Sollis, L J, Eugenia Chapman, and Mrs Chapman
L. J. "Lefty" Sollis, former Texas Tech football standout, along with his wife Eugenia and mother-in-law, Mrs. Chapman, discuss former Tech football coach Pete Cawthon. Cawthon’s personality and that of other players and coaches is described. Note: Poor sound quality makes this tape difficult to understand at the end of side one.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: L.J. Sollis, Eugenia Chapman, and Mrs. Chapman
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: None Given
Location: None Given
Interviewer: Etta Lynch
Length: 1 hour 55 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Pete Cawthon, head coach at Texas Tech,
Dutchy Smith, assistant coach,
Character,
Cawthon’s character,
Dean W. L. Stangel,
His opinion of Cawthon,
Anecdote,
Players wrecked Cawthon’s car,
Cawthon stole Sollis’ pants,
Berl Huffman, assistant coach,
Wrecked car (again),
Use of profanity,
Anecdotes,
Cawthon stole Sollis’ and Truett Owens’ pants,
Boxing match,
Knickers,
Refusal to wear a wristwatch,
Football scores given,
Frank Fletcher, former player,
Team met Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey,
Dell Morgan, former player and assistant coach,
Cawthon’s concern for people,
Curtis Clemmer,
Football records held by Sollis,
Yards run for a touchdown,
Intercepted passes,
People who knew Cawthon,
Ed McKeever, former player,
Anecdotes,
McKeever sent to Cawthon by Knute Rockne,
McKeever fought Marchie Schwartz,
Elmer Tarbox, former player,
Marchie Schwartz, football coach,
Return to Lubbock, Texas (c. 1950).
Tape 1, Side 2: Pete Cawthon (continued),
Austin College, Sherman, Texas,
Football coach,
Left Austin College,
Built Pete Cawthon Gymnasium,
"Dirty" Hill, former player,
Players took dancing lessons,
Zella Huffman, teacher,
Question of Cawthon’s racism,
Bill Taylor,
Damon Hill, football coach at Dunbar High,
School, Lubbock, Texas,
[Tape interrupted, then resumed],
First night football game in Texas,
El Paso (1928),
Second at Marshall, Texas High School (1929),
Information needed on Cawthon,
Austin College (again),
Tree-planting project at Texas Tech,
Matt Hitchcock (died 1934),
Dislike of other sports,
Don Henderson, former player,
Fraternity membership,
Article about Cawthon,
Sollis’ beginning on the team,
Nicknames for players,
[Blank to end of tape].
Range Dates: 1920s-1940s
Bulk Dates: 1929-1934
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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