Martin, Retha 1975
On Tape 1 Retha Martin, chairman of the board of Dunlap’s Department Stores, discusses the history of the stores since 1916. On Tape 2 he discusses his involvement with Texas Tech on the Board of Regents and the Tech Foundation.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Retha Martin
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: March 18 and June 3, 1975
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: David Murrah
Length: 1 hour 40 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Autobiographical data,
Early duties at Dunlap’s in 1916 described,
Moved within Dunlap’s system,
Terms of business described Was supposed to close out Oklahoma stores,
but did not close all of them,
Made money and did not close last Oklahoma store,
Opened four stores in 1933,
Started with cheap merchandise, but gradually, upgraded stock,
Growth of stores throughout West Texas,
Describes move of offices to Lubbock,
Location of offices,
Names of other stores owned by the company,
Tells of buying interest in a $40 million shopping center in Florida,
Effect of recession on property,
Little effect of recession seen in other stores.
Tape 1, Side 2: Early grocery business discussed,
Buying items in bulk,
Canned goods,
Chain of command within system,
Decentralized operation,
Discussion of Dillard’s Department Store operation,
Effect of South Plains Mall on Dunlap’s business,
Amazed that banks do not have a better understanding of the retail business.
Tape 2, Side 1: Relationship between Dunlap’s and Texas Tech,
Spencer Wells mentioned,
Appointed to Texas Tech Board of Regents in 1965,
First gift to Tech of $1,000 for campus beautification,
Membership in Tech Foundation,
Considerations in hiring Grover Murray,
C. A. Cash, past regent, mentioned,
Grover Murray characterized,
Marshall Pennington mentioned,
Student uprisings recalled,
Tech name change,
Football at Tech discussed,
Position of Board of Regents in selecting faculty and personnel, especially athletic personnel.
Tape 2, Side 2: Character of the Board of Regents on which Martin served,
Opinion stated on Indiana Avenue controversy,
Older Lubbock residents suggested for interviews,
Roy Furr mentioned.
Range Dates: 1916-1975
Bulk Dates: 1916-1975
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.
