Colonel O. M. Roberts presided over the Secession Convention in 1861, prompting Sam Houston to comment, "I don't know what they will do, but Roberts is honest." He was raised in the 11th Texas Infantry and gallantly led a brigade at the Battle of Bayou Bourbeau, Louisiana. He served as Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court under the Confederacy and the state, but federal Reconstruction policy caused his removal from the bench in 1865 and the denial of a U.S. Senate seat in 1866. He was elected governor by the people in 1878 and 1880. He is presented as a memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy.