Oral History Collection
| MAIN ENTRY: | Oden, William E. |
| DATE OF INTERVIEW: | June 2, 1969; November 6, 1975 |
| LOCATION OF INTERVIEW: | Lubbock, Texas |
| INTERVIEWER: | Roy Sylvan Dunn, Joanna Shurbet |
| LENGTH OF INTERVIEW: | 2 hours (total) |
| SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: | Dr. William Oden discusses and evaluates his experiences and relates activities in the Texas Senate during the Texas Tech name change controversy of 1969. |
| TAPE ONE, SIDE ONE: | 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 ONE, SIDE TWO | 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 TWO, SIDE ONE: | 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 TWO, SIDE TWO: | Distant future of name change Lessening importance of name Aid of several programs within Texas Tech |
| RANGE DATES: | 1969-1975 |
| BULK DATES: | 1969-1975 |