Born on October 1, 1918 in Fairlie, Texas, Waggoner Carr's family moved to Lubbock, Texas, when the family bank was closed during the Depression. His father found work at Stubbs Feed Seed Company and decided that he wanted all of his children to attend college. Hoping to become lawyers, Waggoner and his brother, Warlick, attended Texas Technological College and were members of the debate team. At Tech, he met Ernestine Story, whom he later married and together they had one son, David W. Carr.
Waggoner's education at the University of Texas Law School was interrupted by World War II, during which time he served as a pilot. Once discharged, he returned and completed his law degree. A law practice was opened by the two brothers. Later political positions held by Waggoner included Lubbock Assistant District Attorney (1947-1948), Lubbock County Attorney (1948-1950), State Representatives (1951-1961), Speaker of Texas House of Representatives (1957-1961), and Texas Attorney General (1963-1967). He was also the first Texas Attorney General from Lubbock and Texas Tech University.
From the guide to the Waggoner Carr Papers, S 163. 1., 1945-1985 and undated, (Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, Texas Tech University)
