Stories from Texas

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December 29, 2021

How Ranchers Used Barbed Wire To Make Phone Calls

By: W.F. Strong

These days, if you’re out working on a ranch and you need some backup, you just pick up your cell phone. If you’re in a remote area of Texas with bad service — you might also have a walkie talkie handy. But not so long ago, the options were a little less sophisticated. Still, you might be surprised that there were phones around. Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong has the story.


Episodes

March 4, 2026

Wealth on Your Shelf

Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong professes he knows a good deal about Texas literature, but has far less knowledge as to what classic and historical Texas books, in good condition, are worth.

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February 18, 2026

‘He didn’t take on an iconic role, he made the role iconic’: W.F. Strong on Robert Duvall

Texas Standard’s commentator remembers the Academy Award-winning actor who was not born a Texan, but played a heck of one on TV and film.

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February 4, 2026

Sandra Cisneros, a Texas literary rock star

Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong examines how one of the state’s most celebrated writers found a home in San Antonio.

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January 22, 2026

LBJ’s Humor (re-run)

LBJ’s presidency was marked by turbulent change. And while the longtime Texas-born politician is often remembered for his role in the war and in civil rights, few remember what Commentator WF Strong calls LBJ’s ‘ secret weapon’ — his sense of humor.

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January 7, 2026

Traces of Texas – A priceless gift for all Texans

W.F. Strong offers up a story of thanks for Traces of Texas.

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December 17, 2025

How Three Gifts To UT Gave All Texans A Fourth: The Gift Of The Stars (re-run)

WF Strong talks about how the McDonald Observatory came to be.

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December 3, 2025

Mix up your holiday entertainment with a history of Texas’ lawless influence on Old West

WF Strong tells us that the author has a new book he’d recommend for those who might need an antidote for Hallmark holiday movies.

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November 19, 2025

George Foreman’s resilience: A two-time rags-to-riches story

Boxer, preacher, and grill super salesman George Foreman died in his longtime hometown of Houston in March. Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong has been thinking about Foreman’s life and how he literally fought his way from rags to riches more than once.

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