Oran Roberts was 17th Governor of Texas (1879-1883). In April 1879, Roberts signed legislature to create Sam Houston Normal Institute in Huntsville.

The Sam Houston Normal Institute yearbook, the Alcalde, first published in 1910, was named in honor of Roberts whose nickname was "The Old Alcalde." Alcalde is also the name of the University of Texas (Austin) alumni magazine first published in 1913.