubbock, Texas,
High quality,
Lawyers - Lubbock, Texas,
Good quality,
Lawyer - still an honorable profession,
Changes in the legal profession,
More lawyers,
More litigation,
Law has become more of a business than a profession,
A reason some law firms break apart,
Vision of big settlements
Tape 1, Side 2:
Young Lawyers,
Clients,
Cases,
Sharpstown Scandal,
Helped brother Waggoner defend himself,
Shelton, Travis - criminal attorney, also helped Waggoner,
Waggoner found not guilty,
Opinion: Times like this can destroy or elevate your faith in people,
Billy Sol Estes litigation (again),
Fertilizer business,
Fraud investment,
Sold more tanks to farmers than they had ever really bought,
C. I. T.,
Local Bar Association,
Not as active as in the beginning of Warlick's career,
Impact Texas Tech University's Law School has had on the law profession in Lubbock, Texas,
Created more lawyers,
A wonderful thing,
Opportunity for lawyers to use library,
Activities and speakers,
Top notch law school,
Changes in profession at the local level (Lubbock, Texas),
Women and Minorities,
Judge Hal Woodward,
Opinions,
State Board of Law Examiners (again),
Advocate groups,
Admit people without asking questions regarding mental health,
Advice for starting a law firm,
Do a good job for each client,
Specialization (again),
Changes in the legal profession (again),
Preparing for trials
Tape 2, Side 1:
Texas Bar Foundation,
Warlick received an award for practicing law in Texas for more than 50 years,
Staying in the legal profession,
Shelton, Travis (again),
Waggoner (again),
Divided his County attorney salary with Warlick,
Involvement with the John F. Kennedy Assassination,
(Ends after 10 minutes of conversation)
Tape 2, Side 2:
Blank
Range Dates: 1921-1998
Bulk Dates: 1921-1998
Access Information
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Transcript:
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