Smith, Frances 1998-09-23
Legal secretary Frances Smith discuss her years working with lawyers and judges in Lubbock. She also discusses the years she spent in Germany with her husband working for the military.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Frances Smith
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: September 23, 1998
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Fred Allison
Length: 1 hour 15 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Frances Smith, background,
Raised in Wichita Falls, Texas,
Married an Air Force Captain who worked at Shepherd Air Force Base,
Moved to Europe for 10 years,
Moved to Lubbock, Texas in early 1960s,
Started in legal profession,
Divorced husband,
Midwestern University (1947),
Studied pre-law,
Discrimination against women lawyers,
Charlie Jones,
Worked for him 20 years,
Lawyers—Lubbock, Texas,
Relationship with one another,
Jim Milam,
Lubbock Bar Association,
Informal agreements between lawyers,
Women lawyers,
Sexual revolution,
Medical profession,
Mother,
General practitioner,
Male dominated professions, before World War II,
Paralegal work,
Duties,
Titles,
Legal secretary,
Changes,
Dictation, shorthand,
Dictaphone,
Computers,
Paperwork,
Charlie Jones (again),
Defense lawyer, personal injury,
Travis Shelton,
Cases: Charlie Jones,
Homer Maxey vs. Citizens National Bank,
Chuck Sewert case, late 1970s,
Pioneer lawyers in Lubbock, Texas,
Bill Evans,
E. G. Farr,
Judge Robert Bean.
Tape 1, Side 2: Clint, Bean and Evans Law Firm (1950),
Chick Trout,
Charlie Jones (again),
Died 1988,
Characteristics,
From Wellington, Texas,
Lawyers’ image,
Defending the guilty,
Legal fees,
Changes,
Legal secretary (again),
Job duties,
Defense lawyers,
Travis Hughes,
Alton Griffin,
Bill Wishkeeper,
Judge Woodward,
Opinions,
Worked for Woodward after Jones died (1988-1994),
Receptionist,
Federal position,
Judge Woodward (again),
Desegregation case for Lubbock schools (1968),
Busing,
Disposed of case in early 1990s,
Judge Mary Lou Robinson,
Federal court,
Daily operations,
Judge Woodward (again),
Opinions (again),
Senior status,
Sentencing guidelines,
Husband (again),
Air Force officer,
Intelligence,
Air Force base in Germany during the Cold War (1950s),
Had high level clearance,
Worked for Air Force and Army counter intelligence,
Hungarian crisis,
Messages about Hungarians.
Tape 2, Side 1: Hungarian crisis (continued),
No evacuation plan for dependents,
Husband (again),
His Sergeant was arrested for giving information to East Germany,
Afraid he was also suspected,
Flew in United States spy planes,
Communications officer,
U2 Incident,
Francis Gary Powers,
Was a civilian,
Air Force extremely upset,
Husband Jerry Smith (again),
Flight missions,
Moved to Lubbock so husband could go to Texas Tech University (1964),
Buddy Holly,
Lubbock, Texas,
Bought home on 54th Street,
Size of city (1964),
Weather,
Culture,
Legal profession,
Disrespect,
Lawyers,
Pro-bono work,
Travis Hughes (again),
Court reform,
Medical malpractice,
Fees,
Legal fees (again).
Tape 2, Side 2: Blank
Range Dates: 1947-1998
Bulk Dates: 1964-1994
Access Information
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Transcript:
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