Ray Roberts
Encyclopedia
Herbert Ray Roberts represented Texas's 4th congressional district
from 1962 to 1981. Roberts was a Democrat
.
in 1913. He grew up in the ranching town of Westminster, Texas
, just outside of McKinney.
Roberts graduated from McKinney High School. He attended Texas A&M University
and North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas
) before earning a bachelor's degree in agribusiness
. Roberts earned his master's degree from the University of Texas. He served in the United States Navy
from 1942 to 1945 and later saw active duty in the Korean War
while as a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve.
of Texas, working in Washington, D.C., between 1941 and 1942 before going on active duty in World War II
. After the war, he worked as a farmer and entered into agribusiness. He was a member of the Texas State Senate from 1955 to 1961, serving as the president pro tempore of the body in 1961.
Roberts was chair of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
from 1975 through 1981. He did not run for re-election in 1980.
is named after the Congressman. On November 22, 1963, Congressman Roberts was in the Dallas motorcade when President Kennedy was assassinated. He was in the same car as Dallas Mayor Earl Cabell, which was four cars behind the limousine carrying JFK. The family of Ray Roberts can confirm that the Warren Commission never asked Ray a single question about the shooting.
His official documents from his years in office both in the Texas State Senate as well as the U.S. House of Representatives can be found in the archives at Texas A&M-Commerce, which used to be known as East Texas State University.
His only surviving brother is Roy Geldon Roberts, Sr. of Plano.
Texas's 4th congressional district
Texas District 4 of the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that serves an area that includes some counties along the Red River north of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, including semi-rural Rockwall County and the large non-urbanized portion of Collin County. It also...
from 1962 to 1981. Roberts was a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Early life and education
Roberts was born in rural Collin County, TexasCollin County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 491,675 people, 181,970 households, and 132,292 families residing in the county. The population density was 580 people per square mile . There were 194,892 housing units at an average density of 230 per square mile...
in 1913. He grew up in the ranching town of Westminster, Texas
Westminster, Texas
Westminster is an unincorporated community in northeastern Collin County, Texas, United States. The population was 390 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a city....
, just outside of McKinney.
Roberts graduated from McKinney High School. He attended Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
and North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
) before earning a bachelor's degree in agribusiness
Agribusiness
In agriculture, agribusiness is a generic term for the various businesses involved in food production, including farming and contract farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing, marketing, and retail sales....
. Roberts earned his master's degree from the University of Texas. He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1942 to 1945 and later saw active duty in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
while as a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Early career
Roberts was on the staff of Speaker of the House Sam RayburnSam Rayburn
Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn , often called "Mr. Sam," or "Mr. Democrat," was a Democratic lawmaker from Bonham, Texas, who served as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for seventeen years, the longest tenure in U.S. history.- Background :Rayburn was born in Roane County, Tennessee, and...
of Texas, working in Washington, D.C., between 1941 and 1942 before going on active duty in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, he worked as a farmer and entered into agribusiness. He was a member of the Texas State Senate from 1955 to 1961, serving as the president pro tempore of the body in 1961.
U.S. House of Representatives
Roberts was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-seventh Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Rayburn. He was re-elected to the nine succeeding Congresses, serving from January 30, 1962 to January 3, 1981.Roberts was chair of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
The standing Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the United States House of Representatives oversees agencies, reviews current legislation, and recommends new bills or amendments concerning veterans. Jurisdiction includes retiring and disability pensions, life insurance, education , vocational...
from 1975 through 1981. He did not run for re-election in 1980.
Other
Lake Ray RobertsLake Ray Roberts
Lake Ray Roberts is a reservoir located north of Denton, Texas, between the cities of Pilot Point, Texas and Sanger, Texas.. It was named after Ray Roberts in 1980....
is named after the Congressman. On November 22, 1963, Congressman Roberts was in the Dallas motorcade when President Kennedy was assassinated. He was in the same car as Dallas Mayor Earl Cabell, which was four cars behind the limousine carrying JFK. The family of Ray Roberts can confirm that the Warren Commission never asked Ray a single question about the shooting.
His official documents from his years in office both in the Texas State Senate as well as the U.S. House of Representatives can be found in the archives at Texas A&M-Commerce, which used to be known as East Texas State University.
His only surviving brother is Roy Geldon Roberts, Sr. of Plano.