1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 793
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to
 1-4     recognize a new state historical marker, which will be dedicated
 1-5     to former governor Oran Milo Roberts in a public ceremony on
 1-6     Saturday, May 8, 1999; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, O. M. Roberts was born in South Carolina; after
 1-8     graduating from the University of Alabama, studying law, and serving
 1-9     in the Alabama Legislature, O. M. moved to San Augustine, Texas,
1-10     where he opened a law practice; and
1-11           WHEREAS, O. M. was appointed district attorney in 1844
1-12     and, in 1846, became district judge; during the Civil War, he
1-13     was a leading secessionist; on February 1, 1857, he became an
1-14     associate justice of the Supreme Court of Texas; though elected
1-15     to the United States Senate after the war, O. M. Roberts was
1-16     denied his seat because of his prior anti-Union policies; and
1-17           WHEREAS, O. M. Roberts resumed his private practice from
1-18     1866 to 1874, when he was returned to the Supreme Court and served
1-19     as chief justice until he was elected governor of Texas in 1878; and
1-20           WHEREAS, His tenure was dedicated to reducing the state's
1-21     indebtedness; the opening of The University of Texas at Austin
1-22     in 1883 was among the outstanding accomplishments of his
1-23     administration; and
1-24           WHEREAS, After retiring from state politics, O. M. Roberts
 2-1     taught law at The University of Texas and wrote prolifically
 2-2     about the state and the events of his lifetime; notable among
 2-3     his postgovernor accomplishments was his establishment of the
 2-4     Texas State Historical Association; he served as the first
 2-5     president of this organization and contributed several articles
 2-6     to its Quarterly; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, In 1882, Governor Roberts sold 100 acres of
 2-8     land to the Houston and Texas Central Railroad; the town which
 2-9     developed on that land bore his name; today, Roberts has long
2-10     disappeared, and the present-day town of Quinlan has since absorbed
2-11     its former territory; however, a historical marker dedicated to
2-12     O. M. Roberts will sit in front of Quinlan's newest high school;
2-13     and
2-14           WHEREAS, A new historical marker in Texas evidences
2-15     dedicated citizens who take pride in the history and culture
2-16     of the Lone Star State; historical societies and state history
2-17     enthusiasts play a vital role in preserving our Texas heritage,
2-18     and for their diligence, the Senate is profoundly grateful; now,
2-19     therefore, be it
2-20           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-21     76th Legislature, hereby celebrate the state's new historical
2-22     marker, which will be dedicated to the distinguished life of
2-23     former Texas Governor, Oran Milo Roberts, and extend best wishes
2-24     to the citizens who worked to establish the Roberts marker and
2-25     the students who organized the dedication ceremonies; and, be it
2-26     further
 3-1           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared to
 3-2     honor this notable event.
 3-3                                                                    Cain
 3-4                                  ______________________________________
 3-5                                          President of the Senate
 3-6                                       I hereby certify that the above
 3-7                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
 3-8                                  on April 30, 1999.
 3-9                                  ______________________________________
3-10                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-11                                  ______________________________________
3-12                                           Member, Texas Senate