Ep. 145: Getting to Know Governor Oran Roberts, the “Old Alcalde.” An Interview with Dr. John Adams. Part 1.
Wise About Texas
Ken Wise
4.9 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 27 April 2026
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Oran Roberts started his legal career in Texas. From lawyer to District Judge to the Supreme Court (twice), and even the Governor’s Mansion, Governor Oran Roberts seemed to be involved in every important aspect of Texas government and society. He can be called, fairly, the father of Texas public higher education. In this episode, we learn about the “Old Alcalde’s” background and service prior to the Civil War. Dr. John Adams has published a new book on Governor Roberts that, for the first time, provides wonderful insight into a dedicated public servant doing his best during a turbulent period in Texas history.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Howdy and welcome to Wise About Texas, the Texas history podcast. |
| 0:11.9 | This is your host, Ken Wise. |
| 0:13.6 | Thanks so much for tuning in today for some Texas history. |
| 0:16.8 | We just finished the 190th anniversary of the Texas Revolution as I record and release this podcast. |
| 0:23.8 | I hope everybody found a way to celebrate 190 years of Texas independence. |
| 0:30.3 | I know this period is extremely busy for me with a lot of speeches and et cetera, but it's |
| 0:36.9 | always a wonderful time and a happy time and |
| 0:40.3 | I hope you got to attend at least one celebration of Texas independence I want to thank |
| 0:48.8 | Emily Balcom with the Alamo on this podcast this is the next episode after I got to interview with Emily on Stories Bigger |
| 0:58.5 | than Texas, the Alamo podcast. |
| 1:00.4 | And man, we had a great time, great conversation. |
| 1:03.4 | Be sure and go tune in to Stories Bigger than Texas from the Alamo. |
| 1:08.5 | It's a great podcast and I was really honored to be able to participate. |
| 1:12.6 | And as you might have seen on the Wise About Texas Instagram, I got to meet Bella, the Alamo Cat. |
| 1:18.0 | So I feel like that my Texas history career has made some significant steps by getting to know Bella. |
| 1:26.2 | Today I'm going to release the first part. |
| 1:29.3 | This is part one of an interview with Dr. John Adams about former Texas governor |
| 1:34.2 | and Supreme Court Justice and sort of the father of Texas higher education, |
| 1:40.6 | Oren Milo Roberts. |
| 1:43.2 | Oren Roberts was from, he was born in South Carolina and but went to the University of |
| 1:51.1 | Alabama, for which we will forgive him. |
| 1:54.1 | He graduated and was admitted to the bar in Alabama. |
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