Robison, Polk 1979
Polk Robison, former head basketball coach and athletic director at Texas Tech University, discusses his coaching experiences, relates the history of the Tech athletic program, and comments on Texas Tech and the Southwest Conference.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Robison Polk
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: May 16 and 23 and June 21, 1979
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Ralph Sellmeyer and Bobby Weaver
Length: 3 hours 50 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Texas Tech Basketball,
Coaching staff,
Assistant football coach (1942),
Worked for General Motors,
Jones Stadium (1942),
Dell Morgan,
Left Texas Tech (1934),
Returned to Tech (1941),
Personality,
Killed in a car wreck.
Tape 1, Side 2: Dell Morgan (continued),
Defensive strategist,
Pete Cawthon,
J. T. King,
Steve Sloan,
Basketball,
Civic Center,
Closed circuit television,
Football program,
Improvement,
Funding,
Budget,
Stadium,
Future plans.
Tape 2, Side 1: Depression,
Campus jobs,
Texas Technological College,
Texas Technological College,
Hazing,
Housing situation,
Athletic Department,
Athletic Department,
Revenue,
Letter sports,
Conference,
Football,
Basketball, Dick Paine,
Coaches,
Athletes,
Campus activities,
Majors,
Basketball,
"Old Barn" home court,
Coliseum,
Crowds.
Tape 2, Side 2: Basketball (continued),
Opponents,
Students,
Matador Club (1930),
Supporters,
Lubbock residents,
Revenue,
Red Raider Club,
Athletes,
Home towns,
Area boys,
Games,
House of David,
Border Conference (won 1933, 1934),
Players,
Career coaching (1934),
Burkburnett, Texas (7 years),
Career, oil company (3 years),
Shasta Oil Company,
Texas Technological College (1942).
Tape 3, Side 1: Career coaching (continued),
Arlington, Texas, offer,
A. J. Willis,
Texas Technological College (1942),
Basketball program,
Athletic staff,
War times,
Army and Air Force programs,
Paper work,
Bus trips,
Texas Christian University (1944),
Players,
Psychology,
War time athletics,
Teams,
Audiences,
Football,
Basketball,
Coach Dell Morgan,
Army and Air Force programs, revenue,
Scholarship program, freshmen,
Post-war athletic program (1946),
Recruiting,
Conferences,
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA),
Ex-servicemen.
Tape 3, Side 2: Recruiting,
Parents,
Attitudes,
Black athletes, Texas (1963),
Post-war staff,
Coach Nichols (1946),
Coach Berl Huffman,
Specialization,
Athletic program,
Expansion,
Red Raider Club (1950s),
Matador Club support during war,
Sports added after World War II,
Swimming,
Soccer,
Southwest Conference,
Teams,
Arenas,
Moody Coliseum,
Lubbock Municipal Coliseum (1956),
Games,
Network coverage,
North Carolina State,
Basketball coaching,
Assistants,
Bill Miller (1953),
Football (1951),
Coaches.
Tape 4, Side 1: Attitudes toward Southwest Conference,
Membership,
Schedules,
Morley Jennings (1941),
Influence with the Southwest Conference,
War times and the Southwest Conference,
Membership in Southwest Conference,
Preston Smith, state legislator,
Proposal,
Mr. Woodward, chairman, University of Texas Board,
Border Conference,
Finances,
Lubbock and Southwest Conference,
Pressure from businesses,
Support,
Clifford B. Jones,
Hardin-Simmons University,
Southwest Conference,
Wichita Falls, Texas,
Votes in Southwest Conference,
Southern Methodist University,
Basketball,
NCAA,
Conference games,
University of Arkansas.
Tape 4, Side 2: University of Arkansas (continued),
Coach, basketball,
Admission to Southwest Conference,
Requirements,
Southwest Conference,
Texas Tech University,
Private universities,
Problems,
Schedules,
Athletic department,
Texas Tech University,
Debts,
Recruitment,
Polk Robison, Athletic Director,
Athletes,
Football,
Basketball,
Baseball program.
Range Dates: 1930-1979
Bulk Dates: 1930-1960
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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