Shaver, William 1998-10-15
William Shaver discusses his life as both an attorney and judge.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: William Shaver
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: October 15, 1998
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Fred Allison
Length: 2 hours
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Background,
Born: November 3, 1925, in Lubbock, Texas,
Father owned a cotton gin in Shallowater, Texas,
Gin burned in 1929 or 1930,
Raised in Rochester, Texas,
Army Air Force,
Southern Methodist University,
Obtained a bachelor’s degree in business,
administration and a law degree,
Cotton gin (again),
Irrigation,
Dust storms,
House improvements,
Water supply,
Father (again),
Anecdote,
Cotton gin,
Cooperative,
Education,
Law school,
Lawyers,
Pearl Harbor bombing,
Politics,
Democrats,
Father (again),
Community service,
Army Air Corps (Air Force), 1943 (again),
Volunteer,
Draft,
Basic training,
Flight interest,
Duties,
Civilians,
Guam,
Impressions,
Equipment,
Fuel.
Tape 1, Side 2: Army Air Corps (continued),
Flight missions,
Story of one mission,
Flight missions (again),
Atomic bomb,
Aftermath of World War II on Americans,
Law School (again),
Specialties,
Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Wife,
H. J. "Doc" Blanchard,
Assistant District Attorney,
Travis Shelton,
Doc Blanchard (again),
Partnership,
Assistant District Attorney (again),
Counties covered,
Cases tried,
Travis Shelton (again),
Forrest Bowers,
Cases tried (again),
Travis Shelton (again),
Opinions,
Characteristics,
District Attorney’s office,
Grand jury,
Murder cases.
Tape 2, Side 1: District Attorney’s office (continued),
Bootlegging cases,
Pro-bone cases,
Assistant District Attorney (again),
Duties,
Changes in law,
Opinions,
Trials,
Whitaker case,
Travis Shelton (again),
Lubbock Bar Association,
Crenshaw, Dupree and Milam,
Ralph Brock,
George Dupree,
Lubbock Bar Association (again),
Quantity of lawyers,
Memorial service,
Characteristics,
Competition,
Becoming a judge,
County judge,
Job description,
District judge (72nd district),
Differences between the county and district judge,
Job descriptions,
Cases tried,
Alton Griffin,
Racism in drug cases (c. 1960s and 1970s).
Tape 2, Side 2: Drug cases (continued),
Bench held (1970-1996),
Running for the bench seat,
Characteristics of a good judge,
Court Reporter,
Juanita Clark,
Becky Cleveland,
Job description,
Lawyers (again),
Seeing them develop professionally,
Role models,
Specialization,
Judicial system,
Court reform,
Children,
Access to attorney,
Pro-bono work (again),
Working in West Texas.
Range Dates: 1925-1998
Bulk Dates: 1940s-1996
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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