Oral history with Mr. Maurice R. Black

              Oral history with Mr. Maurice R. Black
This oral history is provided through a cooperative project of University of Southern Mississippi Libraries and USM's Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage.
Funding provided by a National Leadership Grant for Libraries from the Institute for Museum and Library Services
The transcript is presented here for reference purposes only. Interviews in this collection are protected by copyright. PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Please call ( 601) 266- 4574 for more information.
Biography
Mr. Maurice R. Black was born on October 18, 1915, near Flora, Mississippi, in Madison County, the only son of Frank and Della Smith Black. He attended public schools in Flora, graduating from high school in 1933. He enrolled in Hinds Junior College, and following graduation in 1935 he attended Millsaps College before enrolling in Jackson Law School. He passed the state bar exam in 1937 and graduated from law school in 1938.
Mr. Black entered the practice of law in Flora, in 1937. In 1941 he moved his practice to Carrollton, Mississippi. During World War II he served in Army counterintelligence in Hawaii and the South Pacific. In 1947 Mr. Black was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives and served in that body from 1948 to 1964. After leaving the House, Mr. Black acted as attorney for the office of the Mississippi State Insurance Commissioner. In 1969 he accepted an appointment as Assistant Attorney- General and continued in this position until his retirement in 1977.
Mr. Black married the former Thelma Clawson of Sparkman, Arkansas, in 1941 and they have six children. Mr. Black is a member of the Presbyterian faith. He is an active member of many civic organizations including the VFW, the American Legion and the Masonic order. He currently resides in Carrollton.
Transcript
This is an interview for the Mississippi Oral History Program of The University of Southern Mississippi. The interview is with Mr. Maurice Black, former state representative, and is being conducted at his home near North Carrollton, Mississippi, on July 25, 1991. The interviewer is Dr. Charles Bolton.
Dr. Bolton: First off, Mr. Black, let me thank you on behalf of the university and the oral history program for taking time today to talk to us. We appreciate it.
Mr. Black: Glad to do it. mus- coh. blackm. doc Page 1 of 20