Stangel, W L 1965, 1973, 1975

Dean W. L. Stangel discusses his early life and the early years of Texas Tech’s Agricultural developments. He also talks about cattle feeding experiments at Tech, the development of the feedlot industry on the South Plains, growth and changes at Tech during his tenure as head of the Animal Husbandry department and later as Dean of the College of Agriculture. He then discusses the development of Tech’s athletic program during his 23 years as Chairman of the Athletic Committee, including Coach Pete Cawthon.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: W.L. Stangel

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: June 9, 1965; January 19, March 7 and 16, 1973; 1975

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: B. W. Aston, David Murrah, and Etta Lynch

Length: 5 hours 55 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Family background, Education and activities, College at Texas A & M, Work in Summers, Graduate work, Teaching at A & M, Army induction, Enlistment, Advancement at A & M, Offer from Texas Tech—considerations involved, First visit to Lubbock (1916), Dairy barn, Move to Lubbock, Reaction of Mrs. Stangel, Beginnings of Texas Tech, First animal husbandry classes, First animals, Gift of Herefords, Angus and Durham Shorthorn herds, Planting trees, Problems with sand, Beginning of athletic program, Advancement of Agriculture Department, Disposition of Shorthorn herd, Judging—livestock honors, Visit to Lubbock—looking at land.

Tape 1, Side 2: Blueweeds, Exchange horse for tractor, Advantages of horse and tractor, Development of Southwestern farm horse, Selling Jack to Armour and Company, Development of Crops, Cotton, Sorghum, Irrigation, Gooseneck sorghum, Feeding Milo to steers, Tours to study farming developments, Feeding, Arable land of Texas Plains, Relation of economy to production, Hog production.

Tape 2, Side 1: Cattle feeding experiments at Texas Tech described, Began in 1933, Discussion of types of feed used, Graduate students’ research in cottonseed by-products, Began feeding stocker calves (1943), Worked with J. M. Jones of Texas A & M in "cattling" down Milo (1944), E. L. Dawson’s work in 1947 mentioned, Began grazing tests in late 1940s, Use of irrigated pastures in early 1950s very successful, Supplements used, Tech’s entries in lamb show won prizes, Winnings financed feeding experiments with lambs, Introduction of cattling down grain sorghums, Purchase of 40 head for the first test (1933).

Tape 2, Side 2: Discusses tour of Iowa feeding operations, Explains Loyan H. Walker’s part in the tour, Observations made on the tour reviewed, Tour of Arizona-California feeding operations, Photographs of the tour discussed, Results of the tour examined, Increase in feedlots coincided with drop in cattle prices, Discusses article written concerning feedlots.

Tape 3, Side 1: Description of tour of area feedlot operations (1964), Reasons given for superiority of the Perryton feedlot, Relates success of the feedlot tours, Commercial feedlot operations more successful than individual operations, Lists technological advances contributing to success of the feedlot industry, Problem of obtaining feeder cattle revealed, Discusses types of feed used in the feedlots, Various kinds of roughage named.

Tape 3, Side 2: Explains problem of obtaining water, Pioneers of the feedlot industry characterized, D. W. Lewter’s operation, Tom Simmons practiced subfeeding, Northern Panhandle is center of feedlot industry.

Tape 4, Side 1: Educated at Texas A & M and University of Missouri, Taught at A & M nine years, Invited by Dr. Paul W. Horn to come to Tech as head of the Animal, Husbandry Department, Homes in Lubbock listed, Explains reasons for coming to Tech, Describes early School of Agriculture, F. I. Dahlberg assisted the Dean, First class meeting recalled, Acquisition of the first animals, Recollections of John M. Gist, Hereford breeder, Gist loaned money during Depression, Acquisition of the animal herds described, Organization of the Student Dairy Association (1927), Reviews acquisition of the horse herd, Acquired an outstanding Percheron herd, Use of horse-drawn farm equipment at Tech during its first 10 years, Champion horses owned by Tech named.

Tape 4, Side 2: Cites effects of the Depression on the Tech agriculture program, Problem of obtaining food for the animals, Forced to sell some cattle, Location of the animal pens described, Notes uses of the stock judging pavilion, Tech’s livestock today compared with 1920s and 1930s, Expresses opinion of the cattle shoot of the 1930s, Became Dean of Agriculture in 1945, Lists crops grown at Tech, Describes handling of silage, Location of the dairy barn (1925), Silo constructed at the same time, Facilities in the dairy barn described, Reviews relationships with Tech presidents, Recalls budgetary problems during the Depression.

Tape 5, Side 1: Effects of the Depression on personal life, Location of the Agriculture buildings during tenure, Notes changes made when Ralph Durham became head of Animal Husbandry, Facilities moved across the railroad, Herds reduced, Acquisition of the Frost herd of Herefords, Livestock owned by Tech listed, 1957 holdings worth $76,000, 1966 holdings worth $49,000, Evaluates the present School of Agriculture, Loss of acreage for the Tech Freeway, National Guard and Army Reserve armories, Problem of driving cattle through the underpass, Also losing land to the Medical School, Tech farms were formerly a showplace.

Tape 5, Side 2: Blank

Tape 6, Side 1: Dr. Clifford B. Jones strongly supported the School of Agriculture, Dr. William Whyburn’s term as President discussed, Notes changes made in commencement exercises, Mentions relationship with Whyburn, Dr. Dossie M. Wiggins’ term as President, Firing of three faculty members recalled, Hiring of Dr. Ralph Durham as head of Animal Husbandry, School of Agriculture continued to improve during tenure, Outstanding graduates of School of Agriculture named and discussed, Don King, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Don Jones, American Quarter Horse Association, Henry C. Elder, Texas Hereford Association, Orville Elliott, bank president, Dan Thornton, Governor of Colorado, Anecdote, John Burroughs, Governor of New Mexico, Served as Chairman of the Athletic Committee (1925-1948), Financial problems reviewed, Location of practice field at 19th and University.

Tape 6, Side 2: Work on Athletic Committee noted, First football game described, Problem of goatheads, Budgetary problems related, Providing seats for the first Tech-A & M game, Building of Jones Stadium, Dr. Clifford Jones loaned $100,000, Effect of the Depression on athletics, Names various methods of travel used, Attempted to join Southwest Conference (1937), Recalls effort in late 1920s to organize a conference, Tech joined Border Conference, Expelled in 1939 for ineligible player, Readmitted 3 years later, Emil Larson of the Border Conference characterized, Football coach Dell Morgan’s record cited, Pete Cawthon’s tenure as coach, Mentions difficulty scheduling Texas teams.

Tape 7, Side 1: Tech played A & M several years in San Antonio, Describes difficulties during Pete Cawthon’s term as coach, Morley Jennings brought about changes in scheduling, Arch Lamb helped organize Red Raider Club, Tech’s rivalry with A & M, 1927 game described, Recalls some outstanding games.

Tape 7, Side 2: Blank

Tape 8, Side 1: Pete Cawthon, Attitude toward losing, Conflicts with Texas Tech Athletic Council, Out of state football schedules, Fight with Texas A & M University, Resignation from Texas Tech (1941), Cotton Bowl game (January 2,1939), Used ineligible player, Assistant coaches, "Dutchy" Smith, Berl Huffman, Reactions to Cawthon’s resignation.

Tape 8, Side 2: Pete Cawthon (again), Member of Athletic Council, Presence at meetings, Athletic appropriations, Changed team’s name, Lost 1939 Cotton Bowl game, Loss of conference membership, Relationship with Cawthon, Pete Cawthon (again), Team flew to Michigan for a game, Use of profanity, Reaction to losing a game, Use of violence, Letters written by Cawthon.

Range Dates: 1916-1975

Bulk Dates: 1925-1948

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.