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Wilborn / Wife and Family

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Interviewer: So, what about your wife? Tell me about her. Wilborn: She was a speech therapist. Interviewer: When did you meet her? Wilborn: In 1955—At Wylie, really, she was driving through. I met her in 1956—I said, 1955, 1956. She’s from Southern University. Graduated from Baton Rouge. She drove up here with a friend. She was (inaudible). Rode up with a friend and I just happened to be out there with my girlfriend. My girlfriend said, “I know her.” I was just kidding, I said, “I’m going to marry that woman,” and she slapped me. So, I walked through the door. Dropped her off and I went over to Bishop College and there she was over there. She and her friend—I had a buddy—I had buddies at both schools because, see, my brother was going to Bishop. So, fella by the name of Napoleon Douglas told me, said, “Man I got two girls here.” Longview was wet, and Marshall was dry and going to go over there and party. I said, “Which one do I have?” He told me (inaudible). So, we went over there. I met her. I had no idea. See, I told my girlfriend during that time that I was going to marry her. Had no idea that that was going to be true. I was just playing because I really liked her. Interviewer: When did you get married? Wilborn: Year later. Interviewer: A year later. Kids? Wilborn: Yeah. I have a daughter who works for Medtronic’s. She’s an RN, TWU. I have a son who works for (inaudible) Independent School District. He’s over the event center. John Wilborn, Jr. He’s graduate of Grambling. Played baseball there and I have another son attends his mother’s school, Jeffrey. He works for State Farm. He supervises State Farm for the (inaudible) area, so. Interviewer: So, I have one more question—well, before we go, your wife, did she lead any womens’ groups— Wilborn: No, but she’s—no, no. When I ran, I told them leave her out. You won’t be seeing my wife (inaudible) like you see a lot of politicians. She doesn’t care for that. It is I. I’m doing it. It’s my battle, not ours. Mine. She decided to contribute, fine. No, I didn’t throw that on her.

Interview Interview with John Wilborn
Subjects Family › Courtship
Family › Marriage
Family › Children
Electoral Politics
Historic Periods › 1956-1969
Tags Wylie College
Grambling State University
Bishop College
Texas Southern University
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Interview date 2015-06-23
Interview source CRBB Summer 2015
Interviewees Wilborn, John
Duration 00:02:53
Citation "Wife and Family ," from John Wilborn oral history interview with ,  June 23, 2015, Marshall, TX , Civil Rights in Black and Brown Interview Database, https://crbb.tcu.edu/clips/1454/wife-and-family, accessed April 26, 2024