How convinced were you that it was a dream at the time? If you know in your heart that you knew it was a dream, then i believe you were lucid. Have you been trying for 30 years with no success? Or have you been very half hearted about it?

Its a long time for no successes... Maybe you should reassess your techniques and how you approach the dream world in your mind. You need to believe with your whole mind that this is no joke and that eventually you will be lucid in a dream. I wish i could give you some more advice. But after 30 years trying i assume youve tried every induction technique and every meditation technique and every dream recall trick, and still nothing until now?