McElroy, D M 1975-02-07
D. M. McElroy, Director of Continuing Education at Texas Tech, recalls his college football career at Tech from 1931 to 1935 and Coach Pete Cawthon. He also discusses his work with the Ex-Students Association from 1947 to 1952.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: D. M. McElroy
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: February 07, 1975
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Marshall Pennington and Etta Lynch
Length: 3 hours 35 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Early life,
High school,
High school principal recalled,
Attempt to get an athletic scholarship at Texas Tech,
Contact with Coach Pete Cawthon in 1931,
Remembers day it was announced that Tech would be in Lubbock (1923),
Anecdotes about Pete Cawthon,
Comments on Paul W. Horn,
Reason that Men’s Gym looks like a barn,
Aubrey Butts mentioned,
More anecdotes about Cawthon,
Dell Morgan noted,
Defends Coach Cawthon against accusations,
Anecdote concerning Dr. Bradford Knapp,
Tech’s membership in the Border Conference.
Tape 1, Side 2: Plays used by Cawthon discussed,
Gwynn "Mule" Dowell mentioned,
Teammates named,
Formed company with Leon Ince, former board member,
Parents discussed,
Definition of cotton compress,
Early Texas Tech athletic scholarships,
Many early Tech athletes listed,
Football programs from 1930s examined,
Early Lubbock High School coaches,
Story of early partnership with Leon Ince continued,
Sold out to Ince,
Worked for a derrick and tank company in Indiana.
Tape 2, Side 1: Work in Indiana (continued),
Met wife in Kentucky,
Served during World War II with Corps of Engineers in Alaska,
After discharge, went to Houston to work with Leon Ince,
Marriage and birth of children,
Movement to get ex-students on Texas Tech Board of Directors,
Formation of present Ex-Students Association credited to John Wilson,
McElroy came to work for Ex-Students Association,
as Executive Secretary in 1947,
Dr. William Whyburn discussed,
Appointment of Dr. Dossie M. Wiggins as President of Tech,
Early problems with Ex-Students Association in 1947,
Division of state’s permanent university fund discussed,
Ex-Students helped finance Student Union Building by using library,
deposits that students never claimed,
Developed Texas Techsan magazine,
Founded local chapter of Texas Tech,
Ex-Students throughout country,
Early Ex-Students organization,
Later secretaries discussed,
Remodeling of original President’s Home,
Became home of Ex-Students Association.
Tape 2, Side 2: Blank
Tape 3, Side 1: Pete Cawthon,
Takes team on movie lot tour,
Loyola game,
Game against Southern Methodist,
The Knothole Gang,
Temper,
Incident of hitting a black porter,
Racial attitudes,
Etta Lynch, interviewer, discusses possible deletion of Cawthon’s racial views from her book.
Tape 3, Side 2: Blank
Tape 4, Side 1: Pete Cawthon (continued),
Whacker Barton incident,
Jackie Durham,
Robin egg blue vest incident,
Skull practice,
Evaluations of football games,
Discipline,
Etta Lynch,
Chapters for book Tender Tyrant,
Pete Cawthon (again),
Family,
Use of profanity, violence,
McElroy and Mule Dowell anecdote,
Use of psychology,
Sporting goods salesman anecdote.
Tape 4, Side 2: Pete Cawthon (continued),
Reaction to death of Knute Rockne,
Visits players’ parents,
Letters from Cawthon,
Etta Lynch (again),
Chapters in Tender Tyrant (again),
Pete Cawthon (again),
Mandatory church attendance,
Prayers,
Yancy Price kicked off team,
Lew Jones,
Strategy,
Use of profanity by Texas Tech players,
Criticism of Cawthon,
Pete Cawthon (again),
Concern for players,
Texas A & M game,
Kansas State University game,
Dance lessons for football players,
Hotel towels incident.
Tape 5, Side 1: Pete Cawthon (continued),
25th Anniversary of Texas Tech,
Buddy Brothers,
Anecdote on football hall of fame,
Anecdote on babysitting Cawthon’s children,
Pete Cawthon (again),
Anecdote on players’ use of profanity,
Helps build first synagogue in Lubbock, Texas,
Fight between Bear Curfman and Lawrence Priddy,
Dutchy Smith,
Death of Dr. Hirsch,
Concern for people,
Curtis Clemmer,
Julia Miller.
Tape 5, Side 2: Blank
Range Dates: 1930-1975
Bulk Dates: 1931-1947
Access Information
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Transcript:
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