Armstrong, Reverend Pat M Armstrong 1970-09-02
Rev. Pat Armstrong, a Methodist minister, discusses his long and varied life, particularly his experiences as a Texas Ranger and his work in the oil fields, along with his philosophy of life.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Reverend Pat M. Armstrong
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: September 2, 1970
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Interviewer: Fred Carpenter
Length: 2 hours
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Names organizations associated with,
Old Trail Drivers Association mentioned,
Ministerial career summarized,
Early biographical information,
Incident involving burial of a redbird at age 4 recounted,
Education,
Early jobs held,
Discusses industrial accidents seen as a steelworker,
Cites health problems which interfered with early jobs,
Rescued drowning man,
Only experience getting drunk described,
Biographical information about parents,
Father's oil drilling ventures,
Mother inherited Brazoria Company land,
Father characterized,
Older son's death during World War II described,
Service as a Texas Ranger in East Texas during the oil boom
Tape 1, Side 2:
Worked in the oil fields,
Accidents on oil derricks described,
Reviews career as a Texas Ranger,
Stopped lynching of a Negro,
Discusses the greater freedom of earlier days,
People settled disputes privately without benefit of the law,
Describes career as a Methodist minister,
Reasons he decided to become a minister,
Incident when son expelled from school mentioned,
Younger son's career as a jet pilot,
Service during World War II,
Personal career as a Texas Ranger (again),
Attempted murder of Mr. Armstrong while working on case of oil shaft,
Forcing out of independent oil companies in East Texas described,
Humble Oil Company and Governor Ross Sterling involved,
Cites experiences in the oil business,
Belief in predestination explained
Tape 2, Side 1:
Mentions acquaintance with famous people,
John Ben Shepperd, Attorney General of Texas,
Lyndon B. Johnson,
Harry Truman,
Experiences as a Texas Ranger in the East Texas oil fields recalled,
Describes extent of crime in the fields and the institution of martial law,
Mr. Carpenter recounts n experience as a National Guardsman during the martial law,
Story of encounter with man named Cole,
Cites abilities as a psychoanalyst,
Gives example of incident with woman and daughter,
Psychic abilities explained,
Reasons for trip to San Francisco,
Heart Trouble discussed
Tape 2, Side 2:
Music plays,
Heart trouble, continued,
Served as a guinea pig for a new drug,
Explains his philosophy of life,
Tells of man named Dupree who committed suicide,
Example of Mrs. Reese who became a recluse,
Philosophy of justice expressed,
Story of lending $100,
Writes poetry,
Some of his poems read,
Son and grandchildren discussed
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Transcript:
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