Oden, William E 1969, 1975
Dr. William Oden discusses and evaluates his experiences and relates activities in the Texas Senate during the Texas Tech name change controversy of 1969.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: William E. Oden
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: June 2, 1969; November 6, 1975
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Roy Sylvan Dunn, Joanna Shurbet
Length: 2 hours
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Senator Mike McKool (Dallas),
Appearance before the Texas Senate as Committee of,
Whole,
Motions name be Texas State University,
Speakers supporting TSU,
Reid,
Russell Bean,
Dr. William Oden,
Kathy Obrioni,
Senator Hightower proposes Texas Technological College and State University,
Senator Barbara Jordan proposes University of the Southwest,
Reaction in the Senate,
Reasons for the failure of Texas State University,
Senators support authority of the Board,
Support of Senators from the area involved,
Name change not a local issue,
Incident Friday night between Dr. Kline Nall and Senator Bates, involving Doc Blanchard,
Doc Blanchard reads statement—Point of Privilege,
Speculation—how will Board react,
Temperment of U. S.,
Visit to Senator from Vernon,
List of those who backed Texas Tech University,
McKool’s role in the issue,
Doc Blanchard’s attitude,
Reaction upon return to Tech campus.
Tape 1, Side 2: Incident between Bates and Oden concerning Kline Nall,
Elmer Tarbox,
Signing of Medical School Bill,
Stand of Administration in name change,
State Affairs Committee hearing,
Speakers: David Casey, Manuel DeBusk,
Engineering of the issue.
Tape 2, Side 1: Support of Texas State University,
Texas A & M’s relinquishment to rights to name,
Other names proposed,
Support for Double T,
Split of Texas Tech ex-students,
Manuel DeBusk’s opinion,
Establishment of joint name change committee,
Appointment of Grover Murray as President,
Removed American Association of University,
Professors’ censure,
Remained neutral in name change controversy,
Possible reasons,
Faculty support for Texas State University,
Emotional factors in name change controversy,
Senate actions,
Reasons,
Board of Regents’ opinions,
Political motives,
Preston Smith,
Ben Barnes,
Sharpstown scandal,
Move not power play on part of students and faculty,
Necessity for "respectable offense",
Drawbacks of Texas Tech,
Immediate future of name change.
Tape 2, Side 2: Distant future of name change,
Lessening importance of name,
Aid of several programs within Texas Tech.
Range Dates: 1969-1975
Bulk Dates: 1969-1975
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.
