Editor’s note: James Batchelor was the grandfather of Durant residents Mark and Matt Swearengin.
“Like most lawyers, James dabbled a little in politics. We thought we had him settled and that he was satisfied. About that time flying came along in earnest and James went up in the air- so much so that we could never get him down to earth again.” Bennington Journal, 1945 The young attorney described by the editor was a hometown boy, born in 1906 to Lucius and Jimmie (Glass) Batchelor. His father owned a thriving business and his mother was active in many community organizations. She helped organize the first “Mothers and Teachers Literary Club.”
James Batchelor was a good student, but also skilled in other trades. He once worked as a printer’s devil (apprentice) for the Bennington paper. The editor commented that “he was also great with electricity” and “would have made a fine electrician, but Dad said no. Dad wanted law and James spent a number of years studying law.” As a student at Norman State Uni- versity, he made a name for himself. In 1927 he was assistant editor of the University’s comic magazine, “Whirlwind” and promoted to editor in 1928 In September of 1931 James moved from Bennington to Durant to open a “general law practice.” By 1933 he was elected president of the Young Business Men’s Alliance.
In 1933 James married Miss Virginia Harral, daughter of Mrs. Lane Harral. Virginia attended Southeastern State Teachers College, and was assistant registrar and secretary to the President. After a ten-day trip to Colorado they made their home at 712 West Beech.
It’s nearly impossible to list all of the activities that occupied James W. Batchelor during the thirties. His name appears as counsel in court cases, administrator of estates, owner of properties, officer of organizations, chairman of committees, and speaker for groups ranging from politicians to the YMCA. He worked on several political campaigns, including his own for mayor of Durant in 1937.
Batchelor’s love of flying became the main focus of his career in the forties. In September of 1940 a civil pilot training association was formed in Fort Worth to ensure the continuation of the pilot training program. Representatives attended from NM, OK, AR, LA, and TX. James was elected president. According to the Bennington Journal, the new association “designed to work in close co-operation with national defense” comprised flight contractors, ground and flying instructors, and all personnel connected with the civil aeronautics student pilot training courses. Batchelor was the contractor furnishing planes for the Southeastern State College pilot training course.
In April of 1942 the Batchelors welcomed a daughter, Mary Katherine, to their home at 1215 West Evergreen. Son James Dan was born in January 1936, and daughter Betty Lane was born in April 1939.
The year 1943 found James in Washington, D. C., where he became the assistant to “Josh Lee, former U. S. Senator and member of the Civil Aeronautics Board.” During this time, he was also a popular speaker at conferences in the states and Canada. Locally he served as “war department attorney in condemnation of 100,000 acres of land for the Red River hydro-electric project.” The Bennington Journal commented, “James made a fine record as attorney for the government for the building of the Denison Dam- winning every disputed case.”
James’ advocacy skills were once again praised in 1948 by the Daily Oklahoman: “One of the best arguments in favor of continuing the flight training program of veterans under the GI bill of rights has been made to the house committee by James W. Batchelor, attorney and aviation counsellor in Washington.”
For a few years James worked from his office in Washington, D. C. while maintaining ties in Oklahoma. However, in June 1950 he announced plans to make a permanent change in his situation. “James W. Batchelor announced today that he has leased the entire second floor of the Long Drug Store building at Main and Second streets.” “Extensive repairs and alterations will be made, including the construction of a modern, air-conditioned suite of offices for Mr. Batchelor’s personal use in the general practice of law.”
James soon became one of the six directors of the Durant Chamber of Commerce, then was elected president of the board. After that, the word “attended” often followed his name. He represented Durant at everything from an area conference on national affairs, to an awards banquet for the junior livestock show.
In the spring of 1952 James was the tour director for the “Durant Booster Trippers,” a group of enthusiastic citizens who spent two days touring Southeastern Oklahoma. They were given a warm welcome by communities. Many greeted them with crowds and bands.
In 1954 James invited Ralph B. Hodges of Anadarko to join his law practice. Ralph was fresh out of law school, but after some experience in the Batchelor practice, he became District Attorney, then County Judge, and in 1963 was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court by Governor Henry Bellman.
In the fall of 1952 James went to Washington, D. C. to represent the city of Durant and the Chamber of Commerce in their bid to convince the Civil Aeronautics Board to save Eaker Field, the Durant airport. The airport service was in danger of being discontinued because of the negative recommendations of Examiner Herbert K. Bryan. Demands for renewal and expansion of Central Airlines were also made by attorneys from OK, TX, AR, and TN.
Despite numerous presentations and appeals, Central discontinued service to Durant, Okmulgee, Holdenville, and Wewoka in April of 1953. However, Eaker itself garnered renewed support from a variety of sources, including Congressman Carl Albert. Numerous trips to Fort Worth by James and other Durant businessmen and officials resulted in an agreement to make the old hanger available to Excel Body Corporation as a manufacturing site for school bus bodies. Money was raised by local businessmen for the renovation of the hanger, and the construction of a new one. Rector Swearengin was the committee chairman. The renovation cost $4,000 and the new hanger cost $13,000 and held eight medium-sized planes. Excel was an economic boon to the area.
James ran for mayor in 1955, but lost to incumbent, Charles F. Fuller. He ran again in 1957. He gave a series of talks on KSEO and promised that a vote for him would be a vote for “progressive, efficient, and economical city government.” He wanted to “take the politics out of local government,” cut waste by 25%, improve local parks, change the traffic flow downtown, and clean up the area around the courthouse. Batchelor and Fuller were both defeated by local businessman, Doyle T. Lemonds.
James was elected president of the Lion’s Club and continued his efforts to improve Durant. Along with all of his other activities, he continued to practice law in both Oklahoma and Washington, D. C.
James often surprised his friends and colleagues with the variety of his business interests. According to the Durant Weekly News, “at various times he has operated a flying school and a taxicab business and has had a partnership in the grocery business.” But in 1961 he even surprised himself when he became the owner of 26,000 nursery plants. At that time the state had purchased forty-three agrees of property for a new four-lane highway.
The property included the Durant Nursery, but they had no use for the plants, so they auctioned them off. James was the high bidder. He spent some time learning about the plants and then held a public sale, but it was rained out. A second one was also rained out. So, he contacted a lot of institutions and organizations who needed plants for landscaping. He donated some to churches and sold others to businesses and schools. He offered discount prices to customers who dug up their own plants. The newspaper didn’t say how many plants were still in the ground when the bulldozers began their work in December.
James completed his venture into horticulture and continued his law practice. The newspapers of the sixties are filled with legal notices signed with “James W. Batchelor, Attorney and Counselor at Law, Durant, Oklahoma.” He also served as attorney for the Southeastern Electric Coop in 1963.
James Watt Batchelor died in a Dallas hospital in March of 1967. His funeral services were held at the First Methodist Church in Durant, and he was laid to rest in Highland Cemetery. He was 60 years old and left a host of family members, friends, and clients to mourn his loss. His wife, children, mother, one brother, and one sister survived to carry on his legacy of community service.
