WT Student Places High in Statewide Contest with Tale of Texas Bootlegger

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - The story of an infamous Texas bootlegger won a West Texas A&M University student a top prize at a prestigious competition.

August Vinson, a senior history major from Amarillo, placed third in the storied Battle of Flowers oratorical contest with a speech recounting the life of Tom "Pinkie" Roden.

"Pinkie was the father of the University of Texas-Permian Basin, a bootlegger and a man who acquired an incredible amount of tainted money and used it for selfless ventures," Vinson said.

The 101st Battle of Flowers was held Feb. 27 at the Witte Museum in San Antonio, where Vinson placed third and won a $1,500 scholarship. This year's theme for the contest, the second-oldest collegiate oratorical contest in the country, was "Lawmakers and Lawbreakers."

"I wanted someone who was not quite either of those-someone with a rebellious streak but who had some sort of moral tuning," Vinson said. "Pinkie fell into my lap."

As a young man, Roden went to prison for bootlegging, then when Prohibition was repealed, started selling alcohol legally in Odessa, while also making sure that customers in dry cities like Lubbock could still get their fill. Roden's eponymous liquor stores are still in business around the region, including two storefronts in Amarillo.

Moreover, Roden's lobbying efforts led not only to the founding of UTPB, but also to a variety of alcohol-related laws, including those restricting the liquor sales to package stores and the abilities of cities and towns to decide if they would allow alcohol sales within the city limits or even in specific precincts, Vinson said.

Vinson, a student employee of WT's Center for the Study of the American West, saw in Roden the chance to show a statewide audience of historians that Texas history extends beyond central Texas.

"People joke that West Texas is off the map," Vinson said. "I thought Pinkie's story would be relevant to judges in San Antonio and Austin but also tied into my hometown.

"Amarillo is a very unique place," she continued. "It doesn't get the kind of reputation it deserves. There's a lot of history here."

In addition to her speech on Roden, Vinson has done a significant amount of research into the Amarillo Fire Department, where her father, Lance Vinson, is a battalion chief.

"August is in her second semester as a CSAW intern and is a fantastic asset to the program," said Dr. Alex Hunt, CSAW director, Regents Professor of English and Vincent-Haley Professor of Western Studies. "Her research project on the history and archival collection of the Amarillo Fire Department, funded by Amarillo National Bank, is yielding excellent results."

Vinson also has qualified in five events for the American Forensics Association's national speech tournament in April.

"August is an exceptional member of the forensics team," said Dr. Kelsey Abele, director of forensics and assistant professor of communication in the Department of Communication in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities. "It's exciting for her to be part of the legacy of the esteemed Battle of Flowers."

Promoting regional research is a key aim of the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign, which is now winding down, has raised more than $175 million.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

-WT-