NAME OF PERSON INTERVIEWED: Owen, Charles, and Rusty Barrett

Date of interview: August 9, 1983
Location of interview: Seminole, Texas
Length of interview: 1 tape (50 minutes)

Brief synopsis of interview: Charles Owen and Rusty Barrett discuss the potato industry in the South Plains, primarily Gaines County.

Topics:
Agriculture—new crops and changing modes
Potato growing—Texas
Insects and disease
Irrigation
Labor requirements
Seed sources and chemical requirements
Fred Barrett, Sr.—opposition to land development

full abstract

NAME OF PERSON INTERVIEWED: Owens, Buster

Date of interview: May 5, 1975
Location of interview: Littlefield, Texas
Length of interview: 1 tape (35 minutes)

Brief synopsis of interview: Buster Owens discusses his association with Rilcott Seed Company in Littlefield and with the development of new seed varieties.

Topics:
Agriculture—seed growing farms
Education—Texas Tech University (1949)
Cotton—half and half and storm-proof varieties
J. R. Riley—founder of Rilcott Seed Company
Seed growers associations

full abstract

NAME OF PERSON INTERVIEWED: Owens, Clyde M.

Date of interview: December 7, 1977
Location of interview: Lubbock, Texas
Length of interview: 1 tape (20 minutes)

Brief synopsis of interview: Clyde M. Owens discusses his different positions with Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma Coaches, Inc., from 1927 to 1976.

Topics:
Electra, Texas—Assistant Ticket Agent (1927)
Motor Coaches, Inc., at Vernon—precursor to TNM&O (1937)
Robert D. Greenhill
Jesse C. Levens
Transportation—buses

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NAME OF PERSON INTERVIEWED: Owens, Estelle

Date of interview: October 31, 1975
Location of interview: Plainview, Texas
Length of interview: 1 tape (30 minutes)

Brief synopsis of interview: Estelle Owens discusses her education and work at Wayland Baptist University.

Topics:
Education—Auburn University, Baylor University
Museums—Texas (Llano Estacado Museum)
Oral history program—Baptist history in Texas
Women in education—discrimination and advantages

full abstract

NAME OF PERSON INTERVIEWED: Owens, Mr. and Mrs. Bode

Date of interview: June 30, 1972
Location of interview: Barnhart, Texas
Length of interview: 2 tapes (2 hours)

Brief synopsis of interview: The Owens, longtime ranchers of Irion County, discuss their lives on the ranch near Barnhart. Mrs. Owens begins by reading a history of Clint and Bode Owens; these readings are interrupted by discussions of drought in the area.

Topics:
Family life and background
Barnhart, Texas—early history
Cattle—early trail drives and modern management
Great Depression—government livestock shoot program
Insect pests—blowflies and screwworms
Livestock—horses, mules and sheep
Native wildlife—antelope, coyotes, lobos (wolves), prairie dogs
Ranch life and implements
Sul Ross State University—orchestra members
Theater—silent movies and vaudeville
Transportation—early automobiles
Weather conditions—droughts

full abstract

NAME OF PERSON INTERVIEWED: Pace, Hyrum

Date of interview: February 14, 1985
Location of interview: Virden, New Mexico
Length of interview: 2 tapes (1 hour, 40 minutes)

Brief synopsis of interview: Hyrum Pace discusses his life as a farmer in the Gila River Valley of New Mexico, with emphasis upon irrigation of the farms in the Virden area.

Topics:
Agriculture—mechanization and other changing modes
Cotton production—Gila Valley
Family life and background
Farm labor—bracero program
Flood control—WPA dam building projects
Mormon Church—Gila Valley settlements and missionary service
Sunset Ditch Company
Truck farming—potatoes
Water conservation—irrigation ditches and wells

full abstract

NAME OF PERSON INTERVIEWED: Paetzold, John

Date of interview: July 5, 1974
Location of interview: Hereford, Texas
Length of interview: 1 tape (1 hour)

Brief synopsis of interview: John Paetzold, pioneer in Deaf Smith County vegetable farming, discusses its origins and history.

Topics:
Agriculture—truck farming
Carrot crops
Farm labor—braceros, migrant workers and Italian POWs
Growers and Shippers Corporation
Hereford Potato Growers Association
Lettuce production—California growers’ interest in Hereford’s potential
Potatoes—problems and varieties
P. W. Williams

full abstract

NAME OF PERSON INTERVIEWED: Paine, Roy, and Louise Sorenson

Date of interview: May 30, 1974
Location of interview: Austin, Texas
Length of interview: 1 tape (20 minutes)

Brief synopsis of interview: Roy Paine and Louise Sorenson reminisce about the Harley Sadler tent shows. Note: Side One begins with an introduction to an interview not included here.

Topics:
Theater—tent shows
French M. Robertson 

full abstract

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